Rob Rinder travelling to Ukraine border to help rescue Strictly Come Dancing partner Oksana Platero’s grandparents

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has been denounced by the world for his horrific invasion of Ukraine and the treatment of its people, however a startling lesson from history shows he could be much worse. During Russia's invasion of Chechnya in the 1990's, Vladimir Putin's forces employed a range of torture techniques including asphyxiation and chemical baths, it has been claimed. The horrific conflict came relatively early on in the despot's premiership and has many alarming parallels to his latest move in Ukraine, although there has been so far no evidence to suggest Russia is torturing Ukrainians.

Vladimir Putin is now so worried about his sheer loss of soldiers that he is now calling up minors to fight in the invasion of Ukraine. According to local Ukrainian news outlets, Putin signed an order on March 15 giving the army permission to call up those aged 17-18 to join the army.The order, in Russian, states: “On the organisation of the involvement of members of the military-patriotic public movement Unarmiya (young army) in a special operation on the territory of Ukraine.”The order had already been signed by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who set up the Young Army nearly a decade ago.It also states that those at the top of Russia's army “must provide proposals for the training of these personnel as soon as possible”, and Rennady Zhidko, who is chief of the main military political department of the Russian Army, has been told to make sure the order is carried out.According to several news outlets yesterday, around 14,000 Russians have been killed in the fighting in Ukraine – which accounts for about 70% of all losses during the invasion.Putin gave the go-ahead to establish the All-Russia "Young Army" National Military Patriotic Social Movement Association in 2015.

Statista. And over the years, celebs have met with Russian President Vladimir Putin while visiting the country for events, like professional fights and concerts. Here’s a look at some celebs who either once hobnobbed or briefly met with Putin.Mickey RourkeIn an interview with Fox News Digital, Mickey Rourke recalled meeting Putin when Rourke had a “professional fight four years ago” in Russia.“I had the time of my life,” Rourke told Fox News Digital about visiting the country. “The people couldn’t have been nicer, more polite, more respectful.

Amanda Holden, 51, has witnessed the devastation caused by the war in Ukraine after she travelled to a refugee camp in Medyka, Poland.The Britain’s Got Talent judge has been reporting from the ground on her Global podcast Ukraine’s Hidden Voices, which launched earlier this month.She took to Instagram yesterday to share a picture of an exhausted Ukrainian woman, in view of her 1.8 million followers.The poignant photo showed a young Ukrainian woman sleeping while sitting on a chair and using a bag as a pillow.Next to her, another woman looked at her phone with her bag clutched between her legs.Amanda, who was left speechless by the scenes she had witnessed, hit out at the Home Secretary over some of her latest remarks on the refugee crisis.She captioned the shot: “Priti Patel has said Vladimir Putin might try to use Ukrainian women and children to infiltrate the UK.

The British government has condemned the “abduction and deportation” of Ukrainians from the besieged city of Mariupol, in a move that has been likened to Nazi Germany.

Ukrainian civilians are being rounded up by Russian troops and sent to “work camps” thousands of miles from their homes, a Ukrainian MP has claimed. Inna Sovsun told Times Radio yesterday that as many as 5,000 civilians had been being taken to “very distant parts of Russia” and “forced to sign papers saying that they will stay in that area for two or three years and they will work for free in those areas”.

As the Russia-Ukraine war continues, many industries have sanctioned Russia, including Hollywood.  Although Russia isn’t a leading market for Hollywood, it was one of the top six box office markets worldwide in revenue in 2021, according to Statista.  And over the years, celebs have met with Russian President Vladimir Putin while visiting the country for events, like professional fights and concerts.  Here’s a look at some celebs who either once hobnobbed or briefly met with Putin. Mickey Rourke In an interview with Fox News Digital, Mickey Rourke recalled meeting Putin when Rourke had a "professional fight four years ago" in Russia.

A small band of Moscow’s elite is plotting to topple Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian intelligence officials claim.

Formula 1 fans couldn't help but see the funny side after Kevin Magnussen, who stepped in as Russian driver Nikita Mazepin's Haas replacement earlier this month, finished fifth in the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.Mazepin was dropped by Haas in light of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February, having initially joined the team ahead of the 2021 season, though he never managed to finish higher than 14th all year.While they were a few surprises in Bahrain this afternoon, including the dramatic retirement of both Red Bulls cars, Magnussen's emphatic performance has probably already done enough to suggest that Haas made a smart decision.Fans flooded to social media after the race, displaying very little sympathy for the ousted Russian driver."Imagine being Mazepin and seeing Kevin finishing on P5 with "your" car. Whoops," one fan tweeted."I’d like to see Mazepin come 5th in the first race of the season," posted another.A third wrote: "Lol Magnussen got 5th in Mazepin's car," while a fourth said: "Ditch the Russian Mazepin and then you go get P5.

World War Three can’t be ruled out because of the “uncharted territory” of the brutal conflict in Ukraine, the former head of the British Army has warned. General Sir Mike Jackson said the bloody Russian invasion is a “very delicate” situation and admitted he is worried nuclear weapons will become involved.He told Alastair Stewart on GB News: “We haven't, thank God, seen nuclear weapons used since 1945.

Vladimir Putin to save Ukraine. Alex Stein, who preferred to be called "PrimeTime 99 Alex Stein", wore the colours of the Ukrainian flag - a blue suit and a yellow tie - to the council meeting of Plano city in Texas along with a mini speaker.He told the panel that he wanted to help the people in Ukraine and that he wrote a rap song to share it with the committee members."Go insane, for Ukraine, put a bullet in Putin's brain!" he shouts, and carries on mentioning that Putin is a "bad racist" and he has "to be put on the ground".Then he pays tribute to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and sings: "Zelenskyy! VIP! I am a Zelenskyy stan.

Jeremy Clarkson, 61, is known for his opinionated but humorous tongue in cheek style, and today's tirade on Putin was no different. In the former Top Gear star's latest column he wittingly blames Vladimir Putin's height for Russia's invasion on Ukraine.Jeremy's actions, both privately and as a Top Gear presenter, have sometimes resulted in criticism from the media, politicians, pressure groups and the public.However, with such a significant public following Jeremy was credited as a major factor in the resurgence of Top Gear as one of the most popular shows on the BBC.Jeremy, acting no different, used his Times column to humorously blame Putin's height for why he's gone "mad".He penned: "The real reason for the madness is more simple.

Vladimir Putin has shocked Kremlin officials by ordering a nuclear war evacuation drill amidst the ongoing severe tension with the West, a source has claimed.

Louise Redknapp revealed she can never relax in hotel rooms due to what other guests may have been up to before her stay.The star was welcomed onto Channel 4's Sunday Brunch and sat alongside Ricky Wilson on started talking about hotel accommodation during the show.Talking to hosts Simon Rimmer and Tim Lovejoy she said she never fully chill out when staying in hotels as she struggles to get certain things out of her mind.Louise said she can't fully enjoy the baths because she worries about how clean they are and the bodies that have been in there before.She explained: "When I'm in the bath I start thinking how many other people have been in the bottom of this bath and I'm sitting there as well, It's all wrong It feels like I'm oversharing."She then went on to say how she doesn't even like laying on the pillows due to what substances may have been left on them, hinting at what many hotel stays are used for.Louise said: "It's like all the pillows, you know the extra pillows, they probably don't change them every time someone new comes into the room and you wonder what's happened on those pillows..."She continued: "I can't get it out of my mind if I fall asleep on the extra cushions its so wrong."This comes after Louise has called Robert Rinder an "inspiration" due to him heading over to Ukraine on a rescue mission.The Judge Rinder star to help his Strictly Come Dancing partner Oksana Platero to save her family at the border.Robert, 43, shared the emotional reunion with her family members on social media, showing fans the moments they crossed the border into Poland.Emotional on the post he wrote a heartwarming caption about how they had provided urgent medical supplies to them.He said: "Auntie Lidya and Grandma Zoya.

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has been shot dead by Ukraine's forces the besieged nation has claimed in yet another significant blow to Vladimir Putin's military.While Kyiv claims to have killed five army generals, first rank captain Andrey Paliy, 51, is the only senior naval officer allegedly killed in the war in Ukraine.His death came as Russia claimed to have hit a training facility for foreign fighters killing more than 100 special forces personnel and non-Ukrainian mercenaries.Konstantin Tsarenko, secretary of the public council of the Sevastopol Nakhimov Naval School and friend to Paliy, has appeared to confirm the officer's death, although it has not been officially acknowledged by Moscow.However, the exact circumstances of his reported death are not known, but one account said that the naval officer had been involved with Russian marine attacks near Mariupol.Paliy was born in Kyiv and in 1993 refused to take the Ukrainian military oath, instead serving in the Russian Northern Fleet.He had earlier served on the Russian nuclear missile cruiser "Peter the Great”, and as the deputy head of the Russian naval academy in Sevastopol, in annexed Crimea.Ukrainian official Anton Gerashchenko claimed Paliy’s death early today without giving further details.Russia again today used hypersonic Kinzhal missiles on “military targets” in Ukraine, according to the defence ministry in Moscow.“A Kinzhal attack on a fuel and lubricants base from which fuel for Ukrainian armoured vehicles was supplied was launched from the airspace over Crimea,” said a statement.High-precision airborne missiles also struck a training centre for “foreign mercenaries” near the village of Ovruch, in Zhytomyr Region, claimed then Russians.The type of missile

Russia and Vladimir Putin hemorrhages Western friends, they may be forced to turn to China and sell off assets after being crippled by a series of sanctions by European nations. This would render Russia, in effect, “China’s colony," claims Harry Kazianis, an expert on US foreign policy and national security issues involving China.

Good Morning Britain guest host Rob Rinder has weighed in on Piers Morgan's exit from the hit ITV news show, branding it "lucrative".Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, the Judge Rinder star, 43, candidly discussed the Uncensored TalkTV show host's new presenting role, as well as his own role as brand ambassador for Fletchers Solicitors and Patient Claim Line.When asked how he landed the presenting stint alongside his close friend Susanna Reid, the star shared his thoughts on Piers' exit.Rob said: "Obviously, once Piers moved to pastures new and more lucrative they looked around and thought that I might be a good person to sit next to Susanna."And what greater joy could there be, then to discover that they were entirely right."Rob and several other famous faces including Richard Madeley and Adil Ray joined the GMB panel in March 2021 following Piers' exit.However, when asked whether he had any worries about filling the former newspaper editor's shoes, the barrister insisted that he didn't."Not really, I mean, lots of people have opinions on Piers, but people who actually know him will tell you," Rob said before cutting himself off.He continued: "The reason he continues to survive in this business that's full of sharks is because he's - there's a lovely Yiddish word - he's a Mensch."He's the type of friend and person that you absolutely want in your corner," Rob added.The term is defined as "a person of integrity and honour".The legal expert went on: "You will really struggle privately to find somebody who's got anything unkind to say about Piers, who really knows him."It says a great deal, actually, you know, he says it and calls it like he says it," he added.Speaking about his presenting responsibilities on GMB, Rob

Vladimir Putin's rumoured lover Alina Kabaeva is one of the most decorated gymnasts in history - and she was once dubbed "Russia's most flexible woman". Kabaeva was born in Uzbekistan, but after the fall of the Soviet Union, she opted to represent Russia internationally.

Leicester City striker mentioned wanting a penguin or a giraffe as a pet. The former England international has also revealed he found out how to buy a giraffe. However, his comments have brought a warning from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), who reminded the 35-year-old of how the sale of exotic pets can harm the animals.

The Clash‘s ‘London Calling’ into a protest song against the Russian invasion – listen to ‘Kyiv Calling’ below.Ukraine has officially severed diplomatic ties with Russia, and declared martial law, after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an attack on the neighbouring nation on February 24. Since then, The United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has estimated that the conflict has claimed 1,900 civilian casualties.

Russia firing deadly thermobaric multiple launch rockets in UkraineThe weapons are known to "melt" enemy targets, with the vacuum that follows the horrifying explosions understood to be strong enough to rupture organs and cause deadly internal damage.The clip seen on social media has caused widespread fear and anger – with many people slamming the Russian President Vladimir Putin as "evil".In the terrifying footage, the large rocket launcher can be seen firing 11 times in quick succession, as fire blasts out the back and catches to the surrounding area.The tweet from @JimmySecUK states: "The first visual confirmation of the Russian TOS-1a thermobaric MLRS being fired in Ukraine."One person wrote in response: "It sets fire to everything around it. That's a very nasty weapon."Another said: "These weapons create long-lasting fireballs that kill over massive areas, even in buildings." It was previously reported that Russia has access to a range of thermobaric weapons, including the TOS-1 "Buratino" and TOS-1A "Solntsepek".They have been named as some of the most dangerous weapons currently available on the battlefield.