Russian commander told soldiers 'kill them all' before 5,000 civilians murdered in Mariupol

Ukrainian minesweeping dog that took the internet by storm has now successfully sniffed out 'hundreds of Russian explosives'.Patron (Bullet in English) is an adorable two-and-a-half-year-old Jack Russell helping to remove mines left by retreating Russian forces in the Chernihiv region, north of Kyiv.The hero pooch first made headlines last month after he was pictured at work donning a miniature Ukrainian military vest. Since then the landscape of the conflict has changed dramatically with Vladimir Putin pulling troops out of northern Ukraine where their war effort was faltering badly.

Soprano Anna Netrebko has been hired by the Monte Carlo Opera to sing this month following the Metropolitan Opera's decision to drop her for failing to repudiate Russia President Vladimir Putin. The Monte Carlo Opera said Thursday that Netrebko will sing the title role in Puccini's "Manon Lescaut" in performances on April 22, 24, 27 and 30.The 50-year-old Russian replaces an originally announced Maria Agresta. Tenor Yusif Eyvazov, Netrebko's husband, is scheduled to sing Des Grieux.

Vladimir Putin’s regime admitted last night that the Moskva had been sunk in the Black Sea.The Russians insist it had been put out of action by a fire on board and had then sunk during bad weather while it was under tow.But the Ukrainians say they successfully struck it with Neptune missiles – a claim that Western observers believe is entirely credible. Now the Ukrainian government has taken to social media, saying on Twitter: “The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine reminds the Russian navy that the Black Sea straits are closed for entry only.

Ukrainian officials have claimed.First Rank Captain Anton Kuprin, 44, was reportedly killed after the ship was fatally holed by Ukrainian Neptune missiles, according to Kyiv sources.The Moskva was one of Vladimir Putin's largest ships and had already been used to devastating effect in the conflict, most notably at Snake Island.After asking the defenders of the island to surrender, the Moskva's captain was told to "go f*** himself" by the brave soldiers.Kuprin gave the order to bombard Snake Island on the first day of the war.He “died during an explosion and fire on board the former flagship of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation,” said Anton Gerashenko, advisor to the Kyiv interior ministry.The official added: “We do not mourn.”Other sources support the claim that Captain Kuprin was killed.Russia has claimed that the crew was evacuated but there are increasing fears for lost lives on the battleship.A “farewell ceremony” to the cruiser is due to be held in Sevastopol today at a monument in honour of the 300th anniversary of the Russian fleet.There was no immediate confirmation from Moscow on Kuprin, but Russia has failed to announce many prominent military deaths in the 51-day war.For more shocking stories from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.Exiled Russian politician Ilya Ponomarev, 46, who eight years ago was the only MP to vote against Vladimir Putin ’s annexation of Crimea, said today he believes only 58 out of a usual crew number of 510 survived the Moskva disaster.There are also reports that Vice Admiral Igor Osipov, commander of the Black Sea Fleet, has been detained over the loss of the flagship.It comes following fears that the Moskva ship may have had nuclear cruise

Russian soldiers in Bucha has been laid bare after a brave testimony from a woman who says troops bragged about brutally killing her neighbour and admitted to enjoying taking lives.Maurine Mercier, a journalist at Radio Télévision Suisse, met Ekatarina (not her real name) 38, and her 13-year-old daughter, who was the target of Russian soldiers before the brave mother pleaded with them not to rape her. Ekatarina was gang-raped before an 18-year-old soldier took her to the bloodied body of her slain neighbour to brag about killing her. Even more chillingly, Ekaterina said the young soldier admitted to enjoying killing.

A British fighter captured by Russian forces has been pictured with gashes to his face and a swollen eye, in a move believed to be motivated by propaganda.

probable sinking of one of Vladimir Putin’s biggest warships in the Black Sea is one of the most stunning military achievements in modern naval history.That’s the opinion of one historian following the widespread reports that the Moskva was sunk after being hit by Neptune missiles in the ongoing war that followed the Russian invasion of Ukraine.In a fascinating Twitter thread, author and historian Chris Owen (@ChrisO_wiki) described the attack on the Moskva, if confirmed, as “likely to go down in history as one of the most audaciously successful attacks in modern naval history”.He added: “If she's been sunk, the Moskva will be the biggest warship lost since WW2: at 12,490 tons she's bigger than Argentina's General Belgrano, sunk by the Royal Navy in 1982 [during the Falklands War].“Apart from the symbolism of her likely loss, she's of great military value as a platform for air defence and missile bombardment of land targets. Her loss is of great significance to both sides.”The Moskva infamously attacked Snake Island early during the war, when the brave Ukrainian defenders told the ship to "go f**k yourself".

Vladimir Putin’s forces invaded his new home, Aiden who had previously volunteered to fight against ISIS in Syria, took up arms once again.Earlier this week however he contacted his friends and family back in Blighty to reveal that his unit had run out of food and ammo and were on the brink of surrender.He said: “It’s been 48 days. We tried our best to defend Mariupol but we have no choice but to surrender to Russian forces.”Aiden's mum Ang added: "I love my son, he is my hero – they put up one hell of a fight."He is expected to be used by the Russians for propaganda purposes, but there is some hope Aiden may eventually be released as part of a prisoner exchange.Meanwhile, Ukrainian fighters are putting up a hellish last stand in tunnels under an abandoned steel plant in Mariupol as Russian forces close in on the besieged port city.This is a breaking news story and is being constantly updated.

Ukrainian military has sunk one of Vladimir Putin's biggest warships in the Black Sea, it has been claimed.Multiple sources on social media have claimed that the warship Moskva was destroyed by Ukrainian missiles and sent to 'the bottom of the sea'.Taking to Twitter, one reporter said: "Multiple reports the Moskva one of three Russian Slava Class missile cruisers and the Black Sea flagship was hit by Ukrainian missiles and left burning in the Black Sea."Speaking on Ukrainian TV, presidential advisor Oleksiy Arestovych said: "Moskva had been hit by two Neptune anti ship missiles and was on fire in rough seas."The Russian Defence Ministry have said that the Moskva's crew has been told to evacuate and an investigation is underway into what caused the fire and serious damage on the ship.The Moskva is one of Putin's largest ships and has already been used to devastating effect in the conflict, most notably at Snake Island.After asking the defenders of the island to surrender, the Moskva's captain was told to "go f*** himself" by the brave soldiers. Amazingly, the Ukrainian border guard who uttered the remark survived and has been recognised for his bravery after being released in a prisoner exchange.

Vladimir Putin only named one Russian player when picking out his three favourite football players of all time back in 2018.The Russian president revealed his three favourite footballers of all time whilst speaking to the media ahead of a trip to China before the 2018 World Cup in Russia. However, there was only space for one Russian in his top three, which also included World Cup winners and football icons Diego Maradona and Pele.According to Russian outlet Tass, Putin chose legendary former Soviet Union and Dynamo Moscow goalkeeper Lev Yashin as the third and final player in his top three favourites.Yashin, who was nicknamed the 'Black Spider', is regarded by many as the greatest goalkeeper in the history of football and is the only keeper to have ever won the Ballon d'Or.He spent his entire 20-year playing career with Dynamo Moscow, winning five Soviet league titles and three Soviet Cups during this period.For his country, he was part of a side which won the maiden Euros in France in 1960 as well as an Olympic gold medal at the 1956 games in Melbourne, Australia.Is Lev Yashin the greatest goalkeeper of all time? Let us know in the comments section below.In addition to his 1963 Ballon d'Or win, he was also named the European goalkeeper of the year on nine separate occasions during his 20 seasons as a professional.As well as naming Pele, Maradona and Yashin as his three favourite footballers of all-time, Putin also explained his dedication to sport, claiming: "I dedicate about two to two and a half hours to sports every day.”He is said to enjoy the gym, swimming and judo when it comes to his daily exercise, but also has a fondness for ice hockey, adding: "I also play hockey though not so often as I would like to.

Ukraine said in a video address to South Korean lawmakers yesterday (Monday, April 11): "Mariupol has been destroyed, there are tens of thousands of dead, but even despite this, the Russians are not stopping their offensive." His message reportedly confirmed the largest number of dead Ukrainian citizens in one place since war broke out on February 24.However, the number hasn't yet been confirmed by further sources.But the head of the Russia-backed self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, told Russia's RIA news agency that more than 5,000 people may have been killed in Mariupol but insists Ukrainian forces were responsible.The news comes after reports emerged that Vladimir Putin had allegedly unleashed chemical weapons on the city of Mariupol. The "poisonous substance" which is from an "unknown origin" was used to target civilians and is reported to have left people suffering from respiratory failure and neurological problems.The Azov Regiment in Mariupol reports what could be the Russian use of chemical weapons against the entrenched Ukrainian garrison in the city.The Regiment's report reads: "The victims have respiratory failure, vestibulo-atactic syndrome.

The Foreign Secretary has vowed to hold Vladimir Putin "and his regime to account" if it is proven Russian forces used chemical agents in an attack on Mariupol.

Vladimir Putin is not officially on the list. Iryna Venediktova, a prosecutor, told Sky News that Putin was the “main war criminal of the 21st century” as she provided details of the number of bodies recovered from the region following Russia's humiliating retreat from the area.

Vladimir Putin backers have cruised down a motorway flying Russian flags in a "disgusting" demonstration. The invasion of Ukraine where towns have been obliterated and thousands of people killed has clearly not weakened everyone's support for the Kremlin.

brutal invasion of Ukraine continues. The latest example of incompetence by Vladimir Putin’s forces resulted in local forces mocking the Russians, claiming they don’t even know how to understand the weather.The Luhansk Regional Military Administration said: "The Russians do not know how to fight – they did not even calculate which direction the wind blows."Images of the brown cloud of noxious gas appeared from under-fire Luhansk Oblast as parts of the region – Rubizhne, Lysychansk, Kreminna, Severodonetsk and Zolote – endured heavy bombardments over the weekend.On Saturday, Governor of Luhansk Oblast Serhiy Haidai said: "Chemical attack again! Near Rubezhnoye, the orcs hit a tank with nitric acid again!"He advised residents to "not come out of hiding" and to "close all doors and windows" in homes.Haidai pointed out: "Effects on humans: nitric acid is dangerous if inhaled, swallowed or in contact with skin and mucous membranes."The governor added that the "acidic fumes are irritating to the respiratory tract" and can lead to "bronchitis, dizziness, drowsiness and – in severe poisoning – pulmonary oedema".It’s just the latest example of own goals suffered by the occupying Russian forces.

Ukraine faces a 15-year sentence after one of the students reported her. Irina Gen, a 45-year-old English teacher from the city of Penza in Russia, is facing criminal prosecution for discussing Russia's war in Ukraine with her eighth-grade class.

A nine-year-old Ukrainian girl wrote a heartbreaking letter to her mum who was killed when a car they were in together was shelled by Russian forces - calling her 'the best mom in the world'. The contents of the note, which appears to have been written in a diary, was revealed on Twitter by Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

Ukraine as Vladimir Putin insists that "all is going to plan". The grieving widows, mothers, and sisters of Russian soldiers killed as a result of the conflict have slammed Putin for tearing their families apart.

Russian troops discussing the horrific massacre in Bucha, Ukraine. National intelligence agency BND told the German parliament on Wednesday (April 6) that they had accessed conversations between members of Vladimir Putin's armed forces in Ukraine, according to Der Spiegel magazine.In the statement they reportedly said that some of the communications matched with known deaths.

Russian war crimes have been documented in a scathing new report, with Amnesty International reporting one case of a mum who was raped at gunpoint after her husband was shot dead in Ukraine. Her young son hid in a a nearby boiler room as his mother was violated in one of a series of war crimes documented in the Amnesty report.More than 20 people from various villages and towns close to Kyiv spoke to Amnesty, with several offering knowledge of or eyewitness accounts of Russian atrocities.They spoke of deliberate killings, unlawful violence and widespread intimidation by invading Russian forces on unarmed civilians.Secretary General of Amnesty International Agnès Callamard said: "In recent weeks, we have gathered evidence that Russian forces have committed extrajudicial executions and other unlawful killings, which must be investigated as likely war crimes.

Vladimir Putin are embarking on a “deliberate campaign” of rape, murder, terror and torture in Bucha, Ukraine, a senior US official has said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was speaking after video and photo evidence of horrendous acts committed by Russian troops in the area, near the Ukraine's capital of Kyiv, emerged, The Mirror reports.Russia has denied committing any acts of violence in the area, and called the photos and videos fakes.