SAS troops are 'training Ukrainian fighters' in war against Russian invaders

Russian troops could be turning back the clock by more than a century after they were reportedly found to be using 'dart' weapons usually associated with World War 1.Locals in the Ukrainian city of Bucha say their homes and gardens have been showered with lethal metal darts, which are thought to have been released from Russian artillery shells during last month's devastating occupation of the town.Military experts say that the tiny projectiles known as flechettes are not usually seen in modern warfare, having been widely used most recently in the Vietnam War.Despite their tiny size at around three centimetres in length, the weapons are highly deadly and can penetrate soft cover to inflict lethal damage when fired at high speed.Local woman Svitlana Chmut told the Washington Post that she had returned home in the last few days to find the darts embedded in her car and scattered across her garden."If you look closely on the ground around my house, you will find a lot more of them," said Ms Chmut, 54.The artillery is not prohibited by international conventions, but some human rights groups criticise their use as “indiscriminate weapons” which could seriously injure civilians even if they were aimed at military formations.Commenting on their use in Ukraine, Amnesty International said: "They should never be used in built-up civilian areas."For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.The darts are not thought to pose a danger to people inside buildings.Meanwhile Britain is set to send Stormer armoured missiles to Ukraine to help blast Vladimir Putin's aircraft out of the sky, according to reports.It is understood the 13-tonne vehicles can be

Ukrainian comrades were "shredded and mutilated" by Russian tanks on the frontline.The sniper nicknamed Wali, who fought alongside the Kurds against ISIS in Syria, in March answered the call of Ukraine's President for foreign troops to join the war effort, saying: "I want to help people, it's as simple as that."Ever since, he has been helping to pick off enemy soldiers and giving Vladimir Putin's forces a good trolling in the process. However, in his latest update, the deadly marksman told of a close shave with a fleet of Russian tanks that saw two Ukrainian soldiers have limbs blown off in a gnarly death. He said that over the weekend he and a comrade called Shadow went to a position surrounded by Russian tanks, in a small forest having earlier left Kyiv when Vladimir Putin's forces retreated.

Vladimir Putin, Ukranian forces appear to have destroyed a £11million Russian Ka-52 helicopter with a rocket launcher worth less than £100.The incident is said to have occurred in the heavily contested Kharkiv region where the two sides are battling intensely.According to the Ukrainian military unit Operational Command 'East' the attack happened as Putin’s helicopters flew low over the terrain under cover of darkness.On the group’s Facebook page, an officer named Yaroslav described the attack.He said: “At night, enemy helicopters went very low. They circled over our positions, not even allowing us to raise our heads.“And an anti-aircraft gunner fired two missiles on them.

Russian tank appearing to drive over one of its own soldiers.Narrated by Ukrainian soldiers, the clip begins with the tank coming out of a container and turning left, where a soldier appears to be laying on the ground. The figure is visible moving around on the ground in the overhead clip, but despite this the armoured vehicle continues in its path, appearing to drive over the soldier."Russians are considered expendables by Russians," commented one person after the video was shared to a threat on Reddit dedicated to information on the conflict in Ukraine."Such is the respect for human life by Russian soldiers," added another person.A third added: "I don't f****** understand these Russians they're all just a bunch of untrained maniacs in camo...

Ukraine as the war enters a deadly new phase, according to the Ukrainian president.Missile blasts and troop movements were witnessed across the Donbas region on Monday, only days after Vladimir Putin withdrew Russian forces from the area around Kyiv to focus on capturing land near the Russian border.Volodymr Zelenskyy described the development as the beginning of the "Battle of Donbas" and said the Ukrainian army had been expecting the latest assault.Striking a defiant tone in the rousing speech, the actor-turned-President claimed he was confident his army could repel the invaders.He said in a video address: "We can now say that Russian forces have started the battle of the Donbas, for which they have long prepared."No matter how many Russian soldiers are driven there, we will fight. We will defend ourselves.

Vladimir Putin's pal and propaganda chief raged on live TV trying to explain why Russian has not won its war on Ukraine.Margarita Simonyan who is the editor-in-chief of RT, Russia's state-controlled news organisation kicked off when pundits questioned the country's ongoing invasion. The propagandist fumed that Russia is not only up against Ukrainian soldiers but NATO too, which is delaying the bloodthirsty "operation" now 53 days in, the Express reports.Live on Vladimir Solovyov's popular Russia-1 show, Ms Simonyan — a friend of the president — struggled to explain "why we haven't won yet".Julia Davis, from Daily Beast, tweeted a clip of Ms Simonyan's response "when one pundit on Russian state TV tries to ask why it's taking so long for Russia to win in Ukraine".Ms Davis tweeted: "Head of RT Margarita Simonyan nearly pecks his head off, as she argues that Russia is fighting NATO in Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin has lost his eighth general fighting in Ukraine, in another major blow to his war effort.Major General Vladimir Frolov, deputy commander of the 8th Combined Arms Army, was laid to rest with full military honours in St Petersburg.It is unknown how he died or where he met his demise but it is believed he had been deployed in the area around besieged Mariupol.Alexander Beglov, the governor of St Petersburg, said at his burial: “A true patriot, a brave and brave man, he honestly and to the end fulfilled his military and human duty. The people will not forget their heroes.

Vladimir Putin met with a European leader for the first time since he launched an invasion of Ukraine and issued a chilling rebuke of Western criticism of his regime's war crimes. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer met with President Putin in Moscow last week, however the Chancellor told NBC News that “it was not a friendly conversation”.Chancellor Nehammer had visited Bucha in Ukraine, the site of a disturbing massacre after a Russian retreat where more than 350 bodies were found, some of which showed evidence of torture under Russian occupation.Days later, he travelled to Russia where he wanted "to confront President Putin" about what he saw in Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin's forces before being paraded on Russian TV. Ex-British Army soldier Shaun Pinner, 48, was serving as a 'contract soldier' with Ukrainian forces in Russian-occupied Mariupol as the area has been decimated by shelling.He claims to have been there for five to six weeks before appearing on the broadcast with no visible wounds, giving information about his service.He told the journalist Andrey Rudenko on the military TV channel: "I am Shaun Pinner.

Russia's Black Sea Fleet has gone up in flames as satellite images show other vessels trying to rescue crew members on board.

Boris Johnson from entering Russia in response to the UK government's Ukraine war sanctions. Boris Johnson tops the Russian "stop" list of UK subjects no longer allowed to enter the Russian Federation, alongside Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss and others.Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement: "In connection with the unprecedented hostile actions of the British government, expressed, in particular, in the imposition of sanctions against top officials of the Russian Federation, a decision was made to include key members of the British government and a number of political figures in the Russian 'stop list'."Also in Vlad's bad books is Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and former Prime Minister Theresa May, who authorised sanctions after the Salisbury poison incident in 2018.Dominic Raab, Priti Patel and Ben Wallace are also listed on the no-fly list as Putin seeks to exercise his authority.

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.

Russian military have attacked Kyiv with an air assault and promised more missile assaults following the sinking of one of their top ships in the Black Sea.

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.

troops are currently in Estonia and are prepared to face down the Russian army.The soldiers are there as part of the NATO battle group deployed to protect the Baltic country in case of a Russian invasion.Lieutenant Colonel Ru Streatfeild, who commands the NATO battle group, said his troops are "100%" ready if Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Estonia, adding “our soldiers are immensely proud to be here”.But it is an “immense responsibility”, he said, adding that he knows his battle plan in the event of a Russian attack.Estonian officials told the Daily Express they “must assume” Vladimir Putin will one day invade their country.Asked if NATO forces were prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, Lt Col Streatfeild said: “100%. There is swagger. They are on their game and they are ready.

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 youngsters who escaped Vladimir Putin’s troops have been welcomed into Scotland with 'open arms'.