Ukraine Needs a Lot of Things, but Sean Penn’s Drama Isn’t One of Them (Column)

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.

Ukraine could have been the key to helping defeat Vladimir Putin's prize Moskva. Admiral Lord Alan West, a Falklands War hero, made the claims after Russian authorities admitted the vessel had been sunk on the Black Sea.According to reports, Ukraine claims to have hit the vessel with a cruise missile after using drones to distract the 12,490-tonne warships defences.

golden retriever puppy playing in Ukraine as bombs rained down around him has "miraculously" made it to his new home.Dog lover Jennifer Weems had already forked out for gorgeous Timon when news broke of Vladimir Putin ordering Russian troops to invade Ukraine in his 'special military operation'. As tanks rolled into cities and airstrikes were fired at buildings, Jennifer feared she would never be able to welcome Timon into her house of golden retrievers in Tennessee, US. She even felt "immense guilt" asking for a refund but Timon's breeder Irina was determined not to give up on getting the pooch where he belonged — even with a war going on.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has banned Boris Johnson from ever entering Russia. The UK prime minister and members of his Cabinet are on a list of people sanctioned by the Kremlin over 'hostile actions of the British government'.

Nicola Sturgeon has been banned from entering Russia after she was sanctioned this morning along with other British politicians as part of a Kremlin “stop list”.

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.

Russia has banned the UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson and a list of other senior ministers from entering the country over what it describes as the UK’s “hostile” position regarding its war with Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine, SAS troops are training forces in Kyiv to aid them in their resistance against Vladimir Putin's troops. According to Ukrainian commanders, two battalions have undergone military training for serving British special forces in recent weeks.

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.

New York Post, John happily spoke about several of his box office bombs, indicating, "I always have the best time off-camera on those movies because you've got to make up for it."However, he noted that he could have done without 1996's "Executive Decision," in which he and Steven starred. "Yeah, I did not have a good time with Steven Seagal. No one has," John said.

New York Post, John happily spoke about several of his box office bombs, indicating, "I always have the best time off-camera on those movies because you've got to make up for it."However, he noted that he could have done without 1996's "Executive Decision," in which he and Steven starred. "Yeah, I did not have a good time with Steven Seagal. No one has," John said.

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

Chelsea.The controversial Chicago Cubs owners have announced this afternoon that they won't be submitting a final bid to buy the club, with the consortium members apparently unable to agree the final composition of their offer.

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.

Steven Seagal. The martial arts star isn’t exactly a ubiquitous presence on the late-night talk show circuit. The action hits of his heyday don’t festoon the banners at the top of Netflix.