Ukraine-Russia war live: At least 21 injured after Putin’s forces hit Kharkiv apartment block with glide bomb

The United States is preparing a $375m military aid package for Ukraine, breaking a months-long trend towards smaller packages for Kyiv for its military operations against Russia, two US officials said.

The latest package comes at a crucial time in the war, as Russia pummels Ukraine‘s energy grid ahead of the critical winter months.

The aid package, expected to be announced next week, includes patrol boats, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS), 155 and 105 millimeter artillery ammunition, spare parts and other weapons, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The contents and size of the package could change in the coming days ahead of the president’s expected signature.

Australia is looking to send its decommissioned Abrams battle tanks to aid Ukraine in the war against Russia.

Officials from the Anthony Albanese administration are working on a plan with the US to send the retired battle tanks, reported The Sydney Morning Herald.

Australia’s former army chief Peter Leahy, who served from 2003 to 2008 in the top role, said he was baffled why the decision to send them hadn’t been made already.

“I’m bemused why the tanks aren’t on offer to Ukraine,” he said. “Although we are retiring them, they are a very competent tank, they should be well-maintained, there are spare parts available and the Ukrainians are very keen to get them,” the former army chief said.

Vladimir Kara-Murza, one of the faces of Russian opposition to Putin alongside Evan Gershkovich, sits down with The Independent for the first time since being freed in a historic prisoner swap. Tom Watling reports.

The erratic life of a struggling roofing contractor suspected of trying to shoot Donald Trump swerved from bounced checks to a weapon felony conviction and a quixotic plan to help Ukraine fight Russia’s invasion, before culminating in what appears to be a foiled assassination plot.

Ryan Routh, 58, was charged with two gun-related crimes in a federal court in Florida on Monday, a day after he was spotted with a rifle hiding in shrubbery on the property line of Trump’s golf course. More charges are expected.

Reuters found profiles on X, Facebook and LinkedIn for a Ryan Routh, and public access to the Facebook and X profiles was removed hours after the shooting.

The three accounts bearing Routh’s name showed he supported Ukraine in its war against Russia.

On 21 April, Routh directed an X message to Elon Musk, writing: “I would like to buy a rocket from you. I wish to load it with a warhead for Putins Black sea mansion bunker to end him. Can you give me a price please.”

The New York Times reported it had interviewed Routh in 2023 for an article about Americans who were volunteering to help the Ukraine war effort. Routh told the Times he travelled to Ukraine, spent several months there in 2022 and was trying to recruit Afghan soldiers who fled the Taliban to fight in Ukraine.

One current and another former US volunteer serving with the foreign legion of Ukraine’s army said they recalled Routh and believed that he spent time in the western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk. Both of them said he exhibited odd behaviour.