Ukraine-Russia latest: Putin faced ‘bloodiest month’ of war in September as Zelensky pitches victory plan

Two men suspected of attacking Leonid Volkov, an exiled aide to late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, may be released on bail from detention in Poland, a court has ruled.

Volkov suffered injuries from hammer blows in the attack on March 12 outside his home in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital. Two men suspected of attacking him were arrested in Poland in April on a European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuania.

“Each must pay 50,000 zlotys ($12,700) bail within a week... If they pay, they will be released, if they don’t pay, they won’t be released,” Piotr Jaszke, the lawyer of one of the suspects told Reuters.

Navalny, Russia’s most prominent opposition leader, died in February after collapsing at the Arctic penal colony where he was serving a long jail term.

The Ukrainian president and the Prime Minister embraced outside No 10 before a series of talks which will also involve Nato’s new secretary-general Mark Rutte.

The visit was Mr Zelensky’s second trip to Number 10 since Sir Keir came to power after he addressed an extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet in July.

Mr Zelensky has been presenting his “victory plan” to Western leaders as he lobbies for greater military assistance, such as permission to use equipment including UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to hit targets within Russia.

Welcoming Mr Zelensky in No 10’s Pillared Room, Sir Keir said it was “very important we’re able to show our continued commitment to support Ukraine” and it was a chance to “go through the plan, to talk in more detail”.

The pair then held private talks in the Small Dining Room before conversations involving their wider teams.

Defence Secretary John Healey, Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and National Security Adviser Sir Tim Barrow were among the senior figures involved in the meeting with the Ukrainians.

The UK and US have so far stopped short of explicitly giving Kyiv permission to fire Western-supplied missiles at targets within Vladimir Putin’s country over concerns about further escalating the conflict, but Mr Zelensky has likened his position to having to fight with his hands tied.

The UK’s sanctions against Russia, worth £20billion, are set to be strengthened as the Government launches a new unit to penalise companies who do not comply.

The new Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI), launching today, will work with industry to make complying with sanctions obligations as straightforward as possible by issuing guidance and user-friendly online tools.

For the minority of businesses that don’t comply to sanctions, OTSI will have powers to publish information about sanctions breaches and impose civil monetary penalties.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “Sanctions are vital in defunding Putin’s illegal war and only by working hand in hand with business can we make them as effective as possible.

“This new unit will help ensure businesses comply with trade sanctions and take decisive enforcement action where needed so that, together with business, we can continue to exert maximum pressure on Putin’s regime.”

Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street as the pair discuss the UK’s support for Kyiv.

The Prime Minister said it was a chance for the Ukrainian leader to talk through his plans in more detail.

Sir Keir said it was “very important we’re able to show our continued commitment to support Ukraine” and it was a chance to “go through the plan, to talk in more detail”.

A flurry of Russian airstrikes injured four people and damaged 29 buildings in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia early on Thursday, its regional governor said.

Ukraine’s national police said Russian forces had used glide bombs in three strikes on the city, according to preliminary information.

Zaporizhzhia, an important logistical and industrial hub, has been pounded by Russian guided bombs in recent weeks.

Russian forces partially occupy the Zaporizhzhia region, one of four in Ukraine that Moscow claims to have annexed. The region is also home to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, also currently controlled by Russian forces.

Ukraine’s military said its forces have struck a base in southern Russia’s Krasnodar region storing hundreds of Shahed drones, scoring several hits.

A statement by the General Staff said the attack was carried out jointly by naval forces and the SBU intelligence service.

“According to available information, nearly 400 strike drones were stored there,” the statement said. “Based on objective control results, a direct hit was made on the target. Secondary explosions were observed at the site.”

It said the attack was carried out near a village identified as Oktyabrsky.

French president Emmanuel Macron inspected the training of Ukrainian troops at a military camp in eastern France yesterday, a show of support for Ukraine as its Western allies mull a victory plan championed by Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian brigade that Macron visited is being battle-readied and armed by France for frontline deployment against the Russian invasion. For security reasons, Macron’s office said the base’s specific location could not be reported.

French military personnel are training 2,300 Ukrainian soldiers at the camp, teaching them how to use and maintain French-supplied weapons, and subjecting them to combat-like conditions, with stress, noise and drones.