Latest news about Russia and the war in Ukraine

Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kirilenko leveled new accusations against Russia of using phosphorous bombs in eastern Ukraine.

“In Marinka, Krasnohorivka and Novomykailievka of the Donetsk region, the enemy again used phosphorous shells,” he said in the Telegram messaging application.

“After the bombing, 11 civilians wounded from the Mariinsky community, including four children, were taken to the hospital of the city of Kurakhiv, and in the morning the Ocheretin community came under enemy fire, as a result of which two people were wounded.”

CNBC was unable to independently verify these reports.

A Russian government spokesman could not be reached for comment.

Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, have previously accused Russian forces of using phosphorous weapons.

According to Human Rights Watch, the white form of the chemical phosphorous can “burn bones, ignite inside the body and re-ignite when bandages are removed.” But the organization Says Weapons containing white phosphorous are not covered by Protocol III to the Certain Conventional Weapons Convention, the international instrument that regulates incendiary weapons.

– Chloe Taylor

Kharkiv Governor Oli Senegubov said in Telegram Thursday that Russian forces are refusing to allow humanitarian corridors in Kharkiv despite the bombing of the area with attacks.

‘We are working every day to open [humanitarian] “But Russia does not yet give us such an opportunity,” he said.

He added that the Russian forces launched 47 artillery, mortar and tank shells last night in separate areas of Kharkiv, as well as about 380 Grad and Tornado missiles. A gas pipeline was damaged, which led to a fire, Sengupov said.

CNBC was unable to independently verify these reports.

– Chloe Taylor

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshuk confirmed that humanitarian corridors will be opened in the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol, Melitopol and Energodar today.

She said in a Telegram post that Russia had given “emphasis on its willingness” to abide by the corridors that would allow the evacuation of civilians and the import of vital supplies.

Early attempts to evacuate civilians from Mariupol It had to be stopped When the Ukrainian authorities said that the Russian forces were not respecting the cease-fire agreements that had been established.

Thousands of civilians are trapped in the city’s conflict zone, facing shortages of vital supplies including food, water and medicine.

The capture of Mariupol would be a major victory for Russia, as it could allow Moscow to establish a land corridor to Crimea, a peninsula in southern Ukraine that it invaded and annexed in 2014.

– Chloe Taylor

Russian President Vladimir Putin He misjudged the situation in Ukraine, but his advisors are afraid The head of the British Secret Intelligence Service told him the truth of what was happening on the ground.

“It appears increasingly that Putin has grossly misjudged the situation. It is clear that he misjudged the resistance of the Ukrainian people,” Jeremy Fleming, director of Britain’s spy agency, GCHQ, said in a speech in Australia on Thursday.

Referring to the conflict in Ukraine as Putin’s “personal war,” Fleming said the Russian leader also downplayed the economic consequences of the sanctions regime as well as Russia’s military capabilities.

“We have seen Russian soldiers – who lack weapons and morale – refuse to carry out orders, sabotage their own equipment and even accidentally shoot down their planes,” he said.

“And while we think Putin’s advisers are afraid to tell him the truth, what’s going on and how much of this miscalculation should be made abundantly clear to the system.”

– Chloe Taylor

David Arachhamiya, a Ukrainian official involved in negotiations with Russia, said in a video message that Russia and Ukraine will resume their talks on April 1.

Speaking to Ukrainian television, Arachhamiya said the Russian negotiating team had no leeway and should discuss minor details of the talks with the Kremlin. But he said that while President Zelensky has given the Ukrainian team red lines that are not crossed – such as ceding territory – they have much more room for flexibility than their Russian counterparts.

– Chloe Taylor

The United Kingdom said on Thursday that “major” Russian bombing and missile strikes were continuing on the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, and Russian forces continued to maintain positions near Kyiv, despite Moscow’s promises otherwise.

British Ministry of Defense: “Russian forces continue to maintain their positions in eastern and western Kyiv despite the withdrawal of a limited number of units.” He said in an intelligence briefing.

Chernihiv is located about 90 miles (145 km) north of Kyiv and 40 miles (64 km) south of the Russian border.

A Russian defense official said Wednesday that Moscow It will “significantly” reduce military activity Near Chernihiv and the capital Kyiv, NBC News reported.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urged caution about believing in Moscow’s promises. The press office of the Russian Defense Ministry was not immediately available to provide comment for CNBC.

The British ministry said heavy fighting was “likely to take place in the outskirts” of Kyiv in the coming days. Since last week, Ukrainian forces have begun to report that cities near the capital have been retaken.

The situation around the capital is volatile, and it is difficult or impossible to verify those Ukrainian claims.

“You see the Ukrainians trying to take advantage of opportunities and push the Russians back where they can,” said Dan de Los, NBC News’ global security correspondent.

Heavy fighting continues in Mariupol in the south, but the UK ministry said Ukrainian defenders still held the city centre. Mariupol was largely destroyed by Russian artillery and missiles.

– Ted Kemp