Ukraine-Russia latest: Six Russian soldiers given France visas after fleeing Vladimir Putin’s war
Russian soldier says ‘worst is behind me’ after fleeing Putin’s war on Ukraine
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France has reportedly granted visas to six Russian soldiers who fled Vladimir Putin’s invasion in Ukraine.
An organisation assisting deserters said the six had all reached Paris on separate flights over the past few months, with one telling The Guardian “it was the first time I could breathe fully”.
Neither France nor Russia have commented officially on the report. If confirmed, it would be the first case of a European nation granting political asylum to Russian deserters.
On the frontline, Russia’s advance has forced Ukrainian officials to order the evacuation of Kupiansk city and three other locations in the Kharkiv region. Kupiansk was captured by Russia in the early stages of the war but liberated later in 2022.
At least 19 battles have taken place near Kupiansk over the past 24 hours, with seven still raging, Ukrainian military officials said.
Late last night the US said it was “concerned” by reports of North Korean soldiers deployed by Russia in Ukraine.
“Such a move would also indicate a new level of desperation for Russia as it continues to suffer significant casualties on the battlefield in its brutal war against Ukraine,” White House national security council spokesperson Sean Savett said.
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Deal with North Korea is ‘unambigous’, Russia says
Russia has said a treaty signed with North Korea provides “strategic cooperation” in all areas.
Russian president Vladimir Putin signed the treaty with North Korea earlier this year but did not respond when asked how it might be put into practice.
Putin said the treaty includes a mutual assistance clause, in which each side committed to help resist external aggression.
When Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked whether Russia could be drawn into backing North Korea in a conflict on the back of this treaty, he said the wording of the agreement was “quite unambiguous”.
It implies “truly strategic deep cooperation in all areas, including security” he told reporters, according to Reuters.
Six Russian soldiers get visa to France in bid to escape Putin's war
France has granted visas to six Russian soldiers who fled Vladimir Putin’s invasion in Ukraine, marking the first ever case of a European country offering respite to deserters.
The men reached Paris on separate flights over the last few months, according to an organisation assisting soldiers in fleeing and accounts from the deserters. They initially left Russia for Kazakhstan in 2022 and 2023.
One of the deserters, Alexander, a former contract soldier who left Russia in the summer last year, told The Guardian he felt a sense of freedom.
“When I landed in France, it was the first time I could breathe fully. I felt a sense of calmness and freedom … the worst was behind me,” he said.
No official comments have been issued by France or Russia to confirm the developments.
If the soldiers are granted political asylum it would be the first case of an EU nation hosting Russian servicemen fleeing Mr Putin’s war.
Biden's botched Afghanistan exit encouraged Putin to invade Ukraine, book claims
The chaotic and botched exit of Western military forces from Afghanistan encouraged Vladimir Putin in his plans to invade Ukraine, a new book by Bob Woodward claims.
Bob Woodward, a veteran US journalist, recounted an exchange with one of the president’s top Russia experts Eric Green where he suggested the fallout from Afghanistan had emboldened Moscow.
“I think it reinforced Putin’s conceptions about how easy it would be,” Mr Green, a former senior director for Russia and central Asia on the US National Security Council, is quoted as saying.
“Here’s a military force that’s been supported by the US for decades at that stage. They just collapsed. The Americans didn’t back them up,” he said, according to Mr Woodward’s upcoming book War.
Russian Olympic chief quits citing ‘geopolitical challenges’
Russia’s Olympic chief Stanislav Pozdnyakov said he would make way for a replacement, saying the “geopolitical challenges” facing the country mean a “change of leader” is needed.
Russia was banned from competing as a team at the 2024 Paris Games because of the government’s invasion of Ukraine.
Pozdnyakov, who has been in charge since 2018, said: “The geopolitical challenges faced by our country dictate the need to optimise and centralise the management of key spheres of activity, including high-performance sport.
“To further strengthen the Russian Olympic movement, now there are timely preconditions, including economic ones, for a change of leader and team.”
He said he believed the ROC Executive Committee would back his proposal, Reuters reported.
In pics: Ukrainian soldiers prepare for frontline
Report: Ukrainian men dragged outside Kyiv nightclubs and restaurants by army recruiters
Footage has emerged showing Ukrainian military recruitment officers raiding restaurants, bars and a concert hall in Kyiv in search of men not registered for conscription.
Officers positioned outside the doors of the capital city’s Palace of Sports carried out checks as people left a concert by Ukrainian rock band Okean Elzy.
Some men appeared to struggle and claim their innocence as they forcibly held or dragged away.
Read the full report:
Ukrainian men dragged away outside Kyiv nightclubs and restaurants by army recruiters
Chaos descended outside some nightlife spots as military recruitment officers checked documents
Ukraine orders evacuation of previously captured Kupiansk city
Russia’s advance has forced Ukrainian authorities to order the evacuation of key city Kupiansk and three other localities in the northeastern Kharkiv region.
Kupiansk fell to Russian forces in the weeks after their February 2022 invasion, but was retaken by Ukrainian troops later that year. Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said the evacuation order was mandatory.
“The most difficult situation is in the Kupiansk sector. On the east bank of the Oskil river, which divides the city, we can no longer guarantee the restoration of electricity, heat and water supply due to constant shelling,” he said. “All repair crews immediately come under Russian fire.”
The Ukrainian military’s General Staff reported 19 battles had taken place near Kupiansk over the past 24 hours, with seven still raging.
Russian forces have been making increasing headway in their drive to occupy Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, capturing villages as they move westward.
Donald Trump implies Putin told him about vision for Ukraine
Donald Trump again claimed he got along “very well with Putin”, suggesting that Putin had spoken to him about his desire to control Ukraine.
Speaking at a town hall event in oaks, Pennsylvania, on Monday, Trump said: “I get along very well with Putin. I got; I fully understand what’s happening.
“[Ukraine] was the apple of his eye; he used to talk about it. But I said, ‘You’re not going in,’ and he wasn’t going in.”
The presidential hopeful repeated his claim that there wouldn’t be a war between Russia and Ukraine were he still in the White House, adding that he also gets along “very well with Zelensky”.
US concerned over North Korean soldiers fighting in Russia
The US is “concerned” by reports of North Korean soldiers deployed by Russia in fighting in Ukraine, a White House official said.
White House national security council spokesperson Sean Savett said the involvement of North Korean troops in Ukraine, if true, would mark a significant increase in the North Korea-Russia defence relationship.
“Such a move would also indicate a new level of desperation for Russia as it continues to suffer significant casualties on the battlefield in its brutal war against Ukraine,” Savett said in a statement.
North Korea is supplying Russia with ballistic missiles and ammunition, according to Washington. Moscow and Pyongyang have denied arms transfers but have vowed to boost military ties, possibly including joint drills.
The Kremlin has dismissed the allegation as “fake news.”
Ukrainian film about Russia war receives award nominations
A Ukrainian documentary film telling the story of three Ukrainian artists and their life in the war-torn country has received two nominations for the Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards.
Porcelain War, a film directed by Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontiev, was nominated for Best New Documentary Filmmakers and Best Political Documentary, with the winners to be announced on November 10.
The three artists shown in the film - Slava Leontiev, who helped direct the film, his wife Ania Stasenko, and Andrii Stefanov - all remain in Kharkiv, which has sustained heavy Russian attacks since day one of the invasion. They continue to produce porcelain figurines and decorate houses destroyed in the attacks, Ukrainska Pravda reported.
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