Moscow has committed “crimes against humanity” in its war in Ukraine, a new UN report has found.
Russian authorities continuously attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during freezing temperatures last winter, which led to “intolerable” living conditions for Ukrainians, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine said.
It claimed Moscow had also intentionally directed attacks at civilian targets and that it had found “compelling evidence” that Russian authorities had trafficked people to fight from 29 countries, which it said is against international law.
It comes after a Ukrainian official contested Elon Musk’s claims that its military violated the terms of use for Starlink’s communications system, leading to restrictions on Kyiv's access to high-speed satellite technology.
Having previously blamed the decision to throttle Kyiv's Starlink access on the White House, Musk said on Saturday that the Ukrainian military used Starlink “for offensive drone strikes to kill people”, in contravention to the terms of use.
Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to president Volodymyr Zelensky, rejected that claim, arguing the restrictions would have made it “physically impossible” for Ukraine to use Starlink in the types of strikes he described.
Comment: We cannot fight until the last Ukrainian – it’s time to call Putin’s bluff
The surge in civilian casualties in Ukraine shows how the West, including the UK, must defend Kyiv’s airspace or face worse in the future, explains world affairs editor Sam Kiley.
Zelensky says there are 'casualties and injured' in attack on Kyiv educational institution
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that "casualties and injured" occurred in a missile attack that struck an educational institution, a park, residences and the city's metro.
"For the moment, the number of people is not exactly known," Zelensky said on Telegram. "But, unfortunately, there are casualties. There are injured. Rescue operations are contining."
The president added: "It is precisely in such conditions, when the threat is constant, when strikes can happen at any moment and on cities and villages, that artificial delays in air defence for Ukraine are helping terror."
It comes after he criticised the US for delays in issuing Patriot air missiles for Ukraine earlier on Monday.
Recap: Vucic defeated in Serbia election as student protest movement claims historic win
Serbia’s long-standing leader Aleksandar Vucic, admitted defeat on Sunday following an election against a broad, student-led opposition movement that had demonstrated against his government for two years.
His loss represents a major political transformation in the Balkan nation, where Vucic held near-total authority for 14 years. Endorsed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Vucic had condemned the student protesters, framing their campaign as a foreign plot to remove him.
Crowds quickly gathered in the capital, Belgrade, and across other Serbian cities to celebrate the outcome.
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Russian missile strikes on Ukraine's Kharkiv kill two, injure four, mayor says
Two people have been killed and four injured in Russian strikes on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
He said there had been three strikes on a city district and that a high-rise apartment block and private homes had been damaged.
Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said Russian forces had launched missiles at the city, a frequent target of attacks about 30 km (18 miles) from the Russian border.
In neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk region, Governor Oleksandr Hanzha said Russian forces had launched more than 50 drone and artillery attacks.
A drone strike in the city of Pavlohrad killed one person and wounded 10, he said. Three of the injured were seriously hurt.
Kyiv under attack, mayor says strike near underground station
The Ukrainian capital Kyiv was under missile attack from Russian forces on Monday and the city's mayor said there had been a strike next to an underground station.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko also said an emergency crew had come under attack and there were some injuries.
Pictures posted online on unofficial Telegram channels showed damage at an underground station. Other posts said energy infrastructure sites had come under attack.
Reuters witnesses said a series of explosions had jolted the city. They said power had been cut in districts on the east side of the Dnipro River.
Watch: Trump says Musk restored Ukraine's Starlink access, declines to say if they spoke
Russia considers proposals to secure Black Sea grain shipping, Interfax reports
Russia is reviewing various proposals to ensure the safe transport of grain across the Black Sea, and is in contact with Turkey on this issue, Interfax news agency reported on Monday, citing Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Alimov.
"We are in dialogue with all countries – and by that I mean Turkey as well. And not just with Turkey, we are discussing this issue with various countries, but so far I do not see any prospects for reviving the grain deal," Interfax quoted Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Alimov as saying.
In depth: Putin targets Ukrainian civilians in barbaric ‘safari’ attacks as Trump turns blind eye
Ordinary Ukrainians are now the targets of Russia’s bombs and drones as Putin gets more help from the US president, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley.
Russian authorities committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine, UN report says
Russian authorities have committed crimes against humanity during their war with Ukraine, a new UN report has found.
Published on Monday, the report found Russia had committed the crimes against humanity of intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects and the crimes against humanity of other inhumane acts with continuous attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“The frequency, intensity and geographic range of systematic waves of attacks with hundreds of drones and missiles at a time have increased over the years and inflicted significant damage to Ukraine’s energy sector,” the report said.
“Last winter, when temperatures dropped to minus 21°C, millions of people in Ukraine faced lengthy outages of heating, electricity, water, and gas, and had to cope with intolerable living conditions.”
It added older people and those with reduced mobility have been particularly badly affected as officials expressed concern about the upcoming winter.
“As the cold season approaches, the attacks have intensified once again, raising serious concerns about the threats to civilians’ lives and health,” said Erik Møse, Chair of the Commission.
Slovakia to develop Russia ties in areas not hit by sanctions, minister says after Moscow talks
Slovakia will continue to pursue its national interests and develop cooperation with Russia in areas not affected by sanctions, Slovak foreign minister Juraj Blanar said on Monday after talks in Moscow with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
Blanar was in Moscow as Slovakia aimed to discuss Russian energy supplies while resuming a cooperation process suspended after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The restart of consultations follows repeated trips to Moscow by Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose views stand out in the 27-member EU since the defeat of pro-Russian Hungarian leader Viktor Orban in an April election.
Energy was a main topic of the renewed intergovernmental commission that held talks on Monday, the Slovak Foreign Ministry said, adding that Blanar was informed that Russia remained ready to fulfil agreed contracts.
Slovakia buys Russian oil and gas but is meant to stop the gas purchases by late 2027 under an EU plan to deprive Russia of financial resources that fund its war in Ukraine.
"The Russian Federation is difficult to replace for the stability of energy supplies not only for Slovakia, but also for global energy trade, which is evident now amid the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz," Blanar said.
"Slovakia is a member of the European Union and NATO and we respect the rules that bind us, but within those we seek opportunities for cooperation in the interest of Slovakia's national interests," he added.