Russia Ukraine battle: Thriller as Putin’s state media removes updates on forces ‘regrouping’ in south

Russia’s parliament could announce on Dec. 13 that subsequent yr’s presidential election has been preliminarily scheduled for March 17, the state information company RIA reported on Monday, citing a supply in parliament.

President Vladimir Putin has already determined to run within the election, Reuters reported final week, citing six sources, a transfer that may hold him in energy till a minimum of 2030 as he seeks to steer Russia via its most unsure interval in a long time.

Former British chief David Cameron was named because the nation’s new overseas secretary on Monday in a shock appointment made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he reshuffled his high group.

In a press release posted to X, previously referred to as Twitter, Mr Cameron mentioned the continued battle in Ukraine was a part of a “daunting set of international challenges”.

He wrote: “The Prime Minister has asked me to serve as his Foreign Secretary and I have gladly accepted.

“We are facing a daunting set of international challenges, including the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East.

“At this time of profound global change, it has rarely been more important for this country to stand by our allies, strengthen our partnerships and make sure our voice is heard.”

The Russian state is now exercising “more direct control” of Wagner Group troops, the British Ministiry of Defence mentioned.

In an intelligence update the Defence Ministry mentioned “large elements” of the Wagner Group had doubtless been assimilated into the command construction of Russia’s National Guard (Rosgvardiya) and resumed lively recruitment.

It comes a number of months after the aircraft crash that killed Prigozhin – the mercenary chief who had challenged his regime and launched a navy coup by marching onto Moscow in a dramatic menace to the Kremlin not seen in a long time.

The intelligence update went on to say the Wagner arm in query is probably going led by Pavel Prigozhin, son of the late Wagner proprietor Yevgeny Prigozhin.

They added different teams of Wagner fighters have extremely doubtless joined one other Russian PMC, Redut, which based on a Radio Free Europe investigation now has 7,000 personnel in complete.

The Kremlin on Monday declined to touch upon state information companies’ withdrawal of experiences on the regrouping of Russian troops in southern Ukraine.

Two Russian state information companies printed alerts on Monday saying Moscow was transferring troops to “more favourable positions” east of the Dnipro River, solely to withdraw the data minutes later.

Two Russian state information companies printed alerts on Monday saying Moscow was transferring troops to “more favourable positions” east of the Dnipro River in Ukraine, solely to withdraw the data minutes later.

The extremely uncommon incident recommended disarray in Russia’s navy institution and state media over how you can report the battlefield scenario in southern Ukraine.

The RBC information outlet quoted the defence ministry as saying: “The sending of a false report about the ‘regrouping’ of troops in the Dnieper (Dnipro) region, allegedly on behalf of the press centre of the Russian Ministry of Defence, is a provocation.”

Russia is transferring its Dnepr group of forces to “more favourable positions” east of the Dnipro River in Ukraine, state information company RIA cited the Russian defence ministry as saying on Monday.

Russia’s navy mentioned on Friday that its forces had thwarted a Ukrainian try to forge a bridgehead on the japanese financial institution of the Dnipro and on close by islands.

Reuters couldn’t independently confirm the navy experiences

At least three Russian officers have been killed within the Moscow-controlled Ukrainian metropolis of Melitopol in a blast Ukraine‘s intelligence said on Sunday was an “act of revenge” by local resistance groups.

Melitopol is a town in southwestern Ukraine that has become a hub for Russian forces since they captured it in March last year.

The blast allegedly occurred during a meeting of Russian officers on Saturday.

“This act of revenge, carried out by representatives of the local resistance movement, took place in the (post) offices seized by the Russians,” the Ukrainian Defence Ministry’s intelligence division mentioned on the Telegram messaging app.

Reuters couldn’t independently confirm the Ukrainian intelligence declare. Russia’s defence ministry didn’t instantly responded to Reuters’ request to remark.

The Ukraine intelligence assertion mentioned the Saturday assembly was attended by Russian National Guard and FSB intelligence service officers.

“As a result of the explosion at least three National Guard officers were killed at the headquarters,” the assertion mentioned. “Information of other enemy losses is being clarified.”

Ukrainian forces reportedly superior in western Zaporizhia Oblast on Saturday, based on a US battle suppose tank.

The Institute for the Study of War mentioned this comes as Ukrainian forces proceed their counteroffensive operations within the space of southern Ukraine.

This wasn’t how Pavel Butorin anticipated to have fun his anniversary this week, together with his spouse of 21 years in a Russian jail and barely any communication available.

Russian-American journalist, Alsu Kurmasheva — who works as an editor for U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe — has been detained in Russia for almost a month and charged with failing to self-register as a “foreign agent.”

“Alsu should be celebrating this anniversary with me and our children at home, not in a Russian prison,” Butorin advised The Associated Press in an interview in Prague on Friday. “We want her back. Alsu must be released as soon as possible,” he mentioned, visibly shaken.