President Vladimir Putin’s ambition to take control of Ukraine and make it part of Russia looks doomed after a string of atrocities, a former British ambassador to Moscow has said.
The trail of death, torture and destruction which Russian soldiers left behind when retreating from towns and cities around Kyiv shocked the world and drew international condemnation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Mr Putin of genocide after a mass grave containing at least 57 bodies was found in Bucha, a city 16 miles north-west of the capital.
The remains of five men showing signs of torture were also discovered in the basement of a children’s health centre, Ukraine’s prosecutor general’s office said. “Torture chamber was discovered in a children's sanatorium in Bucha by prosecutors and Kyiv Regional police officers,” prosecutor Iryna Venediktova said on Twitter.
Human Rights Watch claims it has seen evidence of executed civilians in Bucha and other cities, while a Ukrainian MP said dead children as young as 10 had shown signs of being raped.
Sir Andrew Wood, a former British ambassador to Russia, said the grim developments rule out any chance of Mr Putin winning the support of the Ukrainian people, even if he manages to take control of the entire country.
Speaking to Sky News on Tuesday, after the horrors of Bucha sent shock waves around the world, he said the actions of the Russian soldiers in Ukraine were “unforgivable”.
“Even if Putin won and dominated the entire country or the eastern part of it or whatever it is, he would not now be able to secure the support of Ukrainian people whom he has described as the same people as the Russian people,” Sir Andrew said.
“This is absolutely unforgivable. People do not forget such things.”
Mr Wood said Putin's forces were in an impossible position in the conflict, and said he believes far more Russians sympathise with Ukraine than the numbers cited in polls.
He said it had been a shock to the Russian leadership to realise his country is “so inept militarily” and Moscow had been equally surprised by the tough fight put up by the Ukrainians.
Mr Zelenskyy has accused Mr Putin of committing war crimes in Ukraine.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Monday hit out at the Russians’ “butchery” and cited evidence of rape and indiscriminate killing of civilians in Bucha.
Mr Wood said the Russians, being “vigorous deniers”, would no doubt refuse to take blame for any wrongdoing when they speak at an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Tuesday.
In its latest intelligence update, Britain's Ministry of Defence said some units of Russian troops are retreating from parts of northern Ukraine and towns are back under the control of the Ukrainian military.
The MoD said the strong resistance was "denying Russia the ability to secure its objectives".
If it becomes a Nato versus Russia battle, then it might actually solidify Putin’s position
Tom Tugendhat,
British MP
"Low-level fighting is likely to continue in some parts of the newly recaptured regions but diminish significantly over this week as the remainder of Russian forces withdraw.
"Many Russian units withdrawing from northern Ukraine are likely to require significant re-equipping and refurbishment before being available to redeploy for operations in eastern Ukraine."
Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the House of Commons defence select committee, called on the UK government to tighten the noose on the Russian economy with more sanctions and send more weapons to Ukraine.
The Conservative MP said it was time to step up the pressure on Moscow to prevent Russians soldiers from committing “further genocide” in the former Soviet nation. The images coming out of Bucha “are the most barbaric yet”, he said.
“We condemn the slaughter from afar and we have a little bit of blame there for when we choose to limit our exposure for fear of potential escalation,” he told Sky News. “We give Putin the green light to exploit our timidity with ever-increasing breaches of Geneva Conventions as the war crimes clock up.”
Mr Ellwood called for Nato troops to be posted in the southern city of Odesa, which the Russians are pushing to capture, as it serves as a “critical lifeline to the rest of the world”.
Ukraine is the fifth largest exporter of wheat, accounting for seven per cent of sales globally in 2019, and the Black Sea port of Odesa handles about 60 per cent of the country’s sea cargo.
“If it falls, Ukraine becomes landlocked and for Russia that will be a success,” he said. “Those vital grain exports we all depend on will not be able to get out. If we want to avoid another Mariupol, we should step up and task a Nato maritime force to keep the port connected to international waters.”
Tom Tugendhat, the chairman of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee, called for Ukraine to be offered more support in the form of more sophisticated arms, not only “defensive weapons”.
Asked on Times Radio if all “reasonable battlefield weaponry” should be provided to Ukrainian forces, the Conservative MP said: “Yes. I don’t think there’s any really great doubt in this.
“That’s a decision for various member states. And that’s a decision for countries like Poland or the United States. You could retrain a Ukrainian pilot to fly various US-type aircraft in the weeks that have gone by, so there’s various options that we could have.”
Asked if there are any war crimes that would convince Nato countries to order “boots on the ground”, Mr Tugendhat suggested direct intervention by the transatlantic alliance would be “a bad idea”.
“The only reason I think it’s a bad idea is because at the moment this is a battle between Putin and his thieves – quite literally, if you look at what’s going on on the ground, these murderers and rapists – and the Ukrainian people.
“If it becomes a Nato versus Russia battle, then it might actually conversely solidify Putin’s position. That’s why I think it’s a bad idea.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Dubai World Cup Carnival card:
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 | 2,410 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 | 1,400m
7.40pm: Handicap (T) | $145,000 | 1,000m
8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) | $200,000 | 1,200m
8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) | $200,000 | 1,800m
9.25pm: Handicap (T) | $175,000 | 1,400m
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures and results:
Monday, UAE won by three wickets
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The years Ramadan fell in May
More on animal trafficking
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Q&A with Dash Berlin
Welcome back. What was it like to return to RAK and to play for fans out here again?
It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the passionate UAE again. Seeing the fans having a great time that is what it’s all about.
You're currently touring the globe as part of your Legends of the Feels Tour. How important is it to you to include the Middle East in the schedule?
The tour is doing really well and is extensive and intensive at the same time travelling all over the globe. My Middle Eastern fans are very dear to me, it’s good to be back.
You mix tracks that people know and love, but you also have a visually impressive set too (graphics etc). Is that the secret recipe to Dash Berlin's live gigs?
People enjoying the combination of the music and visuals are the key factor in the success of the Legends Of The Feel tour 2018.
Have you had some time to explore Ras al Khaimah too? If so, what have you been up to?
Coming fresh out of Las Vegas where I continue my 7th annual year DJ residency at Marquee, I decided it was a perfect moment to catch some sun rays and enjoy the warm hospitality of Bab Al Bahr.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
If you go
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates.
The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season
MATCH INFO
Serie A
Juventus v Fiorentina, Saturday, 8pm (UAE)
Match is on BeIN Sports
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Poland Statement
All people fleeing from Ukraine before the armed conflict are allowed to enter Poland. Our country shelters every person whose life is in danger - regardless of their nationality.
The dominant group of refugees in Poland are citizens of Ukraine, but among the people checked by the Border Guard are also citizens of the USA, Nigeria, India, Georgia and other countries.
All persons admitted to Poland are verified by the Border Guard. In relation to those who are in doubt, e.g. do not have documents, Border Guard officers apply appropriate checking procedures.
No person who has received refuge in Poland will be sent back to a country torn by war.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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