Live blog: Russian missile attack in Dnipro possible war crime - UN

Monday, January 16, 2023

1857 GMT - UN says Russian attack in Dnipro possible war crime 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the Russian missile strike on an apartment building in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, with at least 40 dead, as a possible war crime, his spokesperson said according to AFP.

"A strike hit a residential building in Dnipro on Saturday evening, in one of the deadliest attacks in Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion last February," Stephanie Tremblay told reporters.

"The secretary-general condemned this attack, saying that this was another example of a suspected violation of the laws of war," she added.

The UN coordinator in Ukraine, Denise Brown, "called for an effective investigation of suspected war crimes and appropriate prosecution of suspects," Tremblay said.

READ MORE: 'Simply not human': Search for survivors continue in Dnipro building strike

1808 GMT - Dutch, German ministers condemn abductions in Ukraine

The German and Dutch foreign ministers have condemned the deportation by Russians of thousands of Ukrainian children, calling it a deliberate policy of cruel and inhumane abductions that is tearing families apart, AP reports.

Since Moscow launched its war in Ukraine nearly a year ago, Russians have been accused of deporting Ukrainian children to Russia or Russian-held territories to raise them as their own.

At least 1,000 children were seized from schools and orphanages in the Kherson region during Russia’s eight-month occupation of the area, local authorities say. Their whereabouts are still unknown.

Russia claims that these children don’t have parents or guardians to look after them, or that they can’t be reached. But the AP found that officials have deported Ukrainian children to Russia or Russian-held territories without consent.

1754 GMT - Ukraine says Russia's ballistic missiles are running low

Russia is stepping up its use of S-300 and S-400 air defence systems to conduct strikes on ground targets, suggesting that Moscow's stocks of ballistic missiles are running low, Ukraine's Air Force spokesman said. 

Reuters reports that the official, Yuriy Ihnat, cited Ukrainian intelligence as claiming that Russia had fewer than 100 modern Iskander ballistic munitions left. He said Russia was, instead, using its S-300 and S-400 systems because of an abundance of munitions.

"The enemy is trying to use their potential, because there are many S-300 missiles already manufactured. (Russia) is a manufacturer of these missiles, and they are already using them in this way," he told a briefing in Kiev by video link.

1737 - Ukrainian troops in US for Patriot training: US military

Ukrainian soldiers have arrived in the United States to learn how to use the Patriot air defense system in hopes of protecting against Russian missile strikes like one that just killed 40 people in the city of Dnipro, AFP reports.

The Ukrainian personnel arrived Sunday evening at Fort Sill in the state of Oklahoma for training at the US Army Air Defense Artillery School, Colonel Curtis King of that facility said in a video posted on Twitter.

Washington promised a Patriot battery - it fires missiles to take out missiles - to Ukraine late last year to help counter relentless aerial attacks by Moscow.

1730 GMT - Ukraine takes weapons lobbying operation to Davos

A large Ukrainian delegation of ministers and mayors, headed by Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska, have begun a major effort at the World Economic Forum in Davos to lobby for greater Western aid and weapons deliveries, AFP reports. 

The annual Davos meeting in the Swiss Alps brings together hundreds of heads of government, ministers and thousands of business leaders, with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg set to appear on Wednesday.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is one of the biggest themes of this year's summit, which kicks off formally on Monday evening.

Zelenska is set to speak on Tuesday in one of the opening sessions in person, while her husband is scheduled to speak via video link at events on the sidelines of the forum on Wednesday and Thursday.

1717 GMT - Britain urges Germany to permit supply of tanks to Ukraine

Britain has urged Germany to permit the supply of Leopard tanks to Ukraine, stressing that it could unlock support from other nations and Berlin would not be acting alone if it supplied its own tanks, Reuters reports. 

"It has been reported that obviously Poland is very keen to donate some Leopards, as is Finland," British Defence minister Ben Wallace told parliament.

"All of this currently relies on the German government's decisions - not only whether the Germans will supply their own Leopards, but whether or not they'll give permissions to others. I would urge my German colleagues to do that."

1650 GMT - UK defence minister sets further military aid to Ukraine

Britain's defence minister Ben Wallace has outlined further military support for Ukraine, confirming the supply of 14 Challenger 2 tanks and setting out a number of other details, Reuters reports. 

"Today, I can announce the most significant package of combat power to date to accelerate Ukrainian success. This includes a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks with armoured recovery and repair vehicles," Wallace said to parliament.

The package also included Eight AS90 guns, hundreds more armoured and protective vehicles, a manoeuvre support package, dozens more "uncrewed aerial systems", another 100,000 artillery rounds, hundreds more sophisticated missiles and a package of spares to refurbish up to 100 Ukrainian tanks and infantry fighting vehicles.

1614 GMT - Ukraine's civilian death toll exceeds 7,000

More than 7,000 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbour last February, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has said. 

"Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects, including shelling from heavy artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, missiles and air strikes," an OHCHR statement said, reported by Reuters.

The UN rights office said it had confirmed 7,031 civilian deaths but believes actual casualty tolls are "consider ably higher" given the pending corroboration of many reports and the inaccessibility of areas where intense fighting is taking place.

1521 GMT - Ankara, Moscow discuss measures to send flour to Africa

The Turkish and Russian presidents have discussed steps to start making flour in Türkiye out of grain from Russia to send to Africa, AA reports. 

"Concrete steps were discussed in the project of turning Russian grain into flour in Türkiye and sending it to African countries in need," said a statement by the Turkish Communications Directorate on the phone call between Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin.

The Black Sea grain corridor to allow ships to export goods from Ukraine and export of ammonia from Russia, along with the latest developments in the war in Ukraine, were also on the two leaders' agenda, the statement added.

1519 GMT - Russia, Ukraine working on a large prisoner exchange 

Russia and Ukraine have been working on a large prisoner exchange deal which will include 1,000 people in total, Turkish ombudsman Seref Malkoc said.

Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova and her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Lubinets met last week on the sidelines of an international ombudsman conference in Ankara, Reuters reports. 

"The ombudsman of Ukraine conveyed to Russia a list of 800 people and the Russian Ombusdman gave a list of 200 people (to be swapped)," Malkoc told reporters at a news conference.

1327 GMT - Germany calls for special tribunal against Russia 

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called on Monday for the establishment of a special international tribunal to prosecute Russian leaders over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

What is needed is "a tribunal that can investigate the Russian leadership and put them on trial", said Baerbock in a keynote speech at the Academy of International Law in The Hague, where the International Criminal Court is based.

The Ukrainian government is understandably concerned that Russia cannot be prosecuted for its aggression before the I CC, she said, as it can deal only with cases in which the plaintiff and the defendant are members of the court, or a case is referred by the UN Security Council.

Russia is not a member of the ICC, and, as one of the five world power who are veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council, would probably block any referral to the ICC.

1119 GMT - Death toll in Dnipro strike rises to 40

The new death toll, one of the highest in a single strike in months, was reported by Dnipro city official Gennadiy Korban on his Telegram channel. 

He said 75 people were wounded in the strike that took place on Saturday, including 14 children.

The missile slammed into the multi-story residential building, shocking the city, which had been considered a relatively safe haven for the displaced. 

Below is a link to an overview of some of the deadliest attacks on civilians over the last 11 months.

READ MORE: Deadliest Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians since February 2022

1103 GMT - Ukraine, EU sign deal to provide $19.4B

Ukraine's premier announced that his country signed a memorandum of understanding with the EU to provide €18 billion ($19.4 billion) in macro-financial assistance.

"This will help maintain macroeconomic stability going forward," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal wrote on Twitter.

The first €3 billion (about $3.25 billion) portion of the total aid package will be disbursed on Tuesday, the EU announced.

1059 GMT - Poland expects German accord for tank deliveries

Poland's prime minister says he expects Germany's swift approval to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine, ahead of international talks on ramping up arm deliveries to Kiev.

Poland had previously said it was willing to send German-made Leopards to Ukraine but that it needed Berlin's approval for such move.

"I cannot imagine the situation where there is no such a consent given in a quick way," Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters.

1015 GMT - Kremlin says missiles do not target residential buildings

The Kremlin said Russian forces did not strike residential buildings in Ukraine, two days after an apartment complex in the city of Dnipro was hit during a major Russian missile attack that Kiev says killed at least 36 people.

During a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "The Russian Armed Forces do not strike residential buildings or social infrastructure facilities. Attacks are made on military targets, either obvious or disguised".

1014 GMT - Kremlin denies Wagner, defence ministry conflict 

The Kremlin has denied any conflict between the Defence Ministry and the Wagner group fighting for Russia in Ukraine, calling it an invention of the media.

Tension between Wagner and the defence establishment burst into the open last Friday when the ministry claimed the capture of the Ukrainian town of Soledar - which Ukraine disputed - but made no mention of Wagner's role in the fighting.

"Everyone is fighting for their country. So this is how it should be viewed," Kremlin spokesman Peskov told reporters.

0950 GMT - Tanks Britain plans to send to Ukraine “will burn”: Kremlin

The Kremlin has warned the West that supplying a new round of more advanced weapons to Ukraine would not change the course of the war.

“They are using [Ukraine] as a tool to achieve their anti-Russian goals,” Kremlin spokesperson Peskov said when asked about the British tanks, Reuters reports. 

“These tanks are burning and will burn just like the rest,” Peskov said.

0832 GMT - Ukraine maintains positions in Soledar: UK MoD

As of 15 January 2023, Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) almost certainly maintained positions in Soledar, north of Bakhmut, in the face of continued Wagner Group assaults, according to the UK ministry of defence.

0831 GMT - Russia downs drone over Sevastopol

Russian anti-aircraft defences shot down a drone over the city of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula, the city's Russian-installed governor said on the Telegram messenger app.

The city has come under attack repeatedly since Russia ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine last year. 

Russian officials have blamed Ukraine for the attacks.

0745 GMT - Ukrainian vessel grounded

Reuters news agency reports that a Ukrainian vessel carrying peas was grounded in Istanbul’s Bosphorus strait, and traffic in the strait was suspended. No damage was reported.

The joint coordination centre in Istanbul, which runs the UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal operations, said at the weekend the ship was travelling from Pivdennyi – a commercial seaport in the Ukrainian city of Yuzhne, near Odesa – to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Mersin.

0650 GMT - Rise in death toll from Russian strike in Dnipro

The death toll from a missile attack on an apartment building in Dnipro on Saturday has now risen to 35, the Governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Valentyn Mykhaylovych Reznichenko reported on his Telegram channel. Two children are among the dead, he added.

He said 39 people have now been rescued from the rubble, and 75 people, including 14 children, were injured in the attack.

"The fate of another 35 residents of the building is unknown," Reznichenko wrote, "the search for people under the rubble continues".

A Russian missile hit an apartment building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Saturday.

0550 GMT - Russia and Belarus begin joint military drills 

The joint military exercise have triggered fears in Kiev and the West that Moscow could use its ally to launch a new ground offensive in Ukraine.

Russia used its neighbour Belarus as a springboard for its invasion of Ukraine last February.

The two allies will conduct air force drills from January 16-February 1 using all Belarus military airfields and began joint army exercises involving a "mechanised brigade subdivision", the Belarusian defense ministry said.

Minsk says the air drills are defensive and it will not enter the war.

"We're maintaining restraint and patience, keeping our gunpowder dry," said Pavel Muraveyko, first deputy state secretary of Belarusian Security Council, according to a post on the Belarusian defense ministry's Telegram app on Sunday.

0200 GMT - US combat training begins

The US military's new, expanded combat training of Ukrainian forces has begun in Germany, with a goal of getting a battalion of about 500 troops back on the battlefield to fight the Russians in the next five to eight weeks, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said.

Milley, who plans to visit the Grafenwoehr training area on Monday to get a first-hand look at the programme, said the troops being trained left Ukraine a few days ago. 

The so-called combined arms training is aimed at honing the skills of the Ukrainian forces so they will be better prepared to launch an offensive or counter any surge in Russian attacks. They will learn how to better move and coordinate their company- and battalion-size units in battle, using combined artillery, armour and ground forces.

For live updates from Sunday (January 15), click here