What is happening in russia and ukraine

Footage shows Srdjan Djokovic posing behind a Russian flag superimposed with Putin’s face at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Wednesday.

Speaking to CNN Friday, Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko said the incident amounted to a provocation and “shines a negative light on Novak himself as he prepares for his semi-final.”

"I think for him to dispel the speculation it's important to make a very strong statement but where he stands, and in this war, and I would like to see an apology from Novak Djokovic.
"Of course, the son cannot be responsible for the sins of his father, but he maybe he has the same opinion as his father. I think the world should know where he stands.”

Tennis Australia told CNN that four people were ejected from the tournament on Wednesday for displaying pro-war imagery.

CNN has reached out to both Srdjan Djokovic and Novak Djokovic for comment.

11 hr 59 min ago

Zelensky calls for more Western weapons after latest Russian missile strikes

From CNN’s Vasco Cotovio in London and Yulia Kesaieva in Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked the West for further weapons supplies after another wave of Russian missile strikes targeted Kyiv and other cities across the country.

“This evil, this Russian aggression can and should be stopped only with adequate weapons,” Zelensky told Ukrainians in his nightly address Thursday. “Weapons on the battlefield. Weapons that protect our skies.”

Ukraine said it was able to shoot down most of the 55 missiles fired by Russia, a feat Zelensky attributed to Western-donated air defense systems.

“Today, thanks to the air defense systems provided to Ukraine and the professionalism of our warriors, we managed to shoot down most of the Russian missiles and Shaheds,” he said, referring to Iranian-made drones.

“These are at least hundreds of lives saved and dozens of infrastructure facilities preserved,” the Ukrainian president said.

Update on the eastern front: Zelensky then shifted focus to the eastern Donbas region, where fighting remains the fiercest. Ukrainian troops are suffering heavy attrition in the east.

“We need a new movement of our forces at the front. We need to ensure the defeat of the terrorists' ground forces. Whatever the Russian occupiers are planning, our preparation must be stronger,” Zelensky said. “I am grateful to all our units who demonstrate the resilience Ukraine needs, exhausting the occupier and destroying it.”

“The more Russia loses in this battle for Donbas, the less its overall potential will be,” he added.

Zelensky said his government is aware of Russian plans for future operations in Ukraine and assured his countrymen they were working to counter Moscow’s moves.

12 hr 25 min ago

Sweden pledges nearly $2 million to UN watchdog agency for nuclear safety in Ukraine

From CNN's Amy Cassidy in London

The Swedish government on Thursday pledged $1,947,000 (20 million Swedish krona) to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to support its nuclear safety mission in Ukraine.

“As a result of Russia’s aggression, we have seen several attacks in the immediate vicinity of nuclear power plants over the past year, posing very significant risks,” Johan Forssell, the Swedish minister for international development cooperation and foreign trade, said in a statement.

“Strengthening the IAEA’s important work to maintain and improve the safety of Ukrainian nuclear power plants is a matter of urgency,” Forssell added.

Ukraine says Russia is intensifying hostilities in southeastern part of Donetsk

From CNN’s Yulia Kesaieva in Kyiv and Vasco Cotovio in London

Ukrainian officials claim Russia is intensifying hostilities in the southeastern part of Donetsk region, around the towns of Avdiivka and Vuhledar.

Although Bakhmut remains the area where the fighting is the most vicious, Avdiivka has become almost as contentious, said Pavlo Kyrylenko, the head of the Donetsk region military administration.

“Now it is also very hot in Avdiivka,” he said.

“The enemy shelled Vuhledar community many times today, one person was killed and two were wounded, and two people were killed in Ocheretyne community,” he added. “In other words, we observe escalation along the entire front line from the south and from the north.”