A controlled detonation of explosive devices found by members of the Special Demising Unit of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kyiv region is conducted near Borodin, Ukraine, May 17, 2022.
Ukraine War Live Today News, Ukraine Russia Updates, World War 3 News, Russia Mariupol Capture, 18 May: Moscow says 1,000 Ukrainian fighters left Mariupol plant; Russian parliament to take up resolution against fighter exchange.
Russia Ukraine War Live, Mariupol Fall to Russia: Russia’s defense spending was up nearly 40% in the first four months of the year, according to preliminary data released by the finance ministry on Wednesday, almost three months into Moscow’s large-scale military campaign in Ukraine. Russia spent 1.7 trillion roubles ($26.4 billion) on defense between January and April, almost half the 3.5 trillion roubles, or 2.6% of GDP, budgeted for all of 2022, news agency Reuters reported.
Russia said on Wednesday it was expelling a total of 85 embassy staffs, from France, Spain and Italy in response to similar moves by those countries, highlighting the damage to relations with leading European Union members since it launched its war on Ukraine. The Foreign Ministry said it was ordering out 34 diplomatic staffs, from France, 27 from Spain and 24 from Italy. The three countries are among European nations that have collectively thrown out more than 300 Russians since the February 24 invasion.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that nearly 1,000 Ukrainian troops holed up in their last stronghold in Mariupol have handed themselves over. Meanwhile, concerns grew for their welfare as Russian news agencies said that the parliament will take up a resolution Wednesday to prevent the exchange of Azov Regiment fighters. This comes after a Russian lawmaker taking part in peace talks with Kyiv said Tuesday that Russia should consider the death penalty for what he called nationalist fighters from Ukraine’s Azov regiment.
With troops in Ukraine, Russia’s defense spending leaps 40%; Russia expels 85 diplomats from France, Spain and Italy.
Russia Ukraine War News Live Updates With troops in Ukraine, Russia's defense spending leaps 40% of Russia expels 85 diplomats from France, Spain and Italy.
The U.S. embassy in Kyiv reopened on Wednesday after a three-month closure due to Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.
"We are officially reopening operations," spokesperson Daniel Langenkamp told Reuters shortly before the U.S. flag was raised above the embassy.
He said a few, some diplomats would return initially to staff the mission.
Exiled Russian director Krill Serebrennikov spoke out against the war in Ukraine following the global premiere of his film, "Tchaikovsky's wife," at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday.
"No to the war," he said in Russian, as he received a standing ovation for his 19th century drama, the only film entry by a Russian director.
Festival organizers banned official Russian delegations from the event and invited Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to address the opening ceremony live from Kyiv. He urged the industry not to be silent about the conflict.
One of 21 films vying for the coveted Palme d'Or prize, Serebrennikov's movie highlights the destructive marriage of Russian composer Piotr Tchaikovsky to a young woman.
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