At least two people have been killed and more than a dozen injured in a reported Russian attack on Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv. Russia says it sees the US and UK as responsible for recent attacks on its soil.
Friday 17 May 2024 18:11, UK
We're pausing our coverage of the Ukraine war for the moment.
Scroll through the blog below to catch up on today's developments.
One person has been killed and another eight injured in a Russian missile attack near the Black Sea port of Odesa, a Ukrainian official has said.
Regional governor Oleh Kiper said five people were being treated in hospital. He posted pictures showing emergency workers near the scene of the strike.
Sky News has not independently verified the report.
Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian missile and drone attacks.
President Vladimir Putin used his meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to "promote Kremlin narratives feigning interest in peace negotiations", analysts at the Institute for the Study of War say.
The pair signed a joint statement yesterday alluding to Russia's support for the China's proposed peace plan and a possible future Chinese-led negotiation to end the war in Ukraine.
In the statement, they claim both countries support a "sustainable settlement" for the "Ukraine crisis".
The ISW said it has "previously assessed" the Kremlin will "continue to use any calls for peace negotiations to feign interest in negotiations" in the hope of undermining Western support for Ukraine.
Moscow also hopes the West will force Ukraine into negotiations with Russia that make concessions on Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, the ISW added.
'Decisive' relationship
Meanwhile, the institute says, Mr Putin likely views Moscow's relationship with Beijing as "decisive" in his bid to further mobilise the Russian economy and defence industry to support his war in Ukraine.
"Putin and Xi highlighted bilateral trade and economic cooperation throughout their public speeches," the ISW says, adding the Russian delegation includes officials and businessmen.
"The Russian delegation likely aimed to expand cooperation with their Chinese counterparts that will facilitate increased economic ties between Russia and the PRC [People's Republic of China]."
China has previously signalled concerns its economic relationship with Russia may open it up to sanctions, the ISW says, and Mr Putin "likely intends to head off these concerns as the Russian defence industry grows increasingly reliant on the PRC".
Earlier today, we reported how a purported Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery in Krasnodar, Russia.
The blaze has forced an emergency shut down at the facility, owned by Rosneft, two sources familiar with the matter have told Reuters.
According to one source, the drones hit the liquefied petroleum gas production unit while the crude distillation unit remained undamaged.
"There was no black smoke during the fire. That means it was just the gas burning", a source said.
Russia's state-run TASS news agency reported the fire was extinguished, citing local authorities.
The Russian defence ministry said air defences downed 44 drones over the Krasnodar region and six over the Belgorod region.
For context: The Tuapse plant's annual capacity is 12 million metric tons, or 240,000 barrels per day.
It produces naphtha, fuel oil, vacuum
gasoil and high-sulphur diesel, and supplies fuel mainly Turkey, China, Malaysia and Singapore.
Most Russians would support an end to the war in Ukraine this week - but only if newly-gained territories were not returned.
That's according to the independent Levada Centre, Russia's best known pollster, which ran a survey to canvass public opinion on Vladimir Putin and the war.
While 71% would back an end to the war "this week", this figure drops to just 30% if the condition for peace were to return territories.
Since September last year, Levada reports the level of support for the Russian army has stayed at about 75%, with older respondents more likely to remain in favour.
Mr Putin's approval rating appears to be at about 82%, the pollster reports.
However, those aged between 18 and 24 appear less likely to back M Putin, with 77% not approving of his activities as president.
Former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko says no one should trust Vladimir Putin when he says he won't invade Russia's second city, Kharkiv.
The Russian leader does not have an opportunity to capture Kharkiv right now due to Ukraine's defensive forces, he said.
But in Vovchansk, where Mr Poroshenko visited yesterday, the town has been turned into "hell" - with no people or houses left.
"Don't trust Putin. Don't be afraid of Putin," he said.
"I can confirm that our strategy shall be as follows: Ukraine shall win, and Russia, undoubtedly, shall lose."
Moscow says it sees the US and UK as responsible for recent attacks because they are allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons against Russian targets.
The Russian foreign ministry said the UK, US, EU and Kyiv were "playing with fire" over attacks on Russian soil, state news agency Tass reports.
Such actions will not go unanswered, it warned.
"Once again, we should like to unequivocally warn Washington, London, Brussels and other Western capitals, as well as Kyiv, which is under their control, that they are playing with fire. Russia will not leave such encroachments on its territory unanswered."
Earlier today, Russia's ambassador to the UK said the UK was a de facto participant in the war.
This was because it has supplied Kyiv with weapons and shared real-time intelligence, said Andrei Kelin.
The number of victims from a reported Russian airstrike has risen, officials say.
At least two people are now said to have died, with another 13 injured - four of whom are in a "serious condition", regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said.
It is not clear what the attack targeted, but Mr Syniehubov said those injured are civilians.
Reports had initially claimed one person had died and four injured.
Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, and the surrounding region have long been targeted by Russian attacks but the strikes have become more intense in recent months.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Moscow of seeking to reduce the city to rubble.
A Ukrainian drone hit another oil terminal this morning, this time in the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk, according to sources and footage shared on social media.
The Importpischeprom oil products terminal and Sheskharis oil harbour were struck, with the port shut soon after the attack.
Oil loadings resumed later from Sheskharis, according to industry sources and LSEG data, while activity at Importpischeprom remains suspended.
It came as Russian officials reported another drone attack on an oil refinery, causing a fire in Tuapse, which is roughly 150km southeast of Novorossiisk.
Both are in the Krasnodar region.
Russian oil pipeline monopoly Transneftdid not reply to a request for comment. Its subsidiary, Novorossiisk Commercial Sea Port Group (NCSP), which operates the Sheskharis oil terminal, declined to comment.
Novorossiisk is Russia's largest port on the Black Sea and is a key oil outlet for crude oil and transit in country's south. It also handles grain, coal, mineral fertilisers, timber, containers, food and chemical cargoes.
Four people have been hurt and at least one has died in an airstrike on the city of Kharkiv, according to local officials.
The regional governor says some of those injured are civilians, while it's reported Russia used guided bombs in the attack.
It's not immediately clear what exactly came under attack.
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