Ukraine war latest: Russian officials 'thrown out of meeting' for breaking custom; new photos emerge of Putin and Kim's day out (2024)

While we haven't been able to bring you our regular live coverage, we have been keeping an eye on today's latest developments.

Here are the key updates:

• The Ukrainian military issued a rare statement confirming it had struck four oil refineries in Russia during an early morning drone attack;
• South Korea summoned the Russian ambassador over the country's new defence pact with North Korea;
  
• A Russian guided bomb killed twopeople and wounded three others in the easternUkrainian town of Selydove, according to regional prosecutors;
  
• European Union countries have formally approved the launch of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova next week;
  
• Vladimir Putinsaid Russia would keep developing its arsenal ofnuclear weapons to preserve the "balance of power in the world".

Here's a look at the latest situation on the ground:

That's all of our live coverage on the conflict for now.

We'll bring you any major developments overnight, and we'll be back with our regular updates in the morning.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is "deeply grateful" for Joe Biden's decision to prioritise air defence deliveries for Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president said his country was in critical need of the capabilities to protect its cities and civilians from Russian attacks.

"The partnership between Ukraine and the United States is strong and unwavering. Together, we are protecting life against terror and aggression," he added.

It comes after the US said a recent defence pact signed by Russia and North Korea was a "cause for concern".

The recently signed defence pact between Russia and North Korea is a cause of concern but is no surprise, the White House has said.

Speaking to reporters, White House spokesman John Kirby said the agreement between the two countries was a sign of Russia's desperation for foreign assistance in the Ukraine war.

The deal has seen both countries vow to help each other if they faced armed aggression, and replaces previous treaties between the countries.

Russia said the pact was needed because of "the deep evolution of the geopolitical situation in the world and the region".

Mr Kirby also said the US would reprioritise planned deliveries of foreign military equipment to go to Ukraine, which is in "desperate need" of more air defence capabilities.

Vladimir Putin has warned that South Korea would be making a "big mistake" if it decides to supply weapons to Ukraine.

The Russian president's comments come after South Korea said a new defence agreement between North Korea and Moscow was "absurd" and it would reconsider sending arms to Kyiv as a result.

Mr Putin said Seoul had nothing to worry about when it came to the mutual defence pact.

Russian state media quoted him as saying that Moscow expected its cooperation with North Korea to serve as a deterrent to the West.

He also refused to rule out supplying high-precision weapons to the country.

Russia is considering making changes to its nuclear weapons doctrine, Vladimir Putin has said.

The Russian president made the comments while speaking to reporters at the end of his Vietnam trip.

The existing doctrine states that Russia may use suchweapons in response to a nuclear strike or in the event of aconventional attack that poses an existential threat to the country.

Ukrainian troops have been launching mid-range reconnaissance drones in Kharkiv.

Russian forces crossed into parts of the northeastern region last month, and officials claim they have seized at least a dozen villages.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Kyiv's forces are gradually pushing Russian troops out of the contested area.

A police search is under way for a woman who allegedly desecrated the graves of Ukrainian soldiers.

Kyiv city's prosecutor's office said the unknown woman vandalised the graves this morning.

Commemorative plaques and lamps were torn off and broken, it said.

The Ukrainian flag was also "mutilated", it added.

"Operational investigations and searches are being carried out to establish the woman's identity," the office said in post on Telegram.

If caught and found guilty, the woman could face up to five years in prison.

We have been reporting today on Vladimir Putin's visit to Vietnam.

Here is a recap of what the Russian president has been up to:

• Mr Putin signed a series of deals with his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam during his state visit;
• The two leaders signed agreements to further co-operation on education, science and technology, oil and gas exploration and health;
• They also agreed to work on a road map for a nuclear science and technology centre in Vietnam;
• Following the talks, Mr Putin said that the two countries share an interest in "developing a reliable security architecture" in the Asia-Pacific region based on not using force and peacefully settling disputes with no room for "closed military-political blocs";
• The Russian leader also met Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and is scheduled to meet Communist Party general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong - Vietnam's most powerful politician;
• The trip has resulted in a sharp rebuke from the US embassy in the country.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Romania's decision to provide his country with two Patriot air defence systems will strengthen security in Ukraine and throughout Europe.

"This crucial contribution will bolster our air shield and help us better protect our people and critical infrastructure from Russian air terror," the Ukrainian president said on X.

The Patriot, which stands for Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target, is a surface-to-air missile defence system.

For months now, Ukraine has been calling for countries to provide more air defence systems to help protect it from Russian attacks.