Ukraine war latest: Kremlin rules out accepting NATO troops in Ukraine to end war; Kyiv admits Russia has entered key region

Russian nets protect nursery from drones

Drones have become the most used and most important weapon in the war between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides developing new ways to deploy them and defend against them.

The images below show Russians in the Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine putting up nets around a nursery to protect it from drones.

Ukraine says it only attacks military targets inside Russia and infrastructure supporting Moscow's war effort and revenue streams.

Ukraine says Russian move towards quitting treaty against torture is 'admission of guilt'

Russia's move towards withdrawing from a torture prevention treaty is effectively "an admission of guilt" and an attempt to evade accountability, Ukraine's foreign ministry has said.

According to a Russian government website, the government announced plans on Monday to quit the Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which was signed by Moscow in 1996. 

Moscow's decision would need to be approved by Vladimir Putin and passed by a vote in parliament before it comes into force, the website said.

Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of war crimes and torturing civilians and prisoners of war since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Russia denies the allegations. 

"This step is effectively an admission of guilt - of systematic torture and an attempt to evade responsibility for gross human rights violations," Ukraine's foreign ministry said in a statement. 

Michael Clarke: Two villages claimed by Russia could form base - Ukraine must 'snuff it out'

Our security and defence analyst Michael Clarke has been back answering your questions on the war in Ukraine this week.

He was asked about reports that Russia's military has crossed into the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region and is trying to establish a foothold there.

Ukrainian battlefield analysts assessed yesterday that Russia now occupies two villages just inside the region, Zaporizke and Novohryhorivka, though Ukraine's army denied this.

While two villages are "neither here, nor there" in territorial terms, Michael Clarke says it is vital Ukraine snuffs this threat out.

"There's a military logic in that, because it will stretch the Ukrainians," he says of Russia's reported incursion there.

"Ukrainians can't allow this to persist. So, they need to deploy forces to stop that getting any worse... they don't want it to become a foothold, which can be a base, which can then be used for reinforcement.

"And politically, if the Russians do stay there and do build it up, then it will become a strategic advantage."

Clarke says if he were leading Ukraine's army, he would "sacrifice elsewhere to make sure this doesn't happen". 

'Powerful explosion' reportedly halts Russian oil pipeline supplying Moscow

A powerful explosion near Russia's western city of Ryazan has reportedly caused damage to an oil pipeline supplying Moscow.

Speaking to the Kyiv Independent, a source in Ukraine's military intelligence said the pipeline supplies petrol to Moscow and helps supply fuel to Russia's military.

As a result of the "powerful explosion... the transportation of petroleum products to Moscow (via the pipeline) has been suspended indefinitely," the intelligence source claimed.

Local media reported a powerful fire near the village of Bozhatkovo on the outskirts of Ryazan last night, with emergency services and repair crews reportedly deployed to contain the blaze and repair damage. 

Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted Russian energy infrastructure through sabotage operations and drone strikes throughout the war, aiming to undermine Moscow's gas and oil revenues.

Merz warns of Russia's threat to Europe - as Germany moves towards reintroducing military conscription

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Russia "is and will remain" the greatest threat to Europe's security for a long time.

His comments come after Germany's cabinet today passed a draft bill that would introduce a voluntary military service, which could lead to conscription if recruitment goals are missed.

The bill still needs to gain parliamentary approval.

Germany wants to increase the number of soldiers in service from 180,000 to 260,000 by the early 2030s to meet new NATO force targets and strengthen its defences - part of a planned surge in military spending. 

-SKY NEWS