Russia has launched a ‘full-scale’ invasion of Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin ordered a ‘specialised military operation’ in the Donbas region late last night.
Explosions and air raid sirens were heard across the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and other major cities following the announcement of the operation, with Putin saying in a televised address that the responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian ‘regime’.
Putin also said his goal is to ‘demilitarise’ Ukraine rather than occupy, and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to ‘consequences they have never seen’.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned Putin’s ‘path of bloodshed and destruction’, and said in a statement that he had spoken to the Ukrainian president about the ‘next steps’.
His statement on Twitter read: “I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps.
“President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The UK and our allies will respond decisively.”
But what exactly does this invasion mean for the UK? And will it really lead to a so-called ‘World War 3’? Here’s everything you need to know.
Why has Russia invaded Ukraine?
While the whole situation is massively complex, the invasion boils down to President Putin wanting to assert his power over Ukraine.
Putin wants the neighbouring country to be under the same control as they were both part of the Soviet Union in the 20th Century.
Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, where rebels backed by President Putin seized big swathes of the east. They have fought Ukraine’s army ever since.
Minutes after President Vladimir Putin of Russia announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine, explosions were visible near the city of Kharkiv. By early Thursday morning, several Ukrainian cities were under attack.
Russia has also resisted Ukraine’s attempts to move towards both Nato and the EU, with Putin once calling Ukraine ‘a puppet of the West’ and saying it was ‘never a proper state’, according to The BBC.
How has the UK responded to the Ukrainian invasion?
Boris Johnson has made it clear that UK will not be sending troops to Ukraine if Russia launches a full-scale invasion – partly because Ukraine is not part of Nato – but will aid the European ally in different ways.
Throughout the last few weeks as Russian forces amassed the border, the UK responded by sending Ukraine ‘self-defence’ weapons.
These included anti-tank missiles that uses infrared guidance to hit tanks from the top and can be used against buildings and helicopters, and Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapons (NLAW), which is launched on the shoulder and can be fired from confined spaces.
The UK is also providing intelligence to Ukraine, as are other Nato members.
I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps.
President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine.
Prior to this, Johnson attempted to engage Russia in ‘meaningful talks’ prior to the invasion, because ‘it’s far better to begin a discussion now than to have a catastrophe’.
When that failed, however, the government sanctioned five Russian banks and three ‘hit net wealth’ individuals. The Prime Minister is expected to announce more sanctions today.
The UK has sent a few military personnel to the nearby area, including around 350 Royal Marines from 45 Commando to Poland.
According to Sky News, the UK are also helping Ukraine manage Russian cyber attacks, which could lead to many Ukrainian deaths if key infrastructure is taken over by Moscow.
Why is the UK getting involved?
While the UK is on the other side of Europe to Ukraine and is no longer part of the EU, it is still an integral member of Nato which has a strong partnership with Ukraine, even though the country isn’t an official member.
The West has made it very clear that, in line with Nato values, it will back Ukraine in its fight for sovereignty.
Boris Johnson is hosting an emergency COBRA meeting today about the offensive from Putin, and will be announcing further sanctions on Russia.
Police have made an appeal for witnesses after a woman was killed in a major crash in Greater Manchester.
The three-car smash happened in Bromley Cross, Bolton on Thursday March 30th just before 11.50am.
Greater Manchester Police officers are now asking to speak to anyone who witnessed the accident on Darwen Road which left one woman dead and a man and a woman hospitalised with serious injuries.
The force are appealing for any dashcam, CCTV and doorbell footage to be submitted.
Sergeant Phillip Collingwood of GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “This was an extremely tragic incident in which someone has lost their life and two others have sustained serious injuries.
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“Our thoughts remain with the families affected who are being supported by specialist officers.
“No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing. If you can help, then please contact our Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4741, quoting incident 1304 of 30/03/2023.”
As reported in The Bolton News, since the crash, tributes have been paid to the woman who tragically lost her life yesterday afternoon.
The incident saw Darwen Road shut for hours while police, paramedics and ambulance helicopters were in attendance at the scene.
#APPEAL | Police want to speak to anyone who witnessed a road traffic collision that occurred on Darwen Road, #Bolton on Thursday 30 March 2023 at 11.49am.
Any information or dash cam footage please 📞 0161 856 4741, quoting 1304 of 30/3/2023. pic.twitter.com/S6dE7A6emv
— Bolton North Police (GMP) (@GMPBoltonNorth) March 31, 2023
Two cars were seen heavily damaged following the crash as Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service worked swiftly to cut people out of the vehicles.
The incident has left many in shock in the Bromley Cross area.
Information can also be reported online at www.gmp.police.uk. Alternatively, details can be passed via 101 or anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Paul O’Grady’s husband Andre Portasio has spoken out and shared the last photo the couple took together.
Producer Portasio confirmed the death of his partner O’Grady earlier this week. The national treasure died ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ on Tuesday evening aged 67. Portasio has shared a photograph of the two of them enjoying a holiday together as he revealed it was the last ever picture they shared together.
He thanked well-wishers and said he’s been ‘touched’ by all their support. In a post shared to his Instagram page on Thursday, Portasio wrote: “In time I hope to write to everyone individually and thank you for all posts, messages, phone calls, emails, cards and flowers of support.
@andre_portasio / Instagram
“I much appreciate you all taking the time to reach out. I’m so very touched and I’m sure Paul would be too! Browsing for a picture I found the last picture we ever took together. “Unbeknownst to us back in January this would be our last ever holiday together.”
Alongside the caption he posted a picture of the pair sat on a boat together smiling in the sunshine. The couple married in 2017.
Addressing his husband’s death earlier this week, Portasio said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that I inform you that Paul has passed away unexpectedly but peacefully yesterday evening.
@paulogrady / Instagram
“We ask, at this difficult time, that whilst you celebrate his life you also respect our privacy as we come to terms with this loss.”
Hours earlier, O’Grady’s close friend Linda Thorson revealed the star died in his own bed with his husband by his side.
ITV has confirmed they will go ahead, as originally planned, and air O’Grady’s new series of For The Love of Dogs next month. The 11th series of the popular show was filmed late last year at the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and will begin on Thursday 13th April at 8:30pm on ITV1.
The man who discovered the body of James Bulger has died in police custody.
James Riley, 44, discovered the toddler’s lifeless body when he was a teenager. He was with his brother Terrence Riley on a railway line in Liverpool in 1993 when they came across the horrific discovery —he was just 14 at the time, The Liverpool Echo reports.
Mr Riley was taken into custody at St Anne Street Police Station in Liverpool at around 9.45pm on March 14th 2023. He stayed the night in a cell but at around 5pm the next day, police staff found him lying on the floor needing medical attention.
They called for an emergency ambulance but when at the hospital, Mr Riley was confirmed dead. Mr Riley had a string of over 40 convictions for a range of offences.
Merseyside Police
His family say this was a result of trauma caused by his discovery of James’ body. Two-year-old James was abducted by two 10-year-old boys, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, who tortured and murdered him in a crime that shook the UK.
In February 1993, grainy CCTV images showed James being led out of Bootle’s Strand Shopping Centre by the schoolboys. They led him to the disused Walton & Anfield railway station, near Walton Lane police station, where they committed the horrific act.
In May 2017, James Riley was sentenced to two years and four months behind bars after admitting a spate of commercial burglaries.
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Sarah Holt, defending him in that case, said: “He has been a drug addict for a considerable period of time – all his adult life and in fact, most of his adolescence.
“His problems can be traced back to when he was 14, when he experienced a very traumatic event. It was an event I suggest that meant he is suffering from PTSD, though not diagnosed. He never sought counselling, he tells me.
“That led him at 14 to try crack cocaine and his problems really spiralled from thereon in.”
In 2021 Mr Riley was found dumped in a street wearing just his underwear and holding a knife after a gang sought money for a debt he owed.
West Midlands Police / Flickr
Aberdeen Sheriff Court previously heard that what he encountered in 1993 left a lasting impact on his life. The court heard how Riley suffered with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of finding James’ body.
The Independent Office for Police Custody (IOPC) is now investigating Riley’s death. IOPC Regional Director Catherine Bates said: “This was a tragic incident in which a man has sadly died and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.
“Merseyside Police referred this matter to us, and as he was in the custody of police at the time he became unwell, it is important there is a thorough and independent investigation.
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“We will examine all relevant matters including the interaction officers had with the man on the street, and what happened after he arrived at the custody suite. We have made contact with his family to explain our role and will update them as our enquiries progress.”
Merseyside Police said previously officers are fully cooperating with the IOPC. A spokesperson for the force said: “We are aware that the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the death of a 44-year-old man in police custody in Liverpool on Wednesday, March 15th.
“The force’s Professional Standards Department mandatorily referred the matter to the IOPC following the sad news that the man had passed away and we are fully cooperating with their investigation team. His next of kin have been informed and Merseyside Police would like to offer its condolences to the family for their loss.”