Ukraine-Russia news – live: Nato boss warns of ‘major war’ with Putin

The head of Nato expressed worry that the fighting in Ukraine could spin out of control and become a war between Russia and Nato, according to an interview released Friday.

“If things go wrong, they can go horribly wrong,” Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in remarks to Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

“It is a terrible war in Ukraine. It is also a war that can become a full-fledged war that spreads into a major war between Nato and Russia,” he said. “We are working on that every day to avoid that.”

Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Norway, said in the interview that “there is no doubt that a full-fledged war is a possibility,” adding that it was important to avoid a conflict “that involves more countries in Europe and becomes a full-fledged war in Europe.”

Vladimir Putin has attempted to justify attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure by claiming Kyiv “started it” when the Crimea bridge was bombed.

Addressing a group of Russian serviceman as part of a lavish reception at the Kremlin, the Russian president said: “There is a lot of noise now about our strikes on the energy infrastructure [of Ukraine]. Yes, we are doing it.

“But who started it? Who struck the Crimean bridge?” he said, before taking a sip from a glass of champagne.

Russian President says attacks began in retaliation to Ukraine’s alleged attack on the Crimea Bridge in October

Pope Francis cries for Ukraine war victims during address in Rome

The British defence ministry today reiterated the Biden administration’s claims that Iran has become one of Russia’s ‘top military backers’ since Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

It warned that Tehran’s support to the Russian military is likely to “grow in the coming months”.

“Russia is attempting to obtain more weapons, including hundreds of ballistic missiles,” the British ministry said in its daily update.

In return, Russia is highly likely offering Iran an “unprecedented level of military and technical support” that is transforming their defence relationship.

A Ukrainian fighter pilot who posted a photo of his bloodied face has been named “Hero of Ukraine” by president Volodymyr Zelensky.

Vadym Voroshylov reportedly shot down Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones over the Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia and ejected from his damaged jet before it crashed.

The Ukrainian president in a statement said: “Major Vadym Oleksandrovych Voroshylov shall be awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine and be presented with the Order of the Gold Star.”

Ukraine’s air force says it has shot down 10 Iranian-made Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 drones over Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa oblasts last night.

Education minister Serhii Shkarlet said over 2,800 educational facilities in Ukraine have been damaged since Russia’s unprovoked invasion in February.

In the past 100 days alone at least 390 institutions have been damaged and destroyed in Russian shelling, he said.

Mr Shkarlet added: “Despite the fact that the occupiers continue to destroy schools, kindergartens, universities and vocational schools, Ukrainian children and youth continue to study.

“Teachers, lecturers and educators courageously hold the educational front.”

Rishi Sunak has said that Russia must withdraw its troops from Ukraine before any peace agreement can be considered in the 10-month conflict.

The prime minister’s comment came in a phone call today with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in which Mr Sunak confirmed that more UK anti-air guns and short-range air defence missiles will arrive in the coming weeks.

It came as Russian president Vladimir Putin said that an agreement would have to be reached “in the end” but that he was wary to do so because of what he perceived as Western duplicity over the Minsk accords of 2014 and 2015.

PM promises more weapons in phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky

The head of Nato has expressed his concern that the fighting in Ukraine could widen out into a war between Russia and the defence alliance.

“If things go wrong, they can go horribly wrong,” Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said in remarks to Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

“It is a terrible war in Ukraine. It is also a war that can become a full-fledged war that spreads into a major war between Nato and Russia,” he said.

“We are working on that every day to avoid that.”

The head of NATO has expressed worry that the fighting in Ukraine could spin out of control and become a war between Russia and NATO

Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong said today that the government would place targeted sanctions on Russia and Iran in response to what it called “egregious” human rights violations.

She said Canberra was imposing Magnitsky-style sanctions on 13 individuals and two entities, including Iran’s Morality Police and Basij Resistance Force, and six Iranians involved in the crackdown on protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in custody in September.

Seven Russians involved in what the foreign minister said was the attempted assassination of Kremlin critic leader Alexei Navalny would also have human rights sanctions imposed on them, Ms Wong said in her statement.

In addition to human rights sanctions, the minister said Australia was placing further targeted financial sanctions on three Iranians and one Iranian business for supplying drones to Russia for use against Ukraine.