Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow 'hit gas facilities crucial to supply in Europe'; Russian murder rate 'up 900%'

By Sean Bell, military analyst

When the UK provided long-range Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, it was done on the understanding that these would only be used to target Russian forces in occupied territory, and not against Russia itself. 

Despite the limitations, Ukraine has complied, and that appears to have improved US confidence to the point they are prepared to supply the ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) missile. 

Indeed, we now understand that the US first supplied the ATACMS last month - in secret - and it appears to have proven its worth with attacks on a Russian-occupied airfield in Crime on 17 April, and earlier this week in an attack on Russian troop concentrations.

But will this new weapon risk an escalation of the war?

Russia knows that it faces strategic failure if the West were to commit fully to the defence of Ukraine, so it will continue to use threatening rhetoric and sabre-rattling to undermine Western political resolve. 

The interesting question is whether the introduction of ATACMS will change the course of the war. Long-range missiles are very effective at targeting and influencing the "deep battle" - the logistics that feed the front-line fight. However, they have limited impact on the frontline.  

The shortage of Ukrainian weapons is being exploited by Russia, which is making significant battlefield gains.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has identified that his immediate priority is to "stabilise" the frontlines. 

Instead, ATACMS and the new package of Western military support provides Ukraine with a lifeline. 

In the city of Kharkiv, municipal workers are helping to clear up an area near a psychiatric hospital that targeted by Russia. 

Workers are draining a crater left behind by the attack and also inspecting damaged communication lines. 

A 53-year-old patient was injured in the strike.

Ben Wallace has hit out at German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for suggesting British and French troops are on the ground in Ukraine to programme cruise missiles. 

The chancellor had previously justified his refusal to send Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine by saying it would require German troops on the ground to programme them. 

He had suggested British and French soldiers were in Ukraine to help with their Storm Shadow and Scalp missiles.

But Mr Wallace said in an interview with German news agency dpa: "[Scholz] was wrong... I can't tell you how Storm Shadows and Scalps are programmed. 

"But it doesn't involve people standing around in an airport in Ukraine, it doesn't need to do that." 

The former defence secretary also criticised Mr Scholz's hesitation to send Taurus missiles, saying: "You can't incrementally help Ukraine, you know, a bit of this and a bit of that. 

"Do we want Ukraine to win? Or do we want them to lose?... 

"Ukraine will abide by any restrictions you put on them. So you could give them Taurus. And you could add all sorts of restrictions about where you want it used or not used." 

Mr Wallace added that Mr Scholz is "not a leader for conflict at the moment" and that "looking either indecisive, or flip-flopping on certain decisions, or seeming to be out of step with your allies, only aids Putin". 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said this morning's Russian attack on Ukraine's energy sector had targeted gas facilities important for supply to the European Union.

The main target was the energy sector, various facilities in the industry, both electricity and gas transit facilities," he said in his nightly video address. 

"In particular, those gas facilities that are crucial to ensuring safe delivery to the European Union." 

Moscow earlier claimed its strikes were "in response to attempts by the Kyiv regime to damage Russian energy and industrial facilities". 

Australia has announced a military aid package for Ukraine worth 100m Australian dollars (£52m). 

Defence minister Richard Marles said the money will be used to fund short-range air defence systems, drones for the Ukrainian military and equipment including helmets, inflatable boats, fire masks and electricity generators, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said. 

Mr Marles made the announcement during a trip to Ukraine where he met the country's prime minister Denys Shmyal and deputy defence minister Ivan Havryliuk. 

He said the latest package took Australian military assistance for Ukraine to 880m Australian dollars (£459m) since Russia began its invasion in 2022.

The Russian defence ministry has responded to this morning's attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. 

It said it had carried out 35 strikes in the last week against energy facilities, defence factories, railway infrastructure, air defences, and ammunition stocks in Ukraine. 

The strikes were "in response to attempts by the Kyiv regime to damage Russian energy and industrial facilities", it said. 

Ukraine has been targeting Russian oil refineries and other facilities in drone attacks in recent weeks, despite US requests not to do so. 

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials said Russian missiles had pounded power facilities in central and western Ukraine today. 

Russia's defence ministry said it had used sea and air-launched long-range precision weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and drones.

It also said it had targeted Ukrainian troop formations and what it called foreign mercenaries. 

Anti-tank fortifications, known as "dragon's teeth", have been set up in the eastern region of Donetsk. 

As we've mentioned, Russia has been pushing in the Avdiivka direction and is aiming to reach the strategic town of Chasiv Yar. 

A 52-year-old Ukrainian has been injured after a Russian drone strike hit a truck he was driving, a local governor has said. 

Oleh Syniehubov, the governor of Kharkiv, said the man was taken to hospital in a serious condition. 

He said Russian forces used an FPV drone to hit the truck at around 1pm local time near Vovchansk, a city located less than 10km from the Russian border.

As we mentioned in our previous post, Russia is aiming to capture the eastern Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar at all costs. 

The town sits in Ukraine's Donetsk region, less than 10km west of the occupied city of Bakhmut. 

Russian forces have been pushing forward in eastern Ukraine following their capture of Avdiivka in February, and have been swallowing up villages in the area. 

But Chasiv Yar is the key goal for Russia, which is using a grouping of more than 20,000 soldiers to attack the town. 

Ukraine is both outgunned and outnumbered in its defence, but it does have the advantage that Chasiv Yar lies on high ground which serves as a natural defensive structure. 

The town has the highest point in the area, and is divided in the east by the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas canal. 

Chasiv Yar was used as a Ukrainian stronghold when Russia initially invaded the Donbas region in 2014. 

It hosted a key military hospital and also served as the headquarters for the Joint Forces Operation. 

Ukraine has been using the town as a regrouping hub and fire support base during the full-scale invasion that started in 2022. 

There is another reason Russia has its sights set on the town.

The capture of Chasiv Yar would pave the way for Russia to launch a broader offensive in the Donetsk region - which is currently about 50% under Russian control. 

Russia has already reached the outskirts of Chasiv Yar, and Ukrainian officials have warned Moscow wants to seize the town by Russia's military holiday on 9 May. 

The Kremlin has said that it will explore ways to overcome what it called any illegal sanctions the European Union imposes on its liquified natural gas (LNG).

Earlier this week three EU sources said the European Commission's next sanctions package is expected to propose restrictions on LNG for the first time. 

The proposal would not ban imports of Russian LNG to Europe, but instead target trans-shipments, which move gas from one vessel to another that then sails onto its final destination. 

The transfers are usually done in port areas.

Reacting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "Attempts to squeeze Russia out of energy markets and switch to more expensive markets are continuing.

"Of course, in any case, we will look for ways to overcome these illegal obstacles, unfair competition and illegal actions."

Why sanctions on LNG now?

The EU announced a ban on Russian seaborne oil imports soon after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but the bloc has stopped short of prohibiting LNG, despite repeated calls by the Baltic states and Poland.

But Russia supplies the EU with 40% of its gas and 30% of its oil.

In fact, imports of Russian LNG to Europe have increased since the war began, with Belgium, France, and Spain the biggest takers.

Finding an alternative LNG provider would have to be coordinated by the West.