Ukrainian soldiers in a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle near the frontline city of Bakhmut. Reuters
Ukrainian soldiers in a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle near the frontline city of Bakhmut. Reuters
Ukrainian soldiers in a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle near the frontline city of Bakhmut. Reuters
Ukrainian soldiers in a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle near the frontline city of Bakhmut. Reuters

EU says Ukraine ceasefire would be inherently unstable


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The EU's top official on Wednesday argued against a ceasefire along the current battle lines in Ukraine, saying it would be “inherently unstable”.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said any peace “must be a lasting one” and involve a Russian withdrawal from Ukraine.

Her remarks came after two Russian oil refineries near the Black Sea were hit by drone attacks in the early hours of Wednesday, causing a fire at one site, the latest incident in mainland Russia.

Plants in Afipsky and Ilsky, in Russia's Krasnodar region, were struck by unmanned aerial vehicles.

Russian officials did not immediately say who they suspected of launching the attacks, but Moscow has accused Kyiv of targeting its territory in recent weeks.

Neither side has made major military gains in Ukrainian territory in recent weeks after a bitter struggle for the city of Bakhmut.

At a conference in Bratislava, Ms von der Leyen said a ceasefire “would be inherently unstable and destabilise the region along the contact line”.

“After all, a ceasefire was in place after 2014 and we know what happened to that arrangement last February when Russia invaded Ukraine,” she said.

“Nobody would invest or rebuild, and the conflict could flare up again at any time. No – a just peace must result in the withdrawal of Russian forces and their equipment from the territory of Ukraine.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned against an unstable ceasefire in Ukraine. AP
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned against an unstable ceasefire in Ukraine. AP

The Ilsky refinery, which is across the Azov Sea from Ukraine, came under attack at about 4am local time, Russian state-owned news agency RIA reported, citing local officials.

No casualties were reported and there was no damage to the site.

“As a result of the fall, the apparatus crashed, the plant’s infrastructure was not damaged, and there was no fire,” the report said. “Special services and law enforcement agencies are working on the spot.”

The incident came after Russian officials on Sunday said air defence systems had neutralised several drones as they approached the site in Ilsky.

The Ilsky oil refinery caught fire in early May after a drone attack. EPA
The Ilsky oil refinery caught fire in early May after a drone attack. EPA

After a blaze broke out at the Afipsky oil refinery, the governor of Krasnodar said a drone was the probable cause. Veniamin Kondratyev said the fire had affected an area of about 100 square metres and had been extinguished. No one was hurt, he said.

On Tuesday, the Kremlin blamed Ukraine for a series of drone strikes on the Russian capital, which caused minor damage to buildings and injured two people.

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Kyiv of trying to frighten Russians, and said the attack had been in response to Russia’s targeting of a Ukrainian military intelligence headquarters.

In a televised address, Mr Putin said Kyiv had chosen to “intimidate Russia, to intimidate Russia's citizens” and added: “This is obviously a sign of terrorist activity.”

Some of Moscow’s most upmarket districts were targeted, including one where Mr Putin has a home.

The attack prompted the government to order stronger air defence systems.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian presidential aide, denied Kyiv was behind the attacks, but said “we are pleased to watch events” and predicted that they would continue.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said British public officials are a “legitimate military target” because of the UK's support for Ukraine.

Mr Medvedev, deputy chairman of Mr Putin's Security Council, claimed Britain’s backing for Kyiv amounted to an “undeclared war” against Russia.

His warning came after the UK’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said Ukraine had the right to “project force beyond its borders” into Russia to resist the Russian invasion.

In response to Mr Cleverly’s comments, Mr Medvedev said: “The goofy officials of the UK, our eternal enemy, should remember that within the framework of the universally accepted international law which regulates modern warfare, including The Hague and Geneva Conventions with their additional protocols, their state can also be qualified as being at war.”

The White House said it did not support attacks on Russian territory and that it was gathering information on the latest incidents. Russia’s ambassador to the US accused Washington of supporting terrorists.

The war of words between Moscow and the West has escalated ahead of a crucial summit in Moldova, which will bring together 46 EU and European leaders to discuss financial and political support for Ukraine.

Western allies are also looking ahead to the Nato summit in Vilnius in July.

Russia, meanwhile, continues to bombard Ukrainian cities with drone and missile attacks.

One person was killed and four wounded in a Russian drone strike on Kyiv on Tuesday, according to Ukrainian officials.

There were no such attacks reported overnight.

Ukraine and Russia conflict – latest pictures

  • A Ukrainian soldier moves along a trench at a position near the front-line town of Bakhmut. Reuters
    A Ukrainian soldier moves along a trench at a position near the front-line town of Bakhmut. Reuters
  • The leader of Russia's Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin, right, talks to his fighters in Bakhmut. AFP
    The leader of Russia's Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin, right, talks to his fighters in Bakhmut. AFP
  • A Ukrainian serviceman from the 24th Separate Mechanised Brigade keeps watch on the front line. EPA
    A Ukrainian serviceman from the 24th Separate Mechanised Brigade keeps watch on the front line. EPA
  • An evacuee from eastern Ukraine boards a train in Pokrovsk bound for Lviv. Reuters
    An evacuee from eastern Ukraine boards a train in Pokrovsk bound for Lviv. Reuters
  • Fighters of the Russian Volunteer Corps, which fights on the side of Ukraine, in the north of the country, not far from the Russian border. AFP
    Fighters of the Russian Volunteer Corps, which fights on the side of Ukraine, in the north of the country, not far from the Russian border. AFP
  • A Ukrainian army multiple rocket launcher fires at Russian positions on the front line near Bakhmut. AP
    A Ukrainian army multiple rocket launcher fires at Russian positions on the front line near Bakhmut. AP
  • Smoke rises after a Russian missile strike in Kyiv. Reuters
    Smoke rises after a Russian missile strike in Kyiv. Reuters
  • A Ukrainian man plants sunflowers between a damaged Russian tank and its turret in his garden in the village of Velyka Dymerka, Kyiv region. AP
    A Ukrainian man plants sunflowers between a damaged Russian tank and its turret in his garden in the village of Velyka Dymerka, Kyiv region. AP
  • Ukrainian servicemen rest at their positions after a battle near the front-line city of Bakhmut. Reuters
    Ukrainian servicemen rest at their positions after a battle near the front-line city of Bakhmut. Reuters
  • A teenager aims a Kalashnikov AK47 rifle during defence training at a centre for school pupils in Lviv. AFP
    A teenager aims a Kalashnikov AK47 rifle during defence training at a centre for school pupils in Lviv. AFP
  • A Ukrainian national flag in the middle of a blossoming field near Brovary, east of Kyiv. AP
    A Ukrainian national flag in the middle of a blossoming field near Brovary, east of Kyiv. AP
  • Ukrainian servicemen check Russian positions near the front-line city of Bakhmut. Reuters
    Ukrainian servicemen check Russian positions near the front-line city of Bakhmut. Reuters
  • Rescuers put out a fire during a Russian air strike on Kyiv. EPA
    Rescuers put out a fire during a Russian air strike on Kyiv. EPA
  • Ukrainian boys play at being soldiers in the village of Stoyanka. AFP
    Ukrainian boys play at being soldiers in the village of Stoyanka. AFP
  • Ukrainian servicemen during an exercise in the Chernihiv region. Reuters
    Ukrainian servicemen during an exercise in the Chernihiv region. Reuters
  • Ukrainian soldiers fire a cannon on the front line near Bakhmut. AP
    Ukrainian soldiers fire a cannon on the front line near Bakhmut. AP

Russia evacuates children near Ukraine border after shelling

On Wednesday evening, Russia said it was evacuating hundreds of children from villages due to intensifying shelling in the border region of Belgorod, where the situation was deemed “alarming” by the Kremlin.

Authorities began evacuating children from the border districts of Shebekino and Graivoron, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram.

“The question of children's safety in the two districts … is very important,” Mr Gladkov said.

“All of us adults are very worried.”

Mr Gladkov said the first 300 evacuated children will be taken to Voronezh, a city about 250 kilometres away.

More than 1,000 more children will be removed to other provinces over the coming days, he added.

A correspondent for state-run agency RIA Novosti near Voronezh said buses had arrived with about 150 people on board.

The governor said the situation was growing worse in the village of Shebekino, where he reported more shelling during the day that injured four people, but did not cause any deaths.

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima


Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650

Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder

Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm

Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km

GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

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THREE
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THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
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Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm

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Transmission: 6-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km

Price: Dh133,900

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Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19

July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan

Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US

Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Mar 9-10: Copper Box Arena in London, UK

The Cockroach

 (Vintage)

Ian McEwan 
 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
History's medical milestones

1799 - First small pox vaccine administered

1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery

1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases

1895 - Discovery of x-rays

1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time

1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin

1953 - Structure of DNA discovered

1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place 

1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill

1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.

1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out

Scoreline

Liverpool 4

Oxlade-Chamberlain 9', Firmino 59', Mane 61', Salah 68'

Manchester City 3

Sane 40', Bernardo Silva 84', Gundogan 90' 1

Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie

Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)

Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy. 

How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
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Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

Why seagrass matters
  • Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
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Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5
 
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France

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Match info:

Real Betis v Sevilla, 10.45pm (UAE)

Updated: May 31, 2023, 10:40 PM