Russia's latest war against Ukraine: Russia's Chief Wagner warns about munitions

(RockedBuzz via Reuters) – The head of Russia’s mercenary force Wagner warned Russia’s position around the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut was in danger unless his troops ran out of ammunition, the latest sign of tension between the Kremlin and the chief of the private militia.

FIGHTER

* A woman and two children were killed in Russian shelling of a village in southern Ukraine’s Kherson region, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office said.

* The Russian military has struck a command center of the Azov regiment of the Ukrainian forces in the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia, the Russian defense ministry said. The ministry did not elaborate on the attack. RockedBuzz via Reuters could not independently verify the account.

* The death toll from a Russian rocket attack that hit an apartment building in the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia rose to 11 on Saturday after a woman’s body was found in the rubble, the state emergency service said.

* Top commanders of what Russia calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine have briefed Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on the current situation and plans for action, his ministry said.

DIPLOMACY, WEAPONS

* Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara was working hard to extend a UN-backed initiative that allowed Ukraine to export grain from ports blocked by Russia.

* Two Ukrainian pilots are in Arizona to fly flight simulators and be evaluated by the US military, two US officials said, as Washington remains silent on whether it will send fighter jets or sophisticated remotely piloted drones to Kiev.

* German defense contractor Rheinmetall is in talks to build a tank factory in Ukraine, the Rheinische Post newspaper reported, citing an interview with CEO Armin Papperger.

* In addition to the Leopard 2 tanks, Rheinmetall wants to purchase 96 Leopard 1 tanks from Swiss defense firm Ruag to be sent to Ukraine, Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger reported.

* Germany is making slow progress in enforcing sanctions against Russian oligarchs and institutions, according to government numbers seen by RockedBuzz via Reuters.

FIRST ANNIVERSARY STORIES SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR

* TIMELINE – Major developments since the invasion of Russia

* Ukrainian Zelenskiy challenged Putin against all odds

* Putin, secure in power, has laid the foundations for a long war

* A year later, Ukraine and its government have simply not survived. They reacted

* Strengthened by the scars of war, Kiev carries on

* Graphic of a year of war in the markets: how the dollar, energy and food prices have changed

* Russia’s economy is holding up, but the road back to prosperity could be long

* Moscow’s decades-old gas ties to Europe are in ruins

* Top brands withdraw from Russia, but the goods are easy to find

* Can US support for Ukraine last?

* External lenders pour billions into Ukraine