Al Jazeera
Port Sudan explosions: Lifeline for aid comes under attack for fourth day
Explosions have been heard at the Port of Sudan, a critical lifeline and entry point for aid, as attacks on the city continued for a fourth day in the latest confrontation between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the country's brutal two-year civil war. The attacks have been blamed on the RSF by Sudan's army and by residents. On Wednesday morning, an army source told the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity that the explosion was due to a drone attack that was met with "anti-aircraft missiles". The Port of Sudan on the Red Sea coast had been a haven city hosting hundreds of thousands of displaced people since the war began and serves as an interim seat for Sudan's military-allied government, which has been at war with the RSF since 2023. The attacks on Port Sudan have increased fears of disruptions to desperately needed aid deliveries in the country suffering one of the world's most dire humanitarian crises, and where famine has been declared in some areas.
'No safety guarantee': Could Ukrainian drones target Putin's Victory Day?
Waves of Ukrainian drones have hit Moscow in recent days as the Russian capital prepares for the country's most important national holiday, Victory Day, this week. Russia celebrates May 9 as Victory Day to mark the defeat of Nazi forces in World War II. The day involves a major military parade, with leaders of Russia's allies often in attendance. But this year, the run-up to the day has been clouded by a warning from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has said Kyiv cannot guarantee the safety of the foreign leaders attending the parade in Moscow. Here is more about Ukraine's attacks, Victory Day and why it is significant. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Tuesday that Russia's air defence systems shot down 19 drones flying towards Moscow from different directions.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,167
Russian attacks on the Donetsk and Sumy regions of eastern Ukraine killed at least three people on Monday, Ukrainian authorities said. A Ukrainian drone attack on a car in Russia's Kursk region killed two women, Governor Alexander Khinstein said in a post on Telegram. He said a 53-year-old man was also killed when an explosive device was dropped onto his car. Russian forces destroyed 105 Ukrainian drones overnight, the RIA Novosti news agency reported, citing the Russian Ministry of Defence. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said at least 19 Ukrainian drones were destroyed as the capital was targeted for a second night in a row, prompting the closure of all airports for several hours.
Explosions, huge fire in Sudanese city of Port Sudan
Multiple explosions have been heard and a huge fire seen in Port Sudan, though the exact locations and causes were unclear, as Sudan's civil war rocks the previously quiet city for the third day. Dark plumes of smoke could be seen emerging from the vicinity of the country's main maritime port in the city, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people have sought refuge. Al Jazeera's Hiba Morgan, reporting from the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, said residents in the port city reported that attack drones launched by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) hit a fuel depot and other targets. "According to the residents, they believe that it was drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces – once again. They targeted a fuel depot in the city but also around the port and the air base," Morgan said.
Russia reports Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow ahead of May 9 events
Russia has reported that it repelled a drone attack on Moscow as the capital city prepares to host a major military parade with foreign leaders in attendance. Russia's air defence systems intercepted "four drones flying towards Moscow", Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Monday. The attack appears intended to unsettle Moscow's preparations for events marking the end of the Great Patriotic War, commonly known as World War II elsewhere, on May 9. President Vladimir Putin has called for a 72-hour ceasefire to mark the occasion starting on May 8. However, Ukraine has demanded instead a 30-day truce aimed at agreeing to a permanent ceasefire in the conflict that began when Russia invaded in February 2022. Sobyanin said in a post on Telegram that there were no reports of injuries or damage.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,166
Russian forces repelled four drones flying towards Moscow, the capital's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, said in a post on Telegram. There were no initial reports of damage or casualties, Sobyanin said, adding that emergency services were working at the scene. Ukrainian forces attacked a factory in Russia's Bryansk region, destroying much of the plant, Governor Alexander Bogomaz said on Telegram. There were no casualties, Bogomaz said. Russian forces destroyed 13 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russia's Rostov, Belgorod and Bryansk regions, Moscow's Ministry of Defence said on Sunday.
Putin expresses 'hope' that nuclear weapons will not be needed in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that there has so far been no need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, expressing "hope" that they will not be required. Putin said his country had enough "strength and means" to bring the three-year war, sparked by Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, to a "logical conclusion with the outcome Russia requires". His comments were part of a documentary marking his quarter century in power by state television channel Rossiya 1 that was released on Sunday. Responding to a question from journalist Pavel Zarubin about the Russian response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory, Putin said: "There has been no need to use those [nuclear] weapons … and I hope they will not be required." His comments came ahead of his unilaterally declared three-day ceasefire over May 8-10 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies over Nazi Germany in World War II, an initiative that he claimed would test Kyiv's readiness for long-term peace.