Missiles Hit Near Odesa in Ukraine as New Mariupol Evacuation Bid Planned

Ukraine estimates 20,000 people have been killed in the war so far. Genya SAVILOV AFP
Ukraine estimates 20,000 people have been killed in the war so far. Genya SAVILOV AFP
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Missiles Hit Near Odesa in Ukraine as New Mariupol Evacuation Bid Planned

Ukraine estimates 20,000 people have been killed in the war so far. Genya SAVILOV AFP
Ukraine estimates 20,000 people have been killed in the war so far. Genya SAVILOV AFP

Missiles struck near Ukraine's southern port of Odesa on Sunday with Russia saying it had destroyed an oil refinery used by the Ukrainian military, while attempts to evacuate people from the devastated city of Mariupol were due to continue.

There was little sign of a breakthrough in efforts to negotiate an end to the five-week war, although Russia's chief negotiator said talks were due to resume on Monday.

In Odesa, the city council said "critical infrastructure facilities" were hit by missiles. No casualties were reported.

Russia's defense ministry said strikes by its military destroyed an oil refinery and three fuel storage facilities near Odesa. It said the facilities were used to supply Ukrainian troops near the city of Mykolaiv.

Odesa, on the Black Sea, is the main base for Ukraine's navy. It has been targeted by Russian forces seeking a land corridor to Transdniestria, a Russian-speaking breakaway province of Moldova which hosts Russian troops.

"Smoke is visible in some areas of the city. All relevant systems and structures are working ... No casualties reported," Vladyslav Nazarov, an officer of Ukraine's South Operational Command, said on Telegram.

Dmytro Lunin, governor of the central Poltava region, said the Kremenchug oil refinery, 350 kilometers (220 miles) northeast of Odesa, had been destroyed in a separate rocket attack on Saturday.

Evacuation efforts in Mariupol and nearby Berdyansk, both also on Ukraine's southern shores, were due to continue with a convoy of buses being prepared for the operation with help from the Red Cross.

"Seven buses will try to get closer to Mariupol, accompanied by the International Committee of the Red Cross," Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in an online video posting.

The ICRC abandoned earlier attempts due to security concerns. Russia blamed the ICRC for the delays.

Mariupol is Russia's main target in Ukraine's southeastern region of Donbas, and tens of thousands of civilians there are trapped with scant access to food and water.

Peace talks

Russia's chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, said a draft deal was not ready for any meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

On Saturday, Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia raised hope for negotiations with Russia, saying enough progress had been made for direct talks between the two.

Medinsky said that while Ukraine was showing more realism by agreeing to be neutral, renouncing nuclear weapons, not joining a military bloc and refusing to host military bases, there had been no progress on other key Russia demands.

"I repeat again and again: Russia's position on Crimea and Donbas remains UNCHANGED," he said on Telegram, adding talks via video-conference would continue on Monday.

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and has recognized declarations of independence by the self-proclaimed republics of Luhansk and Donetsk in the Donbas area of eastern Ukraine which rose up against Kyiv's rule.

Bucha Destruction

Ukraine said on Saturday its forces had retaken all areas around Kyiv, claiming complete control of the capital region for the first time since Russia launched its invasion on Feb 24.

Russia has pulled back forces that had threatened Kyiv from the north to regroup for battles in eastern Ukraine.

There was no Russian comment on the claim that the Kyiv region was entirely in Ukrainian hands, which Reuters could not immediately verify.

The mayor of Bucha, a liberated town 37 km (23 miles) northwest of the capital, said 300 residents had been killed during a month-long occupation by the Russian army, and victims were seen in a mass grave and still lying on the streets.

"The bastards!" Vasily, a 66-year-old man said, weeping with rage as he looked at more than a dozen bodies in the road outside his house. "I'm sorry. The tank behind me was shooting. Dogs!"

The Kremlin and the Russian defense ministry in Moscow did not immediately reply to requests for comment when asked on Saturday about the bodies found in Bucha.

Moscow denies targeting civilians and rejects war crimes allegations.

Among those killed near Kyiv was Maksim Levin, a Ukrainian photographer and videographer who was working for a news website and was a long-time contributor to Reuters.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she was appalled by atrocities in Bucha and voiced support for the International Criminal Court's inquiry into potential war crimes.

Ukraine's emergencies service said more than 1,500 explosives had been found in one day during a search of the village of Dmytrivka, west of the capital.

Zelenskiy warned in a video address: "They are mining all this territory. Houses are mined, equipment is mined, even the bodies of dead people." He did not cite evidence.

Russia's defense ministry did not reply to a request for comment on the allegations about mines. Reuters could not independently verify them.

Since the launch of what Putin called a "special military operation" to demilitarize and "denazify" Ukraine, Russia has failed to capture a single major city and has instead laid siege to urban areas, uprooting a quarter of the country's population.

British military intelligence said Russian naval forces were maintaining a blockade along the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, but the option of amphibious landings were becoming increasingly high-risk for Russia.

It said reported mines, the origin of which remained unclear and disputed, posed a serious risk to shipping in the Black Sea.



US Calls for Coalition of Like-Minded Partners, Dozens of Countries Urge Reopening of Hormuz

Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 27, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 27, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
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US Calls for Coalition of Like-Minded Partners, Dozens of Countries Urge Reopening of Hormuz

Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 27, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 27, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

Dozens of countries gathered at the United Nations in New York on Monday to discuss “the safety and protection of waterways in the maritime domain,” demanding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been closed by Iran since February.

During his speech at the Security Council open debate convened at the invitation of Bahrain, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that ensuring the security of global waterways has become a fundamental test for the current international system, stressing that their stability is a cornerstone of global security and peace.

He said maritime routes have historically been vital arteries for global trade and energy flows among continents.

“Open the Strait. Let ships pass. No tolls. No discrimination. Let trade resume. Let the global economy breathe,” he noted.

Guterres warned that prolonged disruption risks triggering a global food emergency – pushing millions, especially in Africa and South Asia, into hunger and poverty.

Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IOM) Arsenio Dominguez said straits used for international navigation cannot be closed by bordering States.

He said the geopolitical conflict around the Strait of Hormuz is having a very negative effect on seafarers and shipping, and on the global population and economy.

Coalition of like-minded partners

For his part, US Representative to the UN, Ambassador Mike Waltz said the Strait of Hormuz is not Iran’s to wield like its own moat and drawbridge.

“It is not Iran’s bargaining chip, it is not Iran’s toll road. And that’s what over 100 countries right outside these doors just testified in one of the most supported press conferences in recent years—100 countries just said what I said,” he told the open debate.

Waltz criticized both China and Russia for vetoing a resolution to protect the freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Straits of Hormuz. Instead, he said, they chose a radical religious regime for its partner, and ignored not only the plight of our Gulf countries, but the global economy.

He therefore called for a coalition of like-minded partners to step up and step in with real capabilities and help.

British Minister of State for Europe, North America, and the Overseas Territories Steven Doughty said shipping and seafarers must not be used as leverage, and there is no place for tolls or permissions in international straits.

“Throughout this crisis, the UK has been clear: Iran must not be able to hold the global economy hostage or indeed threaten regional and international security,” he said.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot emphasized that strategic straits are “arteries of the world" and "not the property of any individual.”

Barrot said Iran must make “major concessions” for a lasting solution to the Middle East crisis.

Speaking at the United Nations Security Council, he stressed that only a radical shift in Tehran’s stance can restore stability.

Russia and China

In return, Russia’s Permanent Representative at the Security Council open debate, Vassily Nebenzia said the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is the result of unprovoked US-Israeli aggression against Iran.

His Chinese counterpart, Fu Cong, said the root cause of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is the illegal military actions launched by the US and Israel against Iran.

He said China commends Pakistan and others for their role as mediators, and urges relevant parties to resolve disputes and conflicts by political and diplomatic means.

Saudi Arabia Rejects Threats

Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, Abdulaziz Alwasil, said the Arab Gulf region is witnessing unprecedented tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
“Any threat to freedom of navigation in this strategic waterway would directly impact global stability,” he noted.

The Saudi envoy condemned Iran for its actions and threats targeting international shipping and freedom of navigation, warning that such behavior constituted a serious threat to global peace and stability.

Alwasil said the waterway must remain open without restrictions, in accordance with international law.

Pakistan's ambassador to the UN Asim Iftikhar Ahmad emphasized that safeguarding sea lanes is essential not only for trade, but also for broader development and security goals.

The ambassador said Pakistan, alongside partners such as China, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Egypt, is actively working toward de-escalation.

For his part, Iran’s envoy to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, said, “Lasting stability and security in the Arabian Gulf and the wider region can only be achieved through a durable and permanent cessation of aggression against Iran supplemented by credible guarantees of non-recurrence and full respect for the legitimate sovereign rights and interests of Iran.”

Joint Statement

Ahead of the open debate session, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Council this month, read a joint statement on behalf of a broad coalition of countries, expressing strong opposition to actions affecting navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement reaffirmed support for Security Council Resolution 2817 and condemned what it described as Iranian actions, including the closure of the strait and attacks on regional neighbors.

It warned that such measures pose “a threat to international security and to navigational rights and freedoms,” emphasizing that free passage through the strait is essential to global stability and prosperity.

“We reiterate our call for the urgent and unimpeded opening of the strait,” Al Zayani said, reading from the statement.

Also on Monday, the US and Iran clashed at the United Nations over Tehran's nuclear program and its selection to be one of dozens of vice presidents at a month-long conference to review the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The 11th conference to review implementation of the NPT, which came into force in 1970, began on Monday at the UN in New York.

Different groups nominated 34 conference vice presidents, and the conference chair, Vietnam's UN ambassador Do Hung Viet, said Iran was picked by “the group of non-aligned and other states.”

Christopher Yeaw, assistant secretary for the US Bureau of ⁠Arms Control and Nonproliferation, told the conference that Iran's selection was an “affront” to the NPT.

Reza Najafi, who serves as Tehran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, rejected the US statement as “baseless and politically motivated.”


UK Summons Iranian Ambassador Over Embassy’s ‘Unacceptable’ Comments on Social Media

Police officers stand guard outside the Iranian embassy as demonstrators continue protesting outside during a rally in support of nationwide protests in Iran, in London, Britain, January 13, 2026. (Reuters)
Police officers stand guard outside the Iranian embassy as demonstrators continue protesting outside during a rally in support of nationwide protests in Iran, in London, Britain, January 13, 2026. (Reuters)
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UK Summons Iranian Ambassador Over Embassy’s ‘Unacceptable’ Comments on Social Media

Police officers stand guard outside the Iranian embassy as demonstrators continue protesting outside during a rally in support of nationwide protests in Iran, in London, Britain, January 13, 2026. (Reuters)
Police officers stand guard outside the Iranian embassy as demonstrators continue protesting outside during a rally in support of nationwide protests in Iran, in London, Britain, January 13, 2026. (Reuters)

Britain said on Tuesday the Iranian ambassador to London had been summoned over what the government described as the Iranian embassy's "unacceptable and inflammatory" comments on social media.

Britain's minister for the Middle East, ‌Hamish Falconer, made ‌clear that the embassy "must ‌cease ⁠any form of communications ⁠that could be interpreted as encouraging violence in the UK or internationally", the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Iranian officials in Tehran could not be immediately reached for ⁠comment on Britain's move.

A ‌statement posted ‌by the Iranian embassy on its Telegram channel ‌earlier this month called on ‌Iranians in Britain to volunteer for a campaign to declare their willingness to sacrifice their lives in a war ‌in defense of their country.

The British government did not ⁠specify ⁠which of the embassy's social media comments it was referring to.

British lawmakers have warned of significant and wide-ranging threats posed by Iran to Britain.

The government also summoned the Iranian ambassador last month after an Iranian national and a British-Iranian dual national were charged on suspicion of helping Iran's intelligence services.


Trump and Charles Greet Each Other Warmly as the King Begins a Day of Diplomacy in Washington

US President Donald Trump speaks with Britain's King Charles III during an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2026. (AFP)
US President Donald Trump speaks with Britain's King Charles III during an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2026. (AFP)
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Trump and Charles Greet Each Other Warmly as the King Begins a Day of Diplomacy in Washington

US President Donald Trump speaks with Britain's King Charles III during an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2026. (AFP)
US President Donald Trump speaks with Britain's King Charles III during an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2026. (AFP)

President Donald Trump and King Charles III greeted each other warmly on Tuesday as the monarch began a day of diplomacy in Washington designed to emphasize a bond between the United Kingdom and the United States that is so strong it can withstand the political turmoil of the moment.

Trump welcomed Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House in a ceremony on the South Lawn. The king shook hands with members of Trump's Cabinet before joining the president for a rendition of the national anthem.

The leaders will huddle later in the Oval Office for a meeting that’s closed to the public, reducing the potential for the freewheeling, sometimes controversial meetings with foreign officials that have become routine during Trump’s second term.

Charles will later become the first British monarch to address the US Congress since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1991. Her speech highlighted the shared history of both countries and the importance of their democratic values, themes Charles will likely reinforce on Tuesday.

Such addresses are an opportunity afforded to only the most prominent world leaders, including Pope Francis, Václav Havel and Winston Churchill. It will likely mark the most extensive public remarks Charles will deliver during a four-day visit to the US that's intended to celebrate the country's 250th anniversary of independence from Britain.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., became the first sitting leader of his chamber to address the UK Parliament earlier this year. He attended a garden party with the king in Washington on Monday and said he told him he would be “well received” in Congress.

The visit comes at a challenging moment for US-UK relations. Trump’s up-and-down relationship with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has taken a particularly sour turn over the past several months as the Republican president has sought to rally international support for the war in Iran. Trump criticized Starmer, who has largely resisted his overtures, by saying “this is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with.”

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump stand on stage with Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla during a State Visit arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP)

Trump has also imposed tariffs on the UK and warned of additional levies despite a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that has made such unilateral moves more challenging. Trump threatened just last week to slap a “big tariff” on the UK if it doesn't scrap a digital services tax on US technology companies.

Trump has more broadly challenged the traditional trans-Atlantic alliance with efforts to annex Greenland and threats to walk away from NATO. He has repeatedly imposed tariffs on and taunted Canada, a member of the British Commonwealth.

Meanwhile, Charles has faced some calls on Capitol Hill to meet with victims of Jeffrey Epstein while he is in the US. There's no indication that he will do so even as the scandal involving the convicted sex offender has ensnared his brother, who was arrested in February over misconduct allegations, which he denies.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., urged the king over the weekend to at least address the issue during his congressional speech.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York blamed Republican policies on Monday for straining the US-UK relationship.

“Hopefully, the king's visit is going to go a long way toward repairing the damage that this administration has done to one of our most important allies in the world,” Jeffries said.

Charles and Camilla arrived at the nation's capital on Monday and held a tea with the president and first lady Melania Trump. The royal couple will continue their US trip later this week with stops in New York City and Virginia.