A "Malign Actor" has probably compromised the payments system used by the British military, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said after reports that china had hacked into a database holding personal information of the armed forces. UK Defence Secretary echoes Sunak and told House of Commons that, "State involvement cannot be ruled out in a hack of an armed forces payroll system". Beijing described the suggestion as a "fabricated and malicious slander".

China behind UK Defence Ministry data breach? | Personal data of Armed Forces hacked

UK's Ministry of Defence suffered a significant data breach. The personal information of UK military personnel has been hacked. A third-party payroll system used by the MoD was attacked. This system included names and bank details of current and past members of the armed forces.

Who is hacking UK armed forces’ personal data?

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<p>The British defence ministry has been urged to ban the Chinese video-sharing app TikTok amid fears that sensitive data could be useful to Chinese spies. TikTok's usage has been banned across Whitehall but the defence ministry uses the app to communicate with British forces around the world. Now intelligence experts fear that Chinese spies will be able to harvest data from the app which could threaten Britain's security, a report by The Telegraph on Saturday (Mar 16) said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The concerns come after the United States (US) passed a bill that would give TikTok's owner ByteDance about six months to divest its American assets or face a ban. Speaking to The Telegraph, Admiral Lord West, the former head of the Royal Navy and chief of defence intelligence, said that it would seem extraordinary "if there is sufficient concern for the US to ban TikTok that we don’t take action regarding MoD and service personnel use."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-300000-america-jobs-at-risk-tiktok-ceo-reacts-to-us-house-vote-on-app-699894">Over 300,000 American jobs at risk: TikTok CEO asks users to oppose bill aiming to ban app</a></strong></p>

<p>“Absolutely and without any hesitation, TikTok should be banned by the MoD (Ministry of Defence)," Rear Admiral Chris Parry told the publication. He further said that the app could provide details of troops’ IDs and their locations.</p>

<h2><strong>MoD's justification for using TikTok</strong></h2>

<p>As per the report, the defence ministry has said that its TikTok account was managed using third-party software and devices outside its computer network. Defence officials said that it uses the channel to reach a bigger audience as TikTok is used by around a billion people globally and 23 million people in the United Kingdom (UK).</p>

<p>The ministry has also said that its personnel have been banned from using the app on their official phones. However, they are allowed to use them on their personal phones.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nearly 1,000 troops are deployed in Estonia as part of a force of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which is on standby related to the ongoing Ukraine war. The report further said that British special forces have been ordered to remove TikTok from official and personal phones over fears that covert operations could be compromised.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;TikTok remains popular despite US lawmakers flagging concerns</strong></p>

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<p>TikTok collects mass user information and&nbsp;identifies&nbsp;the internet protocol address, which can be used to identify every device on the internet. It can also collect biometric information and personal identifiers.</p>

<p>The report said that although other social media platforms collect similar details, it is TikTok's link to China that concerns British intelligence agencies.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>TikTok users in US urged to call senators to vote no on ban</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, TikTok on Friday urged some American users to call their senators and ask them to vote no to a bill that would ban the app. "Tell your Senator how important TikTok is to you. Ask them to vote no on the TikTok ban," a notification issued by the app said.</p>

<p>The notification added that if the Senate votes, the "future of creativity and communities you love on TikTok could be shut down."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The British defence ministry has been urged to ban the Chinese video-sharing app TikTok amid fears that sensitive data could be useful to Chinese spies. TikTok's usage has been banned across Whitehall but the defence ministry uses the app to communicate with British forces around the world.

The British defence ministry has been urged to ban the Chinese video-sharing app TikTok amid fears that sensitive data could be useful to Chinese spies. TikTok's usage has been banned across Whitehall but the defence ministry uses the app to communicate with British forces around the world. Now intelligence experts fear that Chinese spies will be able to harvest data from the app which could threaten Britain's security, a report by The Telegraph on Saturday (Mar 16) said. The concerns come after the United States (US) passed a bill that would give TikTok's owner ByteDance about six months to divest its American assets or face a ban. Speaking to The Telegraph, Admiral Lord West, the former head of the Royal Navy and chief of defence intelligence, said that it would seem extraordinary "if there is sufficient concern for the US to ban TikTok that we don’t take action regarding MoD and service personnel use." Also read | Over 300,000 American jobs at risk: TikTok CEO asks users to oppose bill aiming to ban app “Absolutely and without any hesitation, TikTok should be banned by the MoD (Ministry of Defence)," Rear Admiral Chris Parry told the publication. He further said that the app could provide details of troops’ IDs and their locations. MoD's justification for using TikTok As per the report, the defence ministry has said that its TikTok account was managed using third-party software and devices outside its computer network. Defence officials said that it uses the channel to reach a bigger audience as TikTok is used by around a billion people globally and 23 million people in the United Kingdom (UK). The ministry has also said that its personnel have been banned from using the app on their official phones. However, they are allowed to use them on their personal phones. Nearly 1,000 troops are deployed in Estonia as part of a force of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which is on standby related to the ongoing Ukraine war. The report further said that British special forces have been ordered to remove TikTok from official and personal phones over fears that covert operations could be compromised. Also watch | TikTok remains popular despite US lawmakers flagging concerns × TikTok collects mass user information and identifies the internet protocol address, which can be used to identify every device on the internet. It can also collect biometric information and personal identifiers. The report said that although other social media platforms collect similar details, it is TikTok's link to China that concerns British intelligence agencies. TikTok users in US urged to call senators to vote no on ban Meanwhile, TikTok on Friday urged some American users to call their senators and ask them to vote no to a bill that would ban the app. "Tell your Senator how important TikTok is to you. Ask them to vote no on the TikTok ban," a notification issued by the app said. The notification added that if the Senate votes, the "future of creativity and communities you love on TikTok could be shut down." (With inputs from agencies)

UK's defence ministry urged to ban TikTok amid fears of Chinese espionage: Report

60 women at the UK Defence Ministry have exposed a pervasive culture of sexual harassment in office. Testimonies reveal harassment, abuse and offensive comments made by male colleagues in the department. The women said that they had a toxic, hostile culture at the workplace.

Gravitas: 60 women expose sexual assault at UK defence ministry | How deep does the rot go?

<p>In a damning letter accessed by the British media, 60 senior women within the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) have pointed to a workplace culture marred by allegations of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse perpetrated by male colleagues.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The letter, reportedly submitted last month to the UK Ministry of Defence's permanent secretary, had a number of anonymous testimonies, giving firsthand accounts of the women's distressing experiences.</p>

<h2><strong>What do the testimonials show?</strong></h2>

<p>The testimonials show a pattern of misconduct, revealing incidents such as women being "propositioned," "groped," and "touched repeatedly" within the MoD.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-defence-ministry-places-nearly-25-million-order-with-bae-systems-658570">UK's defence ministry places nearly $25 million order with BAE Systems</a></strong></p>

<p>The senior civil servants who penned the letter to describe the prevailing atmosphere as "hostile to women as equal and respected partners," has sparked concerns about a broader discriminatory culture within one of the largest departments of the UK government.</p>

<h2><strong>Where all have the alleged incidents of abuse occurred?</strong></h2>

<p>The letter comprises of allegations spanning both the Ministry of Defence's London headquarters as well as the overseas bases. But most of these accounts have been categorised as "very recent", reflecting rampant signs of discriminatory workplace culture within the ministry.</p>

<h2><strong>About incidents of alleged abuse</strong></h2>

<p>The disclosed incidents of alleged abuse include:</p>

<p>- A woman who reported being groped at an MoD social function, only to be discouraged from filing a complaint.</p>

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<p>- An overseas posting where a woman claimed to be "touched repeatedly on the lower back and legs by a senior military officer," with no repercussions for the alleged perpetrator, according to the Guardian.</p>

<p>- Shocking revelations about a group of military officers allegedly maintaining an "Excel spreadsheet that rated women" based on appearance and perceived behaviour in intimate settings.</p>

<p>- An incident where a "defence senior" purportedly inquired whether anal sex was an appropriate topic for a speech before an evening event.</p>

<p>- An unsettling account of a military officer "propositioning" a woman late at night in a corridor on an overseas military base.</p>

<p>The UK Ministry of Defence said in a statement: "We are deeply concerned by the complaints made and we are taking action to tackle the issues raised. No woman should be made to feel unsafe in Defence and this behaviour will not be tolerated. We also continue to encourage anyone who has experienced or witnessed this kind of inexcusable behaviour, to report it immediately."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a damning letter accessed by the British media, 60 senior women within the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) have pointed to a workplace culture marred by allegations of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse perpetrated by male colleagues.

In a damning letter accessed by the British media, 60 senior women within the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) have pointed to a workplace culture marred by allegations of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse perpetrated by male colleagues. The letter, reportedly submitted last month to the UK Ministry of Defence's permanent secretary, had a number of anonymous testimonies, giving firsthand accounts of the women's distressing experiences. What do the testimonials show? The testimonials show a pattern of misconduct, revealing incidents such as women being "propositioned," "groped," and "touched repeatedly" within the MoD. Also read | UK's defence ministry places nearly $25 million order with BAE Systems The senior civil servants who penned the letter to describe the prevailing atmosphere as "hostile to women as equal and respected partners," has sparked concerns about a broader discriminatory culture within one of the largest departments of the UK government. Where all have the alleged incidents of abuse occurred? The letter comprises of allegations spanning both the Ministry of Defence's London headquarters as well as the overseas bases. But most of these accounts have been categorised as "very recent", reflecting rampant signs of discriminatory workplace culture within the ministry. About incidents of alleged abuse The disclosed incidents of alleged abuse include: - A woman who reported being groped at an MoD social function, only to be discouraged from filing a complaint. × - An overseas posting where a woman claimed to be "touched repeatedly on the lower back and legs by a senior military officer," with no repercussions for the alleged perpetrator, according to the Guardian. - Shocking revelations about a group of military officers allegedly maintaining an "Excel spreadsheet that rated women" based on appearance and perceived behaviour in intimate settings. - An incident where a "defence senior" purportedly inquired whether anal sex was an appropriate topic for a speech before an evening event. - An unsettling account of a military officer "propositioning" a woman late at night in a corridor on an overseas military base. The UK Ministry of Defence said in a statement: "We are deeply concerned by the complaints made and we are taking action to tackle the issues raised. No woman should be made to feel unsafe in Defence and this behaviour will not be tolerated. We also continue to encourage anyone who has experienced or witnessed this kind of inexcusable behaviour, to report it immediately." (With inputs from agencies)

UK defence ministry a house of sexual abuse? Damning letter reveals shocking details

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;</strong></em></p>

<p>Britain's ministry of defence said that due to "low morale" and "reluctance to fight", the Russian forces have probably started deploying units threatening to shoot their own retreating soldiers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report by the ministry mentioned an intelligence report, which was released early this morning, referred to these Russian units as "barrier troops" or "blocking units" used to compel offensives.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The UK ministry of defence said in a statement: "Recently, Russian generals likely wanted their commanders to use weapons against deserters, including possibly authorising shooting to kill such defaulters after a warning had been given."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Generals also likely wanted to maintain defensive positions to the death. The tactic of shooting deserters likely attests to the low quality, low morale and indiscipline of Russian forces," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-putin-says-civilians-should-be-removed-from-moscow-occupied-kherson-531217">Russia-Ukraine war: Putin says civilians 'should be removed' from Moscow-occupied Kherson</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>Watch this in-depth report:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 04 November 2022<br />
<br />
Find out more about the UK government's response: <a href="https://t.co/CWHuZrKery">https://t.co/CWHuZrKery</a><br />
<br />
🇺🇦 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandWithUkraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StandWithUkraine</a> 🇺🇦 <a href="https://t.co/bYLF2ONZOR">pic.twitter.com/bYLF2ONZOR</a></p>
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1588418427944898561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g7-coalition-has-agreed-to-set-fixed-price-for-russian-oil-531171">G7 coalition has agreed to set fixed price for Russian oil</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The United Kingdom has also blamed Russia for trying to maximise civilian hardships over winter. Neil Bush, who is the UK's Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), condemned Russia's missile attacks targeting Ukraine's critical infrastructure, and the impact on human lives.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In UK's statement to the OSCE on Thursday, Bush said that millions across Ukraine faced power outages and in some cities and they lost water supply, in some cities including Kyiv, Dnipro and Zhytomyr.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
He noted: "These have direct human costs. According to the head of the Kyiv regional hospital, all surgeries were cancelled, as surgeons could not sterilise their theatres or tools."&nbsp;</p>

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<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Britain's ministry of defence said that due to "low morale" and "reluctance to fight", the Russian forces have probably started deploying units threatening to shoot their own retreating soldiers. The report by the ministry mentioned an intelligence report, which was released early this morning, referred to these Russian units as "barrier troops" or "blocking units" used to compel offensives. The UK ministry of defence said in a statement: "Recently, Russian generals likely wanted their commanders to use weapons against deserters, including possibly authorising shooting to kill such defaulters after a warning had been given." "Generals also likely wanted to maintain defensive positions to the death. The tactic of shooting deserters likely attests to the low quality, low morale and indiscipline of Russian forces," it added. ALSO READ | Russia-Ukraine war: Putin says civilians 'should be removed' from Moscow-occupied Kherson Watch this in-depth report: × Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 04 November 2022 Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/CWHuZrKery 🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/bYLF2ONZOR — Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) November 4, 2022 × ALSO READ | G7 coalition has agreed to set fixed price for Russian oil The United Kingdom has also blamed Russia for trying to maximise civilian hardships over winter. Neil Bush, who is the UK's Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), condemned Russia's missile attacks targeting Ukraine's critical infrastructure, and the impact on human lives. In UK's statement to the OSCE on Thursday, Bush said that millions across Ukraine faced power outages and in some cities and they lost water supply, in some cities including Kyiv, Dnipro and Zhytomyr. He noted: "These have direct human costs. According to the head of the Kyiv regional hospital, all surgeries were cancelled, as surgeons could not sterilise their theatres or tools." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine war: UK defence ministry claims Russia threatening to shoot its own retreating soldiers

<p>Over the past couple of days, Russia has increased attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine as it suffers setbacks on the front lines, said the British Defense Ministry in an online briefing on Sunday. They further indicated that Russian shelling is already hitting towns and cities at night. Meanwhile, Ukrainians return to places abandoned by Moscow’s army and try to find their dead.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the governors of various regions in Ukraine, five civilians were killed after Russia attacked the Donetsk region over the past day. On the other hand, Nikopol, a city southeast of Kryvyy Rih has reported several damages to gas pipelines and power lines, as well as dozens of high-rise and private buildings, which were also attacked by Russian strikes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“In the last seven days, Russia has increased its targeting of civilian infrastructure even where it probably perceives no immediate military effect,” said the UK's defence ministry. This uptick in the number of attacks on civilian infrastructure is following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threat of doing so after his ground attack was repelled in northeast Ukraine.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-claims-troops-recaptured-over-6000-sq-km-while-some-reached-russian-border-515620">Ukrainian troops have reached the state border with Russia, reports suggest</a></p>

<p>The UK's defence ministry also said that Moscow’s army is putting the aforementioned threat into action, “As it faces setbacks on the front lines, Russia has likely extended the locations it is prepared to strike in an attempt to directly undermine the morale of the Ukrainian people and government,” the defence ministry stated. The strikes have also targeted an electricity grid and a dam, they added. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier this month, Ukraine’s forces managed to retake 20 or so towns in the northeastern Kharkiv region. However, on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that investigators found evidence of torture against soldiers buried near Izium, which was one of the regions retaken from the Russian forces. The claim was made in a video address, which also indicated the discovery of a mass grave containing at least 17 bodies which showed signs of torture.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Oleksandr Ilienkov, the chief of the prosecutor’s office for the Kharkiv region said in an interview, “One of the bodies (found) has evidence of a ligature pattern and a rope around the neck, tied hands.” Reportedly, the bodies also showed signs of violent death and would undergo forensic examination. This is as Moscow has repeatedly and vehemently denied committing atrocities and deliberately attacking civilians.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Sunday, the mayor of Izium said, “the exhumation is underway, the graves are being dug up and all the remains are being transported to Kharkiv”. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has not acknowledged or commented on the discovery of the mass grave.&nbsp;</p>

<p>ALSO WATCH:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-ukraine-claims-6000-sq-km-retaken-from-russia-515873">Gravitas: Ukraine claims 6,000 sq km retaken from Russia</a></p>

<p>Ukraine’s regional governor Vitaliy Kim said one of the overnight shelling by the Russian forces hit a hospital in Mykolaiv, while attacks in other parts of the region also wounded two people. Reportedly, three people were hit in Nikopol, and three people were killed by rocket attacks over the past day in Kharkiv, including an 11-year-old girl, said regional government officials.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Russian troops were forced to pull back from most of the Kharkiv region following the Ukrainian counteroffensive efforts. On Sunday, the last reactor of the six-reactor Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was also switched off after repeated power failures and constant shelling putting crucial safety systems at risk. The power plant was captured by the Russian forces in March earlier this year but is run by Ukrainian engineers.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Over the past couple of days, Russia has increased attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine as it suffers setbacks on the front lines, said the British Defense Ministry in an online briefing on Sunday.

Over the past couple of days, Russia has increased attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine as it suffers setbacks on the front lines, said the British Defense Ministry in an online briefing on Sunday. They further indicated that Russian shelling is already hitting towns and cities at night. Meanwhile, Ukrainians return to places abandoned by Moscow’s army and try to find their dead. According to the governors of various regions in Ukraine, five civilians were killed after Russia attacked the Donetsk region over the past day. On the other hand, Nikopol, a city southeast of Kryvyy Rih has reported several damages to gas pipelines and power lines, as well as dozens of high-rise and private buildings, which were also attacked by Russian strikes. “In the last seven days, Russia has increased its targeting of civilian infrastructure even where it probably perceives no immediate military effect,” said the UK's defence ministry. This uptick in the number of attacks on civilian infrastructure is following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threat of doing so after his ground attack was repelled in northeast Ukraine. ALSO READ: Ukrainian troops have reached the state border with Russia, reports suggest The UK's defence ministry also said that Moscow’s army is putting the aforementioned threat into action, “As it faces setbacks on the front lines, Russia has likely extended the locations it is prepared to strike in an attempt to directly undermine the morale of the Ukrainian people and government,” the defence ministry stated. The strikes have also targeted an electricity grid and a dam, they added. Earlier this month, Ukraine’s forces managed to retake 20 or so towns in the northeastern Kharkiv region. However, on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that investigators found evidence of torture against soldiers buried near Izium, which was one of the regions retaken from the Russian forces. The claim was made in a video address, which also indicated the discovery of a mass grave containing at least 17 bodies which showed signs of torture. Oleksandr Ilienkov, the chief of the prosecutor’s office for the Kharkiv region said in an interview, “One of the bodies (found) has evidence of a ligature pattern and a rope around the neck, tied hands.” Reportedly, the bodies also showed signs of violent death and would undergo forensic examination. This is as Moscow has repeatedly and vehemently denied committing atrocities and deliberately attacking civilians. On Sunday, the mayor of Izium said, “the exhumation is underway, the graves are being dug up and all the remains are being transported to Kharkiv”. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has not acknowledged or commented on the discovery of the mass grave. ALSO WATCH: Gravitas: Ukraine claims 6,000 sq km retaken from Russia Ukraine’s regional governor Vitaliy Kim said one of the overnight shelling by the Russian forces hit a hospital in Mykolaiv, while attacks in other parts of the region also wounded two people. Reportedly, three people were hit in Nikopol, and three people were killed by rocket attacks over the past day in Kharkiv, including an 11-year-old girl, said regional government officials. Russian troops were forced to pull back from most of the Kharkiv region following the Ukrainian counteroffensive efforts. On Sunday, the last reactor of the six-reactor Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was also switched off after repeated power failures and constant shelling putting crucial safety systems at risk. The power plant was captured by the Russian forces in March earlier this year but is run by Ukrainian engineers. (With inputs from agencies)

UK: Russia may attack more civilian targets in Ukraine

<p>After Finland officially announced it will bid for NATO membership, Sweden's ruling Social Democratic Party declared it favoured joining the European military alliance.</p>

<p>"Joint Swedish-Finnish NATO bid is the best thing&nbsp;for Sweden's security," Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said.</p>

<p>Both Sweden and Finland have been making strident efforts to join NATO after the Russian invasion began in February fearing for their own security.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-can-win-this-war-aggression-does-not-pay-says-nato-chief-stoltenberg-479177">Also Read:&nbsp;Ukraine can win this war, aggression does not pay, says NATO chief&nbsp;</a></p>

<p>Finland and Sweden had maintained neutral status in European conflicts but in the past two months both nations decided to reverse their policy to join the military alliance amid the Ukraine war.</p>

<p>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken backed both bids declaring that the Biden administration "would strongly support the NATO application by either Sweden or Finland should they choose to formally apply to the alliance".</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Will the Russian invasion end this year?</strong></p>

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<p>Russia on Sunday had stopped electricity supply to Finland after the country's energy agency said it was due to payment issues.</p>

<p>NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance will "try to speed up that process" as NATO eyes new members. Stoltenberg asserted that the alliance would seek to increase its presence in Europe and provide "security assurances".</p>

<p>The latest development comes even as Russia carried out airstrikes in eastern Ukraine including in Lviv near the Polish border. Russia claimed it has carried out attacks in the Donetsk region.</p>

<p>The Russian military had said earlier it would be concentrating its forces in the eastern region after pulling out of Kyiv. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>(With inputs from Agencies)</p>

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After Finland officially announced it will bid for NATO membership, Sweden's ruling Social Democratic Party declared it favoured joining the European military alliance.

After Finland officially announced it will bid for NATO membership, Sweden's ruling Social Democratic Party declared it favoured joining the European military alliance. "Joint Swedish-Finnish NATO bid is the best thing for Sweden's security," Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said. Both Sweden and Finland have been making strident efforts to join NATO after the Russian invasion began in February fearing for their own security. Also Read: Ukraine can win this war, aggression does not pay, says NATO chief Finland and Sweden had maintained neutral status in European conflicts but in the past two months both nations decided to reverse their policy to join the military alliance amid the Ukraine war. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken backed both bids declaring that the Biden administration "would strongly support the NATO application by either Sweden or Finland should they choose to formally apply to the alliance". Watch: Will the Russian invasion end this year? Russia on Sunday had stopped electricity supply to Finland after the country's energy agency said it was due to payment issues. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance will "try to speed up that process" as NATO eyes new members. Stoltenberg asserted that the alliance would seek to increase its presence in Europe and provide "security assurances". The latest development comes even as Russia carried out airstrikes in eastern Ukraine including in Lviv near the Polish border. Russia claimed it has carried out attacks in the Donetsk region. The Russian military had said earlier it would be concentrating its forces in the eastern region after pulling out of Kyiv. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Sweden's ruling party backs NATO membership

<p><em>Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.</em></p>

<p>Amid the Ukraine war, UK's defence intelligence said Russia has likely suffered losses of one-third&nbsp;of its&nbsp;ground force since February.</p>

<p>"Russian UAVs are vital for tactical awareness and directing artillery, but have been vulnerable to Ukranian anti-air capabilities," the intelligence report said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-can-win-this-war-aggression-does-not-pay-says-nato-chief-stoltenberg-479177">Also Read:&nbsp;Ukraine can win this war, aggression does not pay, says NATO chief</a></p>

<p>The intelligence report claimed the&nbsp;"Russian forces are increasingly constrained by degraded enabling capabilities, continued low morale and reduced combat effectiveness".</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 15 May 2022<br />
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Find out more about the UK government's response: <a href="https://t.co/VBPIqyrgA5">https://t.co/VBPIqyrgA5</a><br />
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🇺🇦 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandWithUkraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StandWithUkraine</a> 🇺🇦 <a href="https://t.co/n6dBVZHAos">pic.twitter.com/n6dBVZHAos</a></p>
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1525704460214878208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>President Vladimir Putin had declared a "special military operation" against Ukraine on February 24 as Russian troops invaded the neighbouring country, however, the invasion force was met with fierce resistance from Ukraine's Army.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Finland announces historic NATO membership bid</strong></p>

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<p>The British report claimed&nbsp;"Russia's Donbas offensive has lost momentum and fallen significantly behind schedule". Russian forces had declared earlier that it was concentrating its forces in the eastern region after its forces pulled back from areas around Kyiv.</p>

<p>"Russia has failed to achieve substantial territorial gains over the past month while sustaining consistently high levels of attrition," the report said.</p>

<p>The UK report claimed that "Russian bridging equipment has been in short supply" which has slowed down and restricted the offensive.</p>

<p>"Under the current condictions, Russia is unlikely to dramatically accelerate its rate of advance over the next 30 days," it said.<br />
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(With inputs from Agencies)</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Amid the Ukraine war, UK's defence intelligence said Russia has likely suffered losses of one-third of its ground force since February. "Russian UAVs are vital for tactical awareness and directing artillery, but have been vulnerable to Ukranian anti-air capabilities," the intelligence report said. Also Read: Ukraine can win this war, aggression does not pay, says NATO chief The intelligence report claimed the "Russian forces are increasingly constrained by degraded enabling capabilities, continued low morale and reduced combat effectiveness". Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 15 May 2022 Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/VBPIqyrgA5 🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/n6dBVZHAos — Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) May 15, 2022 × President Vladimir Putin had declared a "special military operation" against Ukraine on February 24 as Russian troops invaded the neighbouring country, however, the invasion force was met with fierce resistance from Ukraine's Army. Watch: Finland announces historic NATO membership bid The British report claimed "Russia's Donbas offensive has lost momentum and fallen significantly behind schedule". Russian forces had declared earlier that it was concentrating its forces in the eastern region after its forces pulled back from areas around Kyiv. "Russia has failed to achieve substantial territorial gains over the past month while sustaining consistently high levels of attrition," the report said. The UK report claimed that "Russian bridging equipment has been in short supply" which has slowed down and restricted the offensive. "Under the current condictions, Russia is unlikely to dramatically accelerate its rate of advance over the next 30 days," it said. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Russia unlikely to accelerate rate of advance in Ukraine next 30 days: UK defence intelligence

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