Russia-Ukraine | 'Massive shelling' kills six in Ukrainian city, injures eight

In a statement, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, on Sunday, said that Moscow will extend its voluntary oil production reduction by 500,000 barrels per day until the end of this year. The move is also being seen as a response to Western sanctions which were due to expire by the end of June. 

"As responsible and preemptive actions, Russia will extend its voluntary oil production reduction by 500,000 barrels a day until the end of 2023 from the average production level in February established in conformity with independent sources," said Novak. 

A blast in a cafe in St Petersburg killed well-known Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky on Sunday, Russian news agencies reported. They added that the blast was caused by an explosive device. Tatarsky is extremely well-known in Russia and has over 560,000 followers on Telegram. 

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In a statement, the UK Defence Ministry said that the second group of Ukrainian soldiers completed training on AS-90 howitzers. It added, the training on 155mm self-propelled gun was a part of the UK’s "enduring commitment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia."

In its daily update, the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence said, "While Russia has suffered up to 200,000 casualties since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a significant minority of these have been due to non-combat causes." 

It added, "On 27 March 2023, a Russian Telegram news channel reported there have been ‘extremely high’ numbers of incidents, crimes and deaths linked to alcohol consumption amongst the deployed Russian forces." 

According to the UK ministry, other leading causes of non-combat casualties might include "poor weapon handing drills, road traffic accidents and climatic injuries such as hypothermia. Russian commanders likely identify pervasive alcohol abuse as particularly detrimental to combat effectiveness."

The update also noted that while "heavy drinking pervasive across much of Russian society, it has long been seen as a tacitly accepted part of military life, even on combat operations."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called up his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov and discussed the arrest of Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter Evan Gershkovich who was arrested by Russia‘s FSB security service last week in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg.

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Despite the year-long war, Moscow has taken over as the president of the UN Security Council. Russia replaced Mozambique on Saturday (April 1), much to the chagrin of Ukraine that urged members to block the move. 

Brittney Griner, the US basketball player who was freed from Russia last year has urged President Joe Biden to use every measure possible to bring back reporter Evan Gershkovich, arrested Russia‘s FSB security service last week in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg.

Zelensky shared photos of areas liberated a year ago when Russian troops retreated from around the Ukrainian capital. Russia currently occupies around 18 percent of Ukraine's territory. Also marking the anniversary of the liberation of the Kyiv region, Ukraine's armed forces chief Valery Zaluzhny wrote: "We will continue to fight for the independence of our nation."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed his country for having repulsed Russian troops from areas around Kyiv a year ago.

"You have stopped the biggest force against humanity of our time. You have stopped a force that despises everything and wants to destroy everything that gives people meaning," Zelensky said on Telegram. 

He also shared photos of areas liberated a year ago, when Russian troops retreated from around the Ukrainian capital.

Fresh Russian shelling on Sunday morning killed at least six civilians and injured eight in Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine, a senior Ukrainian official said.

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