Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin suspends key US-Russia nuclear treaty in speech denouncing West

President Vladimir Putin said he'd sought an "open dialogue" with the West.

ByMorgan Winsor, Emily Shapiro, Meredith Deliso, Nadine El-Bawab, Bill Hutchinson, Ivan Pereira, Patricio Chile, Kevin Shalvey, Julia Jacobo, Teddy Grant, Jon Haworth, and Mary Kekatos
Last Updated: February 24, 2023, 5:53 AM EST

Almost a year after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine, the two countries are engaged in a struggle for control of areas throughout the east and south.

Putin's forces pulled out of key positions in November, retreating from Kherson as Ukrainian troops led a counteroffensive targeting the southern port city. Russian drones have continued bombarding civilian targets throughout Ukraine, knocking out critical power infrastructure as winter sets in.

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Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Oct 23, 2022, 4:11 PM EDT

Russian defense minister claims Ukrainians planning 'dirty bomb' attack

Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoigu called his counterparts in Turkey, France and the United Kingdom on Saturday, claiming that Ukraine is preparing a provocation with the use of a "dirty bomb."

The first mention of a possible Ukrainian "dirty bomb" attack appeared Sunday in a morning message of the RIA Novosti state-owned news agency. The article, citing "credible sources in various countries, including Ukraine," stated that "the Kiev regime is preparing a provocation on the territory of its country related to the detonation of the so-called 'dirty bomb' or low-power nuclear munition."

"The purpose of the provocation is to accuse Russia of using weapons of mass destruction in the Ukrainian theater of operations and thereby launch a powerful anti-Russian campaign in the world aimed at undermining confidence in Moscow," RIA Novosti reported.

Shoigu also had a telephone conversation with the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Sunday, during which they discussed the situation in Ukraine, according to a Pentagon official.

"Secretary Austin rejected any pretext for Russian escalation and reaffirmed the value of continued communication amid Russia’s unlawful and unjustified war against Ukraine," said Pentagon press secretary, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder.

Oct 23, 2022, 1:20 PM EDT

Russian military jet crashes into a residential building, 2nd time in a week

A Russian Sukhoi Su fighter jet crashed into a residential building in southern Siberia on Sunday during a an apparent test flight just six days after another Russian Sukhoi Su jet slammed into an apartment block in Yeysk, Russia, near the Ukrainian border.

Two pilots were killed in Sunday's crash in the southern Siberia town of Irkutsk, Russian officials said. The crash ignited a giant fireball when the aircraft nosedived into a two-story house, Igor Kobzev, the regional governor, said in a post on Telegram.

PHOTO: Firefighters work at the scene after a warplane crashed into a residential area in Irkutsk, Russia, Oct. 23, 2022
Firefighters work at the scene after a warplane crashed into a residential area in Irkutsk, Russia, Oct. 23, 2022. A Russian warplane slammed into a residential building in the Siberian city of Irkutsk Sunday, killing both crewmembers, the second incident in less than a week in which a combat jet has crashed in a residential area.
AP

Kobzev confirmed two pilots were killed and said no civilian residents were injured.

The Sukhoi Su-30 jet was on a test flight when the crash occurred, according to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Massive explosion and fire follow the crashing of a Russian military Sukhoi Su-30 fighter aircraft into a residential area in southern Siberia of Novo-Lenino district of Irkutsk, Oct 23, 2022.
EPN/Newscom
Fire breaks out after a Sukhoi Su-30 fighter aircraft fell onto a wooden residential building near Przhevalskogo Street while performing a test flight, Oct. 23, 2022.
Dmitry Yemchuk/TASS via Zumapress

The crash came about a week after a Russian Sukhoi Su-34 crashed into an apartment block in the southern Russian city of Yeysk, near Ukraine, killing at least 15 people.
Authorities said the initial investigation indicated a technical malfunction of the aircraft caused the crash and that the pilots eject from the jet and survived.

Oct 22, 2022, 4:39 PM EDT

33 missiles have been fired at Ukraine, air force says

Thirty-three missiles were fired at Ukraine on Saturday morning, 18 of which were shot down, the country's air force claimed. Local officials in regions across Ukraine are reporting that the strikes were aimed at energy facilities.

More than a million people were without power as of Saturday afternoon, according to presidential adviser Kyrylo Tymoshenko.

In the southeastern city of Nikopol, local authorities warned that air raid sirens would be switched off as a result of power cuts. Instead, emergency vehicles driving around the city will warn resident of incoming aerial threats.

-ABC News' Jason Volack

Oct 22, 2022, 1:45 PM EDT

Russian authorities tell civilians in annexed Kherson to leave immediately

Russian authorities in the Ukrainian city of Kherson told civilians to leave immediately on Saturday because of what they called a tense military situation as Ukrainian forces advance. Kherson was illegally annexed by Russia earlier this month.

"Take care of the safety of your family and friends! Do not forget documents, money, valuables and clothes," Russian authorities said.

At Oleshky on the opposite bank of the Dnipro, the agencies caught up with people arriving by river boat from Kherson, loaded with boxes, bags and pets, according to an article in Russian News Agency Interfax.

One woman carried a toddler under one arm and a dog under the other. Some boats were loaded with vegetables and pallets of food. Staff from Russia's emergency ministry carried elderly people and children in prams from the vessels. Families then waited to board buses to the Russian-annexed city of Crimea, according to Interfax.

Meanwhile, in a briefing on Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry said its forces had repelled a Ukrainian attempt to break through its line of control in the Kherson region.

-ABC News' Jason Volack and Anastasia Bagaeva

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