Russia-Ukraine updates: Russian missile strikes hit multiple Ukrainian cities

Dozens of injuries were reported in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

ByKevin Shalvey, Nadine El-Bawab, Ivan Pereira, Morgan Winsor, and Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: September 6, 2023, 11:47 AM EDT

Russia has continued a nearly 19-month-long invasion of neighboring Ukraine. Recently, though, the Ukrainians have gone on a counteroffensive, fighting to reclaim occupied territory.

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Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Jun 24, 2023, 5:47 AM EDT

Prigozhin responds to Putin, says Wagner not going to surrender

The Wagner Group's Yevgeny Prigozhin responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin's calling him a "traitor," by saying he will not surrender or turn back.

"Putin was deeply mistaken about the betrayal. We are patriots of our homeland, we fought and are fighting," Prighozin said in an audio message. "No one is going to turn around at the request of the president, the FSB or anyone else, because we do not want the country to live longer in corruption, deception and bureaucracy."

PHOTO: Wagner private mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin speaks with Russian Deputy Minister of Defense Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, at the headquarters of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces in Rostov-on-Don, Russia on June 24, 2023.
Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin speaks with Russia's Deputy Minister of Defense Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, at the headquarters of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, in this screen grab from a video released on June 24, 2023.
Video Obtained By Reuters

Prigozhin accused Russia's military of targeting a Wagner column with helicopters and jets.

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell

Jun 24, 2023, 5:37 AM EDT

Chechen leader backs Putin, says forces moving into 'zones of tension'

The powerful head of Chechnya, the semi-independent Russian region, Ramzan Kadyrov, said on Saturday he supported President Vladimir Putin.

Kadyrov saiud he fully backs Putin and called Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin's actions "treacherous."

In this file photo Chechnya's regional leader Ramzan Kadyrov, arrives to attend a ceremony to sign the treaties for four regions of Ukraine to join Russia in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Sept. 30, 2022.
Mikhail Metzel/AP

Kadyrov has tens of thousands of heavily armed fighters. He said his forces are already moving to "zones of tension."

It raises prospect of Chechen forces fighting with Wagner Group troops.

Kadyrov has previously been friendly with Prigozhin -- his coming out in support of Putin is a boost for Putin, but also raises prospect of serious clashes in Russia.

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell

Jun 24, 2023, 5:27 AM EDT

Next 48 hours 'will define' Russia, Zelenskyy advisor says

Russian leaders are "now choosing which side they are on," an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday.

"The next 48 hours will define the new status of Russia," Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter. "Either a full-fledged Civil War, or a negotiated Transit of Power, or a temporary respite before the next phase of the downfall of the Putin regime."

He added, "A deafening 'elite' silence is in Russia so far..."

Jun 24, 2023, 3:52 AM EDT

Uprising 'significant challenge' to Russian state, UK says

Members of the mercenary Wagner Group have begun moving north "almost certainly aiming to get to Moscow," in what amounts to the "most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times," the U.K. Ministry of Defense said on Saturday.

"Over the coming hours, the loyalty of Russia's security forces, and especially the Russian National Guard, will be key to how the crisis plays out," the ministry said on Twitter.

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