Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin says war was ‘unleashed’ on Russia
The Russian president delivered his annual Victory Day speech.
More than a year after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the countries are fighting for control of areas in eastern and southern Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's forces are readying a spring counteroffensive, but Putin appears to be preparing for a long and bloody war.
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Latest headlines:
Belarusian president, Putin ally, arrives in China for state visit
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrived on a state visit to China on Tuesday, according to Sputnik, a Russian state-owned news agency.
During his planned three-day visit, Lukashenko will hold a series of meetings with top Chinese officials, according to Sputnik.
Belarus has been an unofficial ally of Russia since the war began.
Lukashenko's visit comes at a time when Western officials have issued warnings about the Chinese government possibly aiding Russia in its invasion.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said they have intelligence showing China is preparing to send lethal aid to Russia.
Last week, the Chinese foreign minister visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia. During remarks at that meeting, Putin said he is planning for Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Russia this spring.
-ABC News' Natalia Shumskaia
Putin admits Russian military losses
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged Russian military losses from its ongoing invasion of Ukraine during his annual meeting with the federal security service Tuesday.
"Unfortunately, comrade officers, we know that there are losses in our ranks," Putin said.
Putin called on the FSB to provide "support" to the families of soldiers who have died in the war.
"We will always remember their heroism and bravery," he added.
Putin did not say how many soldiers have died in the war and the Russian Ministry of Defense hasn't disclosed an exact number of losses since September 2022 when Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said just shy of 6,000 troops had died.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other State Department officials said Russia has likely suffered 200,000 injured or dead soldiers since the start of the war.
Putin also called on the FSB to make sure its border guard "undertake special efforts to control the Russian state border with Ukraine."
A "special group" is currently deployed at the Russia-Ukraine border, made up of border agencies, the FSB air arm, the Russian Armed Forces and the Russian National Guard, according to Putin.
"Your mission is to prevent any incursions by sabotage groups and stop any attempts to smuggle weapons and ammunition into Russia," Putin told the FSB board.
-ABC News' Tanya Stukalova and Anastasia Bagaeva
Ukrainian forces shoot down 11 drones as Russia launches overnight attacks
Air raid sirens blared for more than five hours in several locations across Ukraine starting late Sunday and lasting until the early morning hours.
Ukrainian air forces shot down 11 out of 14 that Russia launched from the north last night, according to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Over the past 24 hours, Russians have launched five missiles and 13 air strikes, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Russian troops also launched more than 50 rocket attacks primarily in Kherson and Donetsk regions, which led to "dead and wounded civilians, destroyed civilian houses and damaged civilian infrastructure," according to Ukrainian officials.
Shelling from Russian forces was recorded in more than 25 settlements in the Kharkiv and Luhansk regions, Ukrainian officials said.
-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen makes surprise visit to Kyiv
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visited Kyiv Monday and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reaffirm the U.S.'s financial support to Ukraine.
Yellen announced $1.25 billion in economic and budgetary assistance, which helps the Ukrainian government continue to run, funds payroll for soldiers on the front lines and shores up critical infrastructure, according to the Treasury Department.
Yellen said the money is part of the $45 billion Congress approved for Ukraine in December.
"I bring to Kyiv a clear message from President Biden and the American people: We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," Yellen said in her remarks during her sitdown with Zelenskyy.
Yellen told Zelenskyy that the U.S. will provide over $8 billion in this type of assistance "over the coming months," according to the Treasury Department. A readout of the meeting stated the U.S. will provide $9.9 billion total during the first three quarters of 2023.
-ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky
At least 21 killed in Kherson region shelling: Ukrainian officials
At least 21 people were killed and 48 injured by shelling in the Kherson region on Wednesday, Ukrainian officials said, as the death toll continues to rise.
A railway station and market in the city of Kherson were hit in strikes, which occurred across the Kherson region in southern Ukraine, officials said.
"A railway station and a crossing, a house, a hardware store, a grocery supermarket, a gas station -- do you know what unites these places? The bloody trail that [Russia] leaves with its shells, killing civilians in Kherson and Kherson region," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Twitter.
All the victims were civilians, Zelenskyy said.
An ambulance was also damaged in the strikes, according to Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin.
"No military objects here. Just civilians, including children," Kostin said on Twitter.
At least one person was killed and three injured in the strike on the railway station, officials previously said.