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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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.


White House announces $300M military aid package for Ukraine

The Biden administration has announced a new $300 million military aid package for Ukraine.

The package includes additional ammunition for U.S.-provided High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, as well as "additional howitzers, artillery and mortar rounds, and anti-armor capabilities that Ukraine is using to push back against Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression," the Department of Defense said in a statement.

This marks the Biden administration’s 37th drawdown of equipment from Defense Department inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.


Zelenskyy denies involvement in Kremlin attack

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected Russia's claim that his country was involved in the drone attack on the Kremlin early Wednesday.

Zelenskyy, who is currently in Finland, said the claim was the prelude to a "large-scale terrorist attack" from Russia.

"First of all, Ukraine wages an exclusively defensive war and does not attack targets on the territory of the Russian Federation," Zelenskyy said in a statement. "What for? This does not solve any military issue. But it gives RF grounds to justify its attacks on civilians."

Zelenskyy went on to say that various attacks in Russia could be the result of "guerrilla activities of local resistance forces."


Russia says Ukraine tried to kill Putin in Kremlin with 2 drones

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman has accused Ukraine of trying to strike Putin's residence in the Kremlin with two drones overnight, but said they were brought down before they could reach their target.

No injuries were reported, Kremlin officials said. Putin was not at the residence at the time, they said.

Videos released on official social media channels appeared to show a drone strike the roof of the Senate Palace at the Kremlin.

The Kremlin said that "the Russian side reserves the right to retaliate whenever and wherever it deems necessary."

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell and Tanya Stukalova


Russia to arrest anyone who supports ICC warrant for Putin

The Russian State Duma will arrest anyone who agrees with the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin accusing him of committing war crimes, the State Duma said on its official Telegram channel Monday.

Russia will imprison those who "call for the implementation of the decision" of the International Criminal Court "on the arrest of Vladimir Putin accused of war crimes," the State Duma of the Russian Federation said.

"The profile committees of the State Duma are preparing amendments to the Federal Law 'On Security,' which will prohibit the activities of the International Criminal Court and international bodies directed against the Russian Federation on our territory and its citizens," Chairman of State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin said.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes in March, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.

-ABC News' Oleksiy Pshemyskiy