Ukraine war latest: Putin and Xi issue nuclear war warning; Russia expels British defence attache in retaliation to 'unfriendly' UK

Vladimir Putin has arrived in the Chinese city of Harbin for day two of his state visit after spending Thursday in Beijing meeting Xi Jinping (a reminder that China is several hours ahead, meaning it's early morning there now).

The northeastern city, which borders Russia's far east, has cultural and historic ties to Russia.

While there, Mr Putin is expected to attend trade and cooperation forums and meet students at the Harbin Institute of Technology.

Earlier, the Russian president and Mr Xi reaffirmed their "no-limits partnership and criticised US military alliances in Asia and the Pacific.

Mr Putin also thanked the Chinese leader for Beijing's peace proposal for the Ukraine war, which Kyiv and the West rejected.

Six people have been injured in a fresh Russian attack on the eastern town of Vovchansk, including the head of its military administration, an official has said.

Kharkiv governor Oleg Synegubov said on Telegram that the ages of the wounded people ranged from 28 to 50.

He claimed Russian forces attacked the town using cluster munitions.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the head of Vovchank's administration was injured.

In his evening address posted to social media, Mr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian counterattacks continue in the key frontline town in the northeast, which has been heavily targeted in Moscow's new offensive.

"Our results in repelling assaults and destroying the occupier should increase," said the Ukrainian president.

G7 finance ministers are preparing to back an EU plan to use profits from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine in the war.

An Italian treasury official said the announcement will be made when ministers meet in Stresa next week.

Some $300bn (£237bn) worth of financial assets were frozen by the G7 after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Earlier this month, EU nations agreed a deal in principle to provide Kyiv with additional funds for military supplies using Russian asset profits.

It followed weeks of tough negotiations among member states.

UK defence secretary Grant Shapps has branded the expulsion of British defence attache Adrian Coghill from Russia a "desperate move".

Moscow announced earlier it had made the move in retaliation to the UK kicking out his Russian counterpart over spying allegations last week.

Mr Coghill was reportedly called to the Russian embassy, where he was told of his expulsion (seen 16.25 post).

In a post on social media, Mr Shapps said Vladimir Putin's issue with Mr Coghill was that he "personified the UK's unwavering support for Ukraine".

Four women have been killed in a Ukrainian attack in Russia-controlled Donetsk, Russian news agency TASS is reporting, citing claims from local authorities.

Sky News cannot independently verify the claim.

Vladimir Putin's trip to China, his first since his re-election, demonstrates a show of unity between the two countries as they develop their "no limits" partnership.

Ahead of the visit, Mr Putin told Chinese media that his meeting with President Xi Jinping would be a "dialogue between friends".

But what are his aims from the visit? Our Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennett explains...

Russia does not have sufficient forces needed for a strategic breakthrough in Kharkiv, NATO's top military commander has said.

Speaking after a meeting in Brussels, the alliance's supreme allied commander for Europe Christopher Cavoli said he was confident Ukrainian troops would be able to hold their lines in the northeastern region, where Russia launched a surprise new offensive nearly a week ago.

"The Russians don't have the numbers necessary to do a strategic breakthrough," he told a news conference

"More to the point, they don't have the skill and the capability to do it, to operate at the scale necessary to exploit any breakthrough to strategic advantage."

Mr Cavoli also said "serious improvements" are expected in Ukraine's ammunition situation soon.

Kyiv has been running short of ammunition and weapons following delays in the delivery of munitions from its allies, in particular the US.

Moldova's parliament has voted to hold a referendum on European Union membership in October.

The proposed referendum date of October 20 was backed by a total of 56 members in the 101-member assembly.

For context: Like Ukraine before it was invaded in February 2022, Moldova is a former Soviet country leaning towards the West. President Maia Sandu has long indicated that she wants to steer the country towards EU membership.

Concern has grown during the war that Moldova could be next in Russia's sights as it seeks to regain control over former Soviet states.

The breakaway region of Transnistria in eastern Moldova recently appealed for Moscow's help to protect it against what it claims are threats from Moldova's government.

The US has imposed further sanctions on two Russian individuals and three companies in Moscow for facilitating arms transfers between Russia and North Korea.

It is the latest round of sanctions imposed by the US to disrupt and expose arms transfers between the two countries, including the transfer and testing of North Korean-produced ballistic missiles to Russia.

A statement from the US treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence named individuals and firms including Trans Kapital Limited Liability Company, the Rafort Limited Liability Company and Tekhnologiya. 

It said the individuals and firms targeted had attempted to evade sanctions by using front companies to move military equipment to support the war in Ukraine.

"Today's action reflects our commitment to disrupt the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea deepening military cooperation with Russia," Brian Nelson, the under-secretary of the US said in a statement.

"The United States will continue to take action to hold accountable those who seek to facilitate the shipment of weapons and other material to enable Russia's war," Mr Nelson added.

Denmark has announced it will send a new military aid package to Ukraine, worth around 5.6bn Danish crowns (approximately £699m).

Troels Lund Poulsen, Denmark's defence minister, said the packages includes primarily air defence and artillery.

He said it was Denmark's 14th package to the country.