Ukraine war updates: UN notes 'horrific' Russian torture of POWs

UN investigators have found fresh evidence of widespread abuses committed by Russia in Ukraine.

The high-level Commission of Inquiry (COI) on the rights situation in Ukraine since the Russian invasion said Moscow was still committing war crimes and serious rights violations, including "systematic" torture and rape.

"The evidence shows that Russian authorities have committed violation of international human rights and international humanitarian law and corresponding war crimes," COI chief Erik Mose told reporters.

The COI also warned of the continued use of explosive weapons in civilian areas. It noted "a pattern of disregard by Russian armed forces for possible harm to civilians."

Mose said further investigations are required to determine if some of the identified incidents qualify as crimes against humanity.

The report was compiled after speaking to over 800 people during 16 separate visits to Ukraine, the investigators said.

They noted "widespread and systematic" torture by Russian authorities both in Ukraine and Russia. They also described Moscow's treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war as "horrific."

"It [the report] also details incidents of torture with a sexualized dimension and threats of rape against male prisoners of war," the UN said. It added that investigators found "additional evidence" for the unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children to areas under Russian control.

Russia detains man for flying drones near military sites

A Russian national was detained and is facing treason charges for using drones to disrupt air defenses near military sites, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Friday.

Moscow accused the man of launching drones on behalf of Ukraine and charged him with high treason.

"He assembled and launched unmanned aerial vehicles to create decoys in close proximity to Russian Defence Ministry facilities," the FSB said.

The man faces a potential sentence of life in prison.

According to local media, the man worked for the Freedom of Russia Legion, a group of pro-Kyiv Russian volunteers.

The group claimed to have briefly taken control of territory within Russia following a series of guerrilla-style assaults on border regions this week.

Russia and Ukraine say civilians killed in overnight attacks

Russia and Ukraine's overnight strikes continued and killed five people, authorities from both sides said on Friday.

According to Ukrainian officials, a Russian drone attack overnight killed two people in the city of Vinnytsia.

"Russian troops attacked the Vinnytsia region with drones, there are dead and wounded ...As a result of the enemy attack, a 52-year-old man was killed and his 53-year-old wife died in hospital," Ukrainian police said in a statement on Telegram.

Kyiv's air force also said they intercepted and destroyed 27 Iranian-made Russian drones across seven regions, including the capital.

Meanwhile, a Russian official said Ukrainian shelling in Donetsk killed three children overnight on Thursday.

Alexey Kulemzin, the Russian-appointed mayor of Donetsk, said in a post on Telegram that a "barbaric" attack on a residential house killed two girls — aged 17 and 3 — and a 10-year-old boy.

Scholz, Macron and Tusk set for 1st 'Weimar Triangle' talks in Berlin

German ChancellorOlaf Scholz will welcome French President Emmanuel Macron in Berlin on Friday.

The meeting will be closely followed as it comes amid increased tensions between the two EU powers over how to assist Ukraine in its fight against Russian forces.

The leaders will be joined by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, marking the first meeting of the so-called Weimar Triangle, since Tusk became prime minister of Poland again in December.

The Weimar Triangle format, considered an important forum for coordination on European issues, saw its first ministerial meeting of the year in February.

Tensions spilled out into the open after Macron said in late February that while there was no consensus to currently send ground troops to Ukraine and that "nothing should be ruled out."

Scholz shot back saying, "There will be no ground troops from European countries or NATO" in Ukraine. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also echoed the chancellor's statement earlier this month, "We don't need really... talk about boots on the ground or having more courage or less courage."

The trilateral talks are also set to take place amid the backdrop of stalled US military aid for Ukraine. It falls to Paris, Berlin and Warsaw "to mobilize all of Europe" to provide Ukraine with new aid, Tusk said earlier this week. 

EU foreign policy chief warns coming months will be 'decisive' for Ukraine war

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said after meetings in Washington that securing new support for Ukraine could not wait, since the war's outcome would be decided this spring and summer.

"Whatever has to be done, it has to be done quickly," Borrell told reporters when asked about his message for US lawmakers. A foreign aid bill containbillions of dollars in funding for Ukraine has yet to pass Congress.

"It's true for us. We have to speed up. We have to increase our support, to do more and quicker. That's why we are increasing our industrial defense capacities. And it is also true for the US," Borrell said when asked about Europe's efforts to support Ukraine's war effort.

"The next months will be decisive. Many analysts expect a major Russian offensive this summer, and Ukraine cannot wait until the result of the next US elections," he added.