Ukraine war latest: Kyiv and Moscow begin fourth round of talks

The UK’s health secretary said the bombing of a hospital in Mariupol was a war crime, as Russia’s military offensive edged closer to Nato territory.

Last week, Ukraine accused Russian forces of breaching a ceasefire and destroying a hospital in the besieged city of Mariupol.

“It’s a war crime, because under international law you cannot attack health facilities,” Sajid Javid told Sky News on Monday. “The World Health Organization . . . [has] documented evidence of at least 31 such attacks.”

“Including [the] shelling, a couple of days ago, [of] a cancer hospital,” he added.

Russian forces raided a Ukrainian military base near the Polish border on Sunday, taking the military assault to within 10 miles of Nato territory.

“We’ve been very clear even before the war started that if there was an attack on any Nato country, even if just a single toe cap of a Russian soldier steps into Nato territory, then it will be war with Nato,” Javid said.

“That hasn’t changed throughout this conflict,” he added.

Elsewhere, the UK government announced that it would provide energy support to Ukraine by donating 500 mobile generators.

The generators were requested by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and the country’s ambassador to the UK, Whitehall said.

“We will now be sending generators to ease the difficulties caused by the current power outages and help keep vital services running so the people of Ukraine can continue to defend their country,” UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement on Monday.