Moscow expels German diplomats By Reuters

(Reuters) – Russia said on Saturday it would expel more than 20 German diplomats, in a reciprocal move. Germany did not immediately confirm any expulsions of its own, but said the arrival of a Russian state plane in Berlin was related. Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency said Germany had decided to expel more than 20 Russians.

fighting

At least five Russian missiles hit the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and surrounding areas late Saturday night, local officials said, causing some damage to civilian buildings.

* The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday that Russian offensive forces have captured three more districts in the western part of the Ukrainian city of Pakhmut. Ukrainian and Russian units have been fighting for months to control the eastern city, most of which has been reduced to rubble.

– Belarusian Defense Ministry said units from Belarus returned home from Russia on Saturday after training on how to use the Iskander tactical missile system to launch nuclear weapons.

Economy

* The Group of Seven economic nations on Sunday called for the “extension, full implementation and expansion” of a crucial deal for Ukraine’s grain exports across the Black Sea. Russia has strongly indicated that it will not allow the deal to continue beyond May 18th.

* The Latvian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that the first batch of Russian fertilizers confiscated by Latvia last year will be shipped to Kenya by the United Nations World Food Programme.

Russia viewed the confiscation as a major stumbling block to its continued participation in the Black Sea grain deal.

– Russia’s richest people added $152 billion to their fortunes over the past year, supported by rising prices for natural resources – to recover from the huge losses they suffered after the start of the war in Ukraine, Forbes Russia reports.

Diplomatic and legal

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Saturday he did not want to “please anyone” with his views on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, after drawing criticism in the West for suggesting Kiev bore responsibility for the war.

* Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that Russia is advising its citizens to avoid travel to Canada, citing what it says are many cases of discrimination against Russians, including physical violence.

* Ukraine intends to deploy software from US data analytics company Palantir Technologies (NYSE: Inc) to help it prosecute alleged war crimes committed by Russia, the company told Reuters.

Latest in-depth stories

Analysis – Russia is crossing new lines in cracking down on Putin’s enemies

* EXCLUSIVE – The Russian military commander who oversaw a reign of fear in the town of Ukraine

Exclusive – Kazakhstan has boosted oil exports, overtaking Russia’s