TVORCHI explain: 'Our song is about everyone who, despite all hopelessness, carries a heart of steel in their chest and does not give up. Today it is all of us. Our song has lines, "Don't be scared to say just what you think. Cause no matter how bad, someone’s listening". We want our unbreakable spirit to be heard everywhere.'

Ukraine claims fresh progress on southern battlefront in Zaporizhzhia region: Ukrainian officials indicated further progress has been made on the southern front in the Zaporizhzhia region, with some units advancing "deep into the Russian defenses." Areas where progress was seen include Melitopol and Robotyne-Verbove. The Flag of Ukraine emoji 🇺🇦 was added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015. For platforms that support it, the emoji is used via a flag sequence combination of Regional Indicator Symbol U emoji 🇺 and Regional Indicator Symbol A emoji 🇦. On all major platforms, the emoji depicts the national flag of Ukraine: a flag with a blue band over a yellow band. To some, it felt like Mundfish—which has drawn criticism for downplaying its Russian roots in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine—was actively celebrating the legacy of the Soviet Union, with all the connotations of 'unity' between Russia and Ukraine that entails. Sergey Mohov spoke up again, suggesting that the notion that Atomic Heart would be critical of the Soviet Union was clearly false given the nature of the event. The fact that the game's protagonist—Major Nechaev—is an agent of the Soviet KGB has also raised eyebrows as onlookers worry the game might attempt to rehabilitate the notorious Soviet intelligence service. Many gamers are boycotting Atomic Heart out of a show of solidarity for Ukraine and out of a possible fear that buying it could indirectly fund the Russian invasion and similar controversial actions. However, some have also found content in the game that they object to on relatively similar grounds. The other six gang members were sentenced to between two and 10 years, the maximum that a child can receive under Russian law, and have since been released. ‘Atone for crime on battlefield’The divide between the two parties is not surprising given the polling data on Zelensky specifically and Russia's war in Ukraine more broadly.

We all have to make that decision ourselves. Personally I think the frustration felt by Ukrainians whose homes are being destroyed with Mundfish's vague, equivocal statements is entirely understandable. But I don't think there's enough concrete evidence to condemn the studio as a whole as 'pro-war' or anything like it. I suspect Mundfish, like millions of Russians, had the rug pulled out from under it by the start of a war it didn't ask for, and its moves since have been a clumsy attempt to navigate uncharted and choppy waters. At night you dream of food, and you’re ready to eat anything to kill the hunger," he explains. "It’s difficult to remain a human under such conditions.” CNN has not seen the document cited by the Washington Post and is not able to confirm its authenticity.More pernicious is the suggestion that the game is full of sly insults toward Ukraine. Early on, the player can kill giant wandering pigs – one charge made online is that this is a reference to “pigg”, a Russian slur against Ukrainians. The presence of drones carrying flowers is meanwhile interpreted as a reference to Russian drones in Ukraine – colloquially known as “geraniums”. While this has likely been used for world building of the game's 1950s Soviet vision, no content warning exists in-game and its inclusion is a clumsy addition. However, even as these financial and political realities begin to bite, Ukraine can take solace from the fact that Russia’s combat attrition is close to, if not more than, 100 per cent of its combat manpower from 2021/22. The tough “kontraktniki” professional soldiers of the pre-invasion Russian army have been wiped out, and Ukrainians now face armies of unwilling conscripts and the dregs of the Russian prison system. Ukraine has been bloodied too, but every soldier in its army knows that he fighting to preserve his own home, his own family and ultimately himself from the horrors of Russian occupation: the task of steeling his heart is comparatively easy to perform.

Mr Zelenskyy underlined the importance of defending Bakhmut in March, saying its fall could allow Russia to rally support for a deal that might require Kyiv to make unacceptable compromises. The robots were first spotted in a combat trailer, released for Gamescom last year (above), which includes two female robots dancing, before one is penetrated by the other, accompanied by Russian pop music. It's not only unnecessarily sexualised, but uses sapphic imagery in contrast to Russia's anti-LGBT laws. I can’t say that I’ve fully adapted to civilian life. The only thing that gives me strength and energizes me is working on the POW status bill. That law is my rehabilitation.”

Remember: Highly classified Pentagon documents leaked online in recent weeks have provided a rare window into how the US spies on allies and foes alike, deeply rattling US officials, who fear the revelations could jeopardize sensitive sources and compromise important foreign relationships. He has helped craft draft legislation to ensure the returned Ukrainian POWs are guaranteed medical and psychological care as well as other benefits after they come home. This offensive was the brainchild of General Gerasimov, the head of Russia’s General Staff and a staunch Putin ally. Answering to defence minister Sergei Shoigu – another Putin yes-man – Gerasimov was personally tasked to halt the Ukrainian summer offensive by October. His plan has failed, costing huge numbers of Russian lives. A leaked US intelligence document obtained by The Washington Post said Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi instructed officials to keep production and shipment secret "to avoid problems with the West."