>SUMMARY<

Putin gave 'gratitude' for troops involved in 'special operation' in speech to mark holiday of commemoration 

Today, fierce fighting broke out as hundreds of Russian troops entered Ukraine's second city of Kharkiv 

It came as Ukrainian forces obliterated a Chechen special forces column made up of 56 tanks outside Kyiv 

Those killed include Chechen general Magomed Tushaev - one of the regime's most highly-decorated soldiers

Putin had green-lighted their deployment, with each fighter given a deck of cards showing figures on 'kill list' 

But Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelensky is still alive - and is fast becoming a global hero for his defiance  

Today, he called for Russia to be stripped of its seat at the UN Security Council over its invasion of his country 

This morning video emerged of locals in Koryukivka blocking Russian tanks in a third 'Tiananmen moment' 

Kyiv and Moscow will hold peace talks at the border with Belarus, Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed today - as Vladimir Putin ordered the forces operating Russia's nuclear deterrent to be on alert amid simmering tensions with the West.