Russian forces may only be able to sustain full fighting capacity for another 'ten to 14' days, senior UK defence sources indicated last night, after which Putin's men will struggle to hold the ground they have already captured from Ukrainian troops.
UK defence sources say that Kyiv has Moscow 'on the run' and the Russian army could be just two weeks from 'culmination point' - after which 'the strength of Ukraine's resistance should become greater than Russia's attacking force.' Advances across Ukraine have already stopped as Moscow's manpower runs short.
Nuclear war is 'no longer unthinkable' and atomic weapons 'could' be used as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, a former military chief warned today.
Air Marshal Edward Stringer said Vladimir Putin sanctioning the deployment of nuclear weapons was 'in the realms of possibility' and 'only a few steps away'.
He added that this was a 'pretty terrifying prospect' and it would 'clearly be weighing on the minds of those who are making all the political calculations'.
The former Director-General of Joint Force Development at Strategic Command and RAF Assistant Chief of Air Staff was asked today about the chance of nuclear war.
And he told LBC: 'It's no longer unthinkable and it will clearly be weighing on the minds of those who are making all the political calculations at the moment.'
China has declared it is 'always opposed to using sanctions to solve problems' because they 'harm people's livelihoods in all countries' in the latest sign of growing frustration over the consequences of Putin's war in Ukraine. Foreign Minister Wang Yi, speaking during a phone call with his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares on Tuesday, said that China 'must not be affected' by the West's sanctions because the country 'is not party to the crisis '.
China has 'always opposed using sanctions to solve problems, let alone unilateral sanctions that has no basis in international law, which will... harm people's livelihood in all countries', Wang said. Almost three weeks after Russian troops marched into Ukraine, Moscow's forces have bombarded and besieged several towns and cities. Fighting has killed thousands and destroyed infrastructure, as well as causing millions to flee the country.
Wang's comments were published after a seven-hour meeting between high-ranking US and Chinese officials in Rome, at which Washington said the US had expressed concern about 'alignment' between Russia and China. Moscow and Beijing have drawn closer in recent times, in what Washington sees as an increasingly hostile alliance of the authoritarian nuclear powers.
Beijing has refused to condemn Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine and abstained from a vote at the United Nations calling out Russian aggression last month. The Communist state has walked a diplomatic tightrope since the start of the war on February 24 in order to preserve vital trade links with Russia which is now facing serious economic woes have being targeted by sanctions.
Kyiv is bracing for 36 hours of hell after Mayor Vitali Klitschko today ordered a curfew and warned civilians to prepare for an intense period of Russian bombardment after four people were killed in strikes on the capital this morning.
Former boxing champion Klitschko announced today a 36-hour curfew from 8pm (6pm GMT) on Tuesday until 7am (5am GMT) on Thursday at the 'decision of the military command' under which 'movement around Kyiv without special permits is forbidden' with civilians only allowed outside to 'get to the shelters'.
It comes as Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelensky, speaking to European leaders in London, described NATO as 'the strongest alliance in the world' but warned international leaders that 'some of the members of this alliance are hypnotised by Russian aggression'.
Meanwhile Russian forces have launched fresh attacks in Ukraine's capital, which has nearly been encircled by Moscow's troops in the third week of the invasion and that has lost an estimated half of its 3.5-million pre-war population.
'Today is a difficult and dangerous moment,' Klitschko said in a statement on Telegram. 'This is why I ask all Kyivites to get prepared to stay at home for two days, or if the sirens go off, in the shelters.'
Zelensky today warned that NATOs refusal to implement a no-fly zone over his homeland 'allows the Russian army to bombard peaceful cities and blow up housing blocks and hospitals and schools.' He was speaking as the Polish, Czech and Slovenian prime ministers were travelling to Kyiv by train in the first visit by foreign leaders to the capital.
The much-anticipated Homes For Ukraine scheme kicked off on Monday as tens of thousands of people rushed to offer their support for those escaping the horrors in eastern Europe.
The government website was flooded with so many users it crashed last night but appeared to be working as normal this morning.
On the first day 44,000 people signed up to the initiative, but that figure skyrocketed to 88,712 as of Tuesday morning, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said.
Later on Tuesday afternoon Boris Johnson announced it had skyrocketed to more than 100,000.
The PM tweeted: 'It's fantastic that over 100,000 people and organisations have recorded their interest in supporting Ukrainians fleeing the war.
'Thank you to everyone across the country who has stepped up to offer their help so far.'
But some opted to post their own adverts on social media or through refugee charities amid confusion at Homes For Ukraine needing the names of Ukrainians the applicant wants to host.
One group, called Accommodation, Help and Shelter For Ukraine has been backed by more than 55,000 followers across Europe since it was set up, with thousands of Britons posting their homes on the site.
- Sponsors will have to provide accommodation for a minimum of six months.
- The Government will provide a monthly payment of £350 to sponsors per family they look after.
- The payments are tax-free and will not affect benefit entitlement or council tax status.
- Ukrainians arriving in the UK will also have access to the full range of public services, doctors and schools for up to three years
- Sponsors will need to undergo criminal record vetting before accepting refugees.
- Anyone who has lived in the UK legally for at least six months can apply to take in a refugee
- The hosts do not have to be British citizens
Among them is Ian Foxley and his wife, with them looking to welcome a family at their sprawling country mansion just outside York in northern England.
Mr Foxley, who is finishing off a PhD at York University, and his wife, who is a teacher, said they have two double bedrooms available.
He said: 'We have a large country house in a small village 10 miles outside York in the UK with a good bus service into the city where there are also good work opportunities.
'We have two double bedrooms available and the village has both a kindergarten and a primary school. Our children have grown up and live in London and overseas, so we can provide a safe refuge.
'My wife is a teacher and I am just completing a PhD at the University of York. We also have two dogs, Brenna and Maya, who are very child friendly.'
Lillie Alexander, from Hampshire, also put the call out for those looking for a place to stay. She said: 'My husband and I, both 30 years old, are offering a spare room in our house on the south coast of the UK.
'We have a cat but no children. We have good bus links to local cities as well as shops and businesses within walking distance.
'I am a doctor and my husband runs a restaurant. We have a room to offer to a young couple, mother and child or single woman via the new UK refugee pathway opening this week.' Lynn Lister said she has three bedrooms in her five-bedroom house up for grabs in Bedfordshire - a double and two singles.
She said: 'We are C of E but not churchgoers, we have two pet cats and I am a member of the local WI and my husband the gardening club.
'Our garden is a decent child proof area. We are happy to commit to housing a family for whatever length is required, if they were able to speak some English it would obviously be preferable as I'm not very good at languages.
'We all pray to an end to the fighting but regardless help to rebuild their lives is going to be a long bumpy road with lots of problems.'
Another looking to host is Sacha Pilkington and his girlfriend, who live on a picturesque farm in rural Devon in the south west of the country.
The former primary school teacher turned farmer and businessman was offering a static caravan and a job if their guests want one. He said: 'We have a nice caravan on our small farm in South Devon.
'We live in a static caravan ourselves so don't have a house to offer yet but you'd have your own space, with heating, hot water, bathroom, cooking facilities and lots of space for children to run around.
'We have older children and a baby. My girlfriend is a Secondary school English Teacher, I am an ex-Primary teacher and now have business working on campervans and we run the farm together with pigs and poultry and organic vegetable growing.
'We may be able to offer you some work if you would like it but you're not obliged. There are good local schools. We are rural but with a village nearby and beautiful quiet area.'
Down the road in Tiverton, Juliana Lim also wants to help out.
She said: 'I have signed up to offer an ensuite room. It's a privilege to be able to help in such a crisis. I hope to be able to help another woman and child.
'I'm a care worker and a single mum and know what it's like to be insecure. I live in the beautiful mid Devon town of Tiverton. The local hotel is already being used to house refugees and Tiverton is a welcoming market town.'
Over 100 businesses - from AstraZeneca to Bernard Matthews - have now joined an informal business consortium to help hire Ukrainian refugees when they arrive in the UK.
The project - dreamt up by Emma Sinclair MBE - has attracted other huge names including Welcome Break, Nestle and River Island.
Already Marks & Spencer, Asos and Lush have said they want to take part in the drive to help Ukrainian refugees.
Under the Government's new sponsorship scheme, those fleeing from the war there will be given the right to work when their applications are accepted.
Ms Sinclair, the chief executive of Enterprise Alumni, has led the charge which has attracted significant support from British firms.
She told MailOnline this morning: 'We have got over a hundred companies now saying they can help.
'There are millions of jobs available in the UK and it will be benefit to the economy helping them.
'It's continually growing, it's a reflection of the goodwill of everybody, people and businesses have felt a sense of powerlessness about what is happening in Ukraine and want to do something to help.'
A Ukrainian family who escaped Vladimir Putin's bombs could become the first to be rehoused in Britain after being offered a place at a six-bedroom mansion in Yorkshire.
Lillia and Vitalii Kucher, along with their daughters Victoria, 14, and Ilona, six, have sorted accommodation at Sabrina and Tony O'Brien's home in Driffield near Hull.
They are looking to get to the UK in the next week after fleeing to Moldova when Russia invaded their homeland last month.
It comes as Britain's Homes For Ukraine scheme soared overnight and this morning as tens of thousands more came forward to offer their support to those trying to escape the carnage in eastern Europe.
The government revealed this afternoon over 100,000 people have now registered an interest in hosting a person or family from the war-torn country as part of the biggest resettlement scheme since the Second World War.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, which launched the initiative yesterday, said the figure had skyrocketed from just 44,000 last night.
But the actual number for those coming forward to help is likely much higher, with many posting their own adverts to host a family rather than using the government scheme.
Many took to social media and refugee groups to help instead, due to Homes For Ukraine needing Britons to name the Ukrainian they wish to sponsor.
Posts included a sprawling country house in a picturesque village in North Yorkshire while another showed a luxury caravan on an idyllic farm in the Devon countryside.
Meanwhile one man said he was ready to welcome Ukrainian refugees into his home to repay the British government after they gave sanctuary to his great-grandfather over a century ago during the Russian pogroms.
The Ukraine crisis rumbled on through Tuesday as bombs continued to bring more death and destruction and Russian troops continued their assault on Kyiv.
The capital's Mayor Vitali Klitschko ordered a curfew and warned civilians to prepare for an intense period of bombardment after four people were killed in strikes in the city this morning.
But in a ray of hope that the horror will soon end, Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine must accept it will not join NATO, which could lead to a peace deal with Putin after he demanded it abandon plans with the alliance.
Mr and Mrs Kucher got in touch with Mr and Mrs O'Brien and their three daughters - Emily, 19, Maddie, 16, and Kitty, 11 - through EU4UA, which matches refugees with hosts independent of the government system.
But the British family registered with the Homes For Ukraine site last night so they could make the move official.
The Kutchers had earlier feared they would be trapped in Moldova without an income from their jobs at private schools.
The O'Briens meanwhile said they would host the family 'for as long as they need', with the Ukrainians hoping to remain with them for around a year to save disrupting their children's education.
Mrs O'Brien told the Telegraph: 'We are ex-Londoners and bought a six-bedroomed house in Driffield. We are lucky enough to have the space and only five of us in our house.
'I can see Lillia is scared. Food is running out. Petrol is running low and it is three hours' drive to the airport. All the other countries are helping and I want to do everything in my power to help them feel safe, loved and supported. It is our duty and besides, would we not want the same if it were us?
'Their home, business, and livelihood have been destroyed, but not their future. We, with the help of others, will make sure of that.'
The Kutcher family fled their home in Mogilev-Podolsky on February 24 as bombs reigned down just 80 miles away.
They made it into Moldova and registered with EU4UA and was offered places across the world, with her choosing five families in Britain.
She said: 'All of them answered and were ready to support my family and me. It was difficult to talk on the site, so Sabrina and I opened a Facebook link. It was easier for us to communicate, so we became very close. We had the same points of view.'