National

Five Russian soldiers and three mercenaries have been charged with the murder of a Ukrainian mayor and her family in a Kyiv region village, Ukraine's prosecutor general Irina Venediktova said Tuesday.

Driving the news: Venediktova alleged in a Facebook post the soldiers and mercenaries from Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization with ties to Russia's President Vladimir Putin, "kidnapped Olga Sukhenko, her husband and son from their home in the village of Motizhyn" in March.

They allegedly "tortured them, trying to beat out information," Venediktova said. "Just in front of the mother, they first shot her son in the leg and then killed him with a shot in the head. The whole family died from multiple gunshot wounds," she continued.

"In addition to killing, torturing and holding prisoners ... the suspects also bombarded and [torched] the homes of civilians and stole mobile phones," Venediktova added.

Their bodies were discovered in a shallow grave near their village, some 30 miles west of Kyiv, on April 2, after Russian forces pulled out of the capital, per the New York Times.

The big picture: Venediktova said last month that her office had opened 5,600 cases of alleged war crimes by Russian soldiers since the start of the invasion.

Prosecutors have also filed criminal charges against 10 Russian soldiers accused of war crimes in Bucha, where at least 300 Ukrainians were tortured and killed.

A Ukrainian court last week sentenced a 21-year-old Russian soldier to life in prison for committing war crimes during the invasion.

For the record: The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected the war crimes allegations and denied that its forces target civilians.

Go deeper: What counts as a war crime and why they're so hard to prosecute

Ukraine charges 8 Russian soldiers, mercenaries in killings of mayor and family

They "kidnapped Olga Sukhenko, her husband and son from their home," prosecutor says.

 Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Irina Venediktova speaks to journalists during the exhumation of the victims of the Buchan genocide. 

Ukraine's prosecutor general Irina Venediktova. Photo: Mikhail Palinchak/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Russian invasion of Ukraine

Russia

Five Russian soldiers and three mercenaries have been charged with the murder of a Ukrainian mayor and her family in a Kyiv region village, Ukraine&#x27;s prosecutor general Irina Venediktova said Tuesday.Driving the news: Venediktova alleged in a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Facebook post" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/VenediktovaIryna/posts/395188032618871" data-vars-content-id="2d92077f-d297-4a55-8e3b-6f20ab153ed2" data-vars-headline="Ukraine charges 8 Russian soldiers, mercenaries in killings of mayor and family" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/VenediktovaIryna/posts/395188032618871" target="_blank">Facebook post</a> the soldiers and mercenaries from Wagner Group, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a Russian paramilitary organization" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2018/08/01/russian-journalists-killed-central-african-republic" data-vars-content-id="2d92077f-d297-4a55-8e3b-6f20ab153ed2" data-vars-headline="Ukraine charges 8 Russian soldiers, mercenaries in killings of mayor and family" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2018/08/01/russian-journalists-killed-central-african-republic" target="_self">a Russian paramilitary organization</a> with ties to Russia&#x27;s President Vladimir Putin, &quot;kidnapped Olga Sukhenko, her husband and son from their home in the village of Motizhyn&quot; in March.

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

World

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Politics & Policy

The British government has issued a license permitting the sale of English soccer team Chelsea to a group led by American investor Todd Boehly for a record $3.1 billion, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries announced Wednesday.

Driving the news: Dorries confirmed the license was issued to the group on Tuesday night authorizing the sale of the Premier League side after the U.K. froze the assets of former owner Roman Abramovich for the Russian oligarch's ties to Russia's President Vladimir Putin in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

The sale to the group led by Boehly, who's part-owner of Los Angeles' Dodgers, Lakers and Sparks teams, will see 100% of the funds donated to charitable causes, including to victims of the Russian military's war on Ukraine, per Axios' Jeff Tracy.

What they're saying: "Given the sanctions we placed on those linked to Putin and the bloody invasion of Ukraine, the long-term future of the club can only be secured under a new owner," Dorries tweeted. 

"We are satisfied the proceeds of the sale will not benefit Roman Abramovich or other sanctioned individuals," she added. "I want to thank everyone, especially officials who’ve worked tirelessly to keep the club playing and enable this sale, protecting fans and the wider football community."

U.K. government approves sale of Chelsea soccer club

The government issued a license permitting the sale to a group led by American investor Todd Boehly.

 Incoming owner Todd Boehly during traditional walk around the pitch after the last game of the season iat Stamford Bridge on May 22, 2022 in London, England. 

New Chelsea owner Todd Boehly at the soccer team's Stamford Bridge ground in London on Sunday. Photo: Robin Jones/Getty Images

Soccer

The British government has issued a license permitting the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sale of English soccer team" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/07/chelsea-fc-agrees-terms-for-sale" data-vars-content-id="7404c49f-cdf1-4a3f-b580-94f981952ee0" data-vars-headline="U.K. government approves sale of Chelsea soccer club" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/07/chelsea-fc-agrees-terms-for-sale" target="_self">sale of English soccer team</a> Chelsea to a group led by American investor Todd Boehly for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a record $3.1 billion" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/09/chelseas-record-setting-sale" data-vars-content-id="7404c49f-cdf1-4a3f-b580-94f981952ee0" data-vars-headline="U.K. government approves sale of Chelsea soccer club" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/09/chelseas-record-setting-sale" target="_self">a record $3.1 billion</a>, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries announced Wednesday.Driving the news: Dorries confirmed the license was issued to the group on Tuesday night authorizing the sale of the Premier League side after the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.K. froze the assets" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/09/chelseas-record-setting-sale" data-vars-content-id="7404c49f-cdf1-4a3f-b580-94f981952ee0" data-vars-headline="U.K. government approves sale of Chelsea soccer club" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/09/chelseas-record-setting-sale" target="_self">U.K. froze the assets</a> of former owner Roman Abramovich for the Russian oligarch&#x27;s ties to Russia&#x27;s President Vladimir Putin in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

Shifts in technology and media are changing the way we play, watch and understand sports. Business models are adapting and social change is forcing those in charge of teams and leagues to reconsider decades-old practices.

Sports

Sen. Ted Cruz is facing backlash after his response to the Texas elementary school shooting that left 19 students and two adults dead.

Driving the news: Democrats, gun control groups and others slammed the pro-gun rights Texas senator after he called for more armed law enforcement on school campuses following Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde and offered prayers to victims and their families.

A screenshot of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's tweet in response to Tuesday's school shooting in the state.

"When there's a murderer of this kind, you see politicians try to politicize it, you see Democrats and a lot of folks in the media whose immediate solution is to try to restrict the constitutional rights of law abiding citizens," Cruz said, per CNN.

"We are seeing way too many of these horrific mass murders. And we need to devote far more law enforcement resources to stopping violent criminals preventing these kinds of absolute acts of evil," added Cruz, who's scheduled to speak at the National Rifle Association's annual meeting later this week.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) tweeted in response to Cruz's Twitter post, "Aren’t you slated to headline a speaking gig for the NRA in three days - in Houston, no less?  You can do more than pray. Faith without works is dead."

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) tweeted, "F**k  you @tedcruz you care about a fetus but you will let our children get slaughtered. Just get your ass to Cancun," in reference to the senator's 2021 trip to the Mexican city as Texas faced huge blackouts during a winter storm.

In a later tweet, Gallego said, "Just to be clear f**k you @tedcruz you f**king baby killer."

Moms Demand Action gun control advocacy group founder Shannon Watts responded to Cruz's tweet, saying in a Twitter post, "Fervently lifting Uvalde up in prayer while refusing to do a goddamned thing to stop gun violence is why this keeps happening, especially in Texas.

"In fact @SenTedCruz has been spreading gun lobby lies about the ATF director nominee while trying to stop a federal ghost guns ban.

"After 16 people were killed in a hot air balloon in Lockhart, Texas, Ted Cruz authored and passed federal legislation improving safety rules. But after the shootings in El Paso and Santa Fe, he blamed mental illness for gun violence.  Thank God there's no hot air balloon lobby."

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee adviser Kurt Bardella tweeted, "Ted Cruz received $300k from the pro-gun crowd so take your prayers and shove them up your ass. Your acceptance of this blood money tells us how much your prayers are worth."

Political contributor Ana Navarro-Cárdenas, a frequent co-host on "The View," retweeted Cruz's prayer tweet with the comment, "If you are one of the spineless cowards held hostage by the gun-lobby and have been an obstacle to sensible gun reform,  just shut the f**k up, right now."

MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan tweeted, "Ted Cruz is one of the many elected Republicans who loudly and proudly blocks and any and all action on gun control."

Giffords, a gun control advocacy group led by former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) who was wounded in a 2011 mass shooting, criticized Cruz and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas):

Representatives for Cruz did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Ted Cruz slammed over Texas elementary school shooting comments

AOC and Rep. Ruben Gallego led the criticism after Cruz offered his prayers and  called for more armed law enforcement on school campuses.

Sen. Ted Cruz speaks on the economy during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 04, 2022 in Washington, DC. 

Sen. Ted Cruz during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol earlier this month. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Ted Cruz

Sen. Ted Cruz is facing backlash after his response to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Texas elementary school shooting" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/24/texas-elementary-school-shooting" data-vars-content-id="82747913-4edf-4983-9b3b-6fa64ac2671f" data-vars-headline="Ted Cruz slammed over Texas elementary school shooting comments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/24/texas-elementary-school-shooting" target="_self">Texas elementary school shooting</a> that left 19 students and two adults dead.Driving the news: Democrats, gun control groups and others slammed the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pro-gun rights Texas senator" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/03/24/kamala-harris-gun-control-second-amendment?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=editorial&amp;utm_content=politics-guncontrol" data-vars-content-id="82747913-4edf-4983-9b3b-6fa64ac2671f" data-vars-headline="Ted Cruz slammed over Texas elementary school shooting comments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/03/24/kamala-harris-gun-control-second-amendment?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=editorial&amp;utm_content=politics-guncontrol" target="_self">pro-gun rights Texas senator</a> after he called for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="more armed law enforcement" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/24/texas-shooting-senate-murphy" data-vars-content-id="82747913-4edf-4983-9b3b-6fa64ac2671f" data-vars-headline="Ted Cruz slammed over Texas elementary school shooting comments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/24/texas-shooting-senate-murphy" target="_self">more armed law enforcement</a> on school campuses following Tuesday&#x27;s shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde and offered prayers to victims and their families.

The long-awaited final report into lockdown parties at British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's official London residence and government offices in Whitehall was published on Wednesday morning.

Driving the news: The report by senior civil servant Sue Gray builds on earlier findings in her interim investigation of a "serious failure" to observe the standards expected of government officials and features several photos of Johnson surrounded by alcohol, including one where he's raising a glass at his birthday party.

Gray notes in the final report that 83 people violated lockdown rules at parties, where some staff "staff drank excessively" and damaged property.

There were "multiple examples of a lack of respect and poor treatment of security and cleaning staff" during the parties, according to the report.

By the numbers: Gray examined 16 events held between May 2020 and April 2021 as part of her investigation.

London's Metropolitan Police handed out fines to 126 people for violating lockdown rules at parties, including one to Johnson.

What he's saying: Johnson again apologized in the United Kingdom's Parliament "for the short lunchtime gathering" he attended, for which he was fined, and took "full responsibility" for the events that "took place on my watch."

Johnson said he had "briefly attended" other events to thank staff for "working long hours" during the pandemic, action that he described as "an important element of leadership," but stressed that he "simply wasn't there" on some of the occasions.

"I was appalled at some of the behavior, particularly in the treatment of security and cleaning staff," he added.

Meanwhile, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer promised to resign if he is fined for breaking COVID restrictions last year.

Police in Durham, England, are investigating Starmer over allegations that he broke the rules during a campaign event where a meal was served.

The bottom line: "The senior leadership at the center, both political and official, must bear responsibility for this culture," Gray said of the parties at Whitehall and Johnson's 10 Downing street residence.

"Many will be dismayed that behaviour of this kind took place on this scale at the heart of Government," Gray wrote. 

"The public have a right to expect the very highest standards of behaviour in such places and clearly what happened fell well short of this."

Read the report in full, via DocumentCloud:

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

Report: "Senior leadership" responsible for Boris Johnson lockdown parties

What they're saying: "The senior leadership at the center, both political and official, must bear responsibility for this culture."

A photo showing Boris Johnson from Sue Gray's report

A photo from senior civil servant Sue Gray's report shows Prime Minister Boris Johnson, left, and chancellor Rishi Sunak at a gathering in 10 Downing Street in June 2020. Other attendants are blurred out. Photo: Sue Gray Report/U.K. Civil Service

Boris Johnson

The long-awaited final report into lockdown <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="parties at British Prime Minister" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/01/31/boris-johnson-parties-lockdown-report" data-vars-content-id="d2afa60b-1c8a-4369-ba47-36442590cb67" data-vars-headline="Report: &quot;Senior leadership&quot; responsible for Boris Johnson lockdown parties" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/01/31/boris-johnson-parties-lockdown-report" target="_self">parties at British Prime Minister</a> Boris Johnson&#x27;s official London residence and government offices in Whitehall was published on Wednesday morning.Driving the news: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1078404/2022-05-25_FINAL_FINDINGS_OF_SECOND_PERMANENT_SECRETARY_INTO_ALLEGED_GATHERINGS.pdf" data-vars-content-id="d2afa60b-1c8a-4369-ba47-36442590cb67" data-vars-headline="Report: &quot;Senior leadership&quot; responsible for Boris Johnson lockdown parties" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1078404/2022-05-25_FINAL_FINDINGS_OF_SECOND_PERMANENT_SECRETARY_INTO_ALLEGED_GATHERINGS.pdf" target="_blank">report</a> by senior civil servant Sue Gray builds on earlier findings in her interim investigation of a &quot;serious failure&quot; to observe the standards expected of government officials and features several photos of Johnson surrounded by alcohol, including one where he&#x27;s raising a glass at his birthday party.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern discussed New Zealand's swift gun control reforms following the Christchurch mosque attacks as she responded to Tuesday's Texas school shooting during an appearance on CBS' "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."

What she's saying: Ardern told Colbert she viewed what happened at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, not as a politician but as a mother. "I'm so sorry for what has happened here," she said. "And then I think about what happened to us, and all I can reflect is: We are a very pragmatic people. 

"We saw something that wasn’t right and we acted on it, and I can only speak to that experience," said Ardern, who's on a trade visit to the U.S. "When we saw something like that happen, everyone said, 'Never again.' And so then it was incumbent on us as politicians to respond to that.

"Now, we have legitimate needs for guns in our country for things like peace control and to protect our biodiversity, but you don’t need a military-style semiautomatic weapon to do that. And so we got rid of that," she added.

Flashback: Days after the March 2019 mass shooting in Christchurch, Ardern announced a nationwide ban on all military-style semiautomatic weapons that New Zealand's Parliament passed the following month, and a firearms buyback scheme saw thousands of guns handed over to police.

Ardern tells Colbert how New Zealand delivered gun control after mass shooting

Ardern addressed yesterday's Texas school shooting in an appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks during a post cabinet press conference at Parliament on May 23, 2022 in Wellington, New Zealand.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

Gun control

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern discussed New Zealand&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="swift gun control reforms" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2019/03/18/ardern-new-zealand-attacks-inquiry-1552882829" data-vars-content-id="e7bff8aa-9b0d-4350-9665-4a429e10247c" data-vars-headline="Ardern tells Colbert how New Zealand delivered gun control after mass shooting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2019/03/18/ardern-new-zealand-attacks-inquiry-1552882829" target="_self">swift gun control reforms</a> following <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Christchurch mosque attacks" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2019/03/15/mass-shooting-mosque-christchurch-new-zealand" data-vars-content-id="e7bff8aa-9b0d-4350-9665-4a429e10247c" data-vars-headline="Ardern tells Colbert how New Zealand delivered gun control after mass shooting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2019/03/15/mass-shooting-mosque-christchurch-new-zealand" target="_self">the Christchurch mosque attacks</a> as she responded to Tuesday&#x27;s Texas school shooting during an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="appearance" data-vars-click-url="https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-zealand-pm-jacinda-ardern-talks-pragmatic-gun-control-with-colbert-after-uvalde-shooting?via=FB_Page&amp;source=TDB" data-vars-content-id="e7bff8aa-9b0d-4350-9665-4a429e10247c" data-vars-headline="Ardern tells Colbert how New Zealand delivered gun control after mass shooting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-zealand-pm-jacinda-ardern-talks-pragmatic-gun-control-with-colbert-after-uvalde-shooting?via=FB_Page&amp;source=TDB" target="_blank">appearance</a> on CBS&#x27; &quot;The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.&quot;What she&#x27;s saying: Ardern told Colbert she viewed what happened <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="at Robb Elementary School" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/24/texas-elementary-school-shooting" data-vars-content-id="e7bff8aa-9b0d-4350-9665-4a429e10247c" data-vars-headline="Ardern tells Colbert how New Zealand delivered gun control after mass shooting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/24/texas-elementary-school-shooting" target="_self">at Robb Elementary School</a> in Uvalde, Texas, not as a politician but as a mother. &quot;I&#x27;m so sorry for what has happened here,&quot; she said. &quot;And then I think about what happened to us, and all I can reflect is: We are a very pragmatic people.

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Report: "Senior leadership" responsible for Boris Johnson lockdown parties

Ukraine charges 8 Russian soldiers, mercenaries in killings of mayor and family

U.K. government approves sale of Chelsea soccer club

Ardern tells Colbert how New Zealand delivered gun control after mass shooting

Ted Cruz slammed over Texas elementary school shooting comments