Russia reacts harshly after Biden calls Ukraine invasion ‘genocide'

Fox News senior national correspondent William La Jeunesse explains why Ukrainian refugees entering the U.S. through Mexico on 'Special Report.'

The White House defended President Biden on Wednesday for shifting to classify Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a "genocide," reminding that he is "the leader of the free world" and entitled to "make his views known at any point he would like."

The president on Tuesday called the actions of Russian forces in Ukraine a "genocide" for the first time on Tuesday— a characterization he had previously shied away from using.

When pressed on whether he misspoke, or if his comments were planned, White House press secretary Jen Psaki replied: "He is the president of the United States and the leader of the free world, and he is allowed to make his views known at any point he would like."

When asked again, Psaki quipped: "I think we shouldn’t misunderstand who he is and where he stands in the totem pole—which is at the top."

Read more: Psaki, pressed on whether Biden's 'genocide' comments off script, says he's 'allowed to make his views known'

Ukrainian forces say they struck and damaged a Russian naval vessel, according to reporting from Forbes.

Multiple Ukrainian officials say their forces used a Neptune anti-ship battery to hit Moskva, a  612-foot Russian vessel of the coast of Odessa.

“Neptune missiles … caused very serious damage to the Russian ship,” said Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, according to Forbes.

While Russian media has acknowledged an explosion on the ship, officials claim the damage was due to an "accidental ammunition explosion" and that the ship was evacuated.

Russia announced sanction against over 300 members of the U.S. Congress Wednesday, which it said was in response to similar sanctions against Russian lawmakers.

“These individuals, including the leadership and committee chairmen of the lower house of the U.S. Congress, are placed on the Russian ‘stop list’ on a permanent basis,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., said she considered being sanctioned by Russia a "badge of honor."

"It is a badge of honor to be sanctioned by the corrupt and authoritarian Kremlin," shed said in a statement. "I am proud to have one of the toughest records in Congress when it comes to standing up to the actions of Russia and their bloodthirsty war criminal dictator Vladimir Putin. Prior to the invasion, I introduced crippling sanctions. Russia's performative sanctions against me will not stop me from holding Russia accountable and speaking the truth about Russia's genocide against the Ukrainian people. Russia's actions are an atrocity, and Vladimir Putin is a thug. I will continue to hold him and his cronies accountable for their war crimes."

Rep. Maria Elvira, R-Fla., expressed the same sentiment, vowing to continue voicing her support for freedom.

“Whether it’s the Castro Regime in Cuba or Vladmir Putin’s thugs in Moscow, I wear the sanctions of authoritarian dictators as a badge of honor. I will never stop fighting for freedom and working to expose the evil and corruption of bad actors like Putin to the light of truth,” she said.

Fox News' Marisa Schultz contributed to this report.

The Biden administration is weighing the possibility of sending a top-level official to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, according to reporting from Politico.

Preside Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are both candidates to make the journey to Kyiv, though the official told Politico that  Secretary of State Antony Blinken or Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin would be more likely to make the trip.

The news comes as officials from other NATO members, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, have recently made trips to Kyiv amid the Russian retreat from the city.

A potential visit to Ukraine by a high-ranking U.S. official would not be announced in advance due to security concerns, the report notes.

Russian forces are likely to capture the key city of Mariupol in the coming week despite fierce Ukrainian resistance.

According to an analysis from the Institute for the Study of War, Russian forces have continued incremental gains around Mariupol amid the heavy resistance from Ukrainian forces.

While the ISW believes reports of mass Ukrainian surrender around the city remain untrue, the Russian offensive is likely to break through.

The analysis also said that Russia is likely to continue to scale up its offensive in the eastern regions of Ukraine in the coming weeks, noting that the recent unsuccessful attacks in the region are likely just a precursor to a larger offensive.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy released a new video Wednesday morning outlining the specific weaponry he needs for his country to continue its defense against Russian invaders. 

"Ukraine needs weapons supplies. We need heavy artillery, armored vehicles, air defense systems and combat aircrafts," Zelenskyy said. "Anything to repel Russian forces and stop their war crimes."

Read more: President Zelenskyy calls for specific weaponry from US, NATO allies

The State Department said Wednesday that President Biden's comments regarding “genocide” in Ukraine at the hands of Russian forces was based “on the horrific atrocities that we've all seen” take place throughout Ukraine.

“The president has not hesitated to draw attention to the horrific acts, the atrocities that Russia's forces have been committing almost since the very first hours of Russia's invasion," Price said.

According to Price, it will be the "task of international lawyers to determine whether what we're seeing meets that legal threshold of genocide.”

“The president was basing his comments on the horrific atrocities that we've all seen in Mariupol, Bucha, Kharkiv, you could go on," Price added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held high level meetings in the far-eastern Russian city of Vladivostok Wednesday in which he praised Belarus as a Russian ally.

Putin said that the two countries would form a “union of two independent states." that could help in overcoming sanctions together.

Putin said that the two countries have discussed the "formation of a unified defense domain," and referred to "the Union" in similar military terms to the Soviet Union.

"It is possible that Belarus may enter conflict as an active combatant, on behalf of Russia in the past phase, as Putin continues dramatic escalation, rushing to claim victory by May 9," author and former DIA intelligence officer Rebekah Koffler said of the remarks.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned NATO that Russia could begin attacking military assistance from foreign countries that enter Ukraine.

"We are warning that U.S.-NATO weapons transports across Ukrainian territory will be considered by us as legal military targets," Ryabkov told TASS. "We are making the Americans and other Westerners understand that attempts to slow down our special operation, to inflict maximum damage on Russian contingents and formations of the DPR and LPR (Donetsk and Luhansk People's republics) will be harshly suppressed.”

According to author and former DIA intelligence officer Rebakah Koffler, the statement indicates Russia sees weapons assistance as legitimate military targets.

"The Russians will likely target NATO weapons deliveries to Ukraine. They claimed that they have already struck Slovakia’s S-300 air-defense systems," Koffler told Fox News Wednesday.

Ryabkov's statement comes the same day that President Biden announced an additional $800 million in military assistance bound for Ukraine, including brand new weapons such as artillery systems that Ukraine has requested.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby detailed Monday that 11 Mi-17 helicopters will be provided to Ukraine as part of the $800 million assistance package, noting that the helicopters were originally destined for Afghanistan.

Kirby also noted that the U.S. has provided a total $3.2 billion of military assistance to Ukraine, including $2.6 billion since the beginning of Russia's invasion of the country.

The U.S. is also providing artillery equipment to Ukraine as part of the package, which Kirby said was the first time the U.S. has sent artillery to the country.

President Biden issued a statement regarding his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, including a list of weapons that will be included in the president's $800 million military assistance package bound for Ukraine.

"I just spoke with President Zelenskyy and shared with him that my Administration is authorizing an additional $800 million in weapons, ammunition, and other security assistance to Ukraine," Biden said." The Ukrainian military has used the weapons we are providing to devastating effect. As Russia prepares to intensify its attack in the Donbas region, the United States will continue to provide Ukraine with the capabilities to defend itself."

"This new package of assistance will contain many of the highly effective weapons systems we have already provided and new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine," the statement continued. "These new capabilities include artillery systems, artillery rounds, and armored personnel carriers. I have also approved the transfer of additional helicopters. In addition, we continue to facilitate the transfer of significant capabilities from our Allies and partners around the world. 

"The steady supply of weapons the United States and its Allies and partners have provided to Ukraine has been critical in sustaining its fight against the Russian invasion. It has helped ensure that Putin failed in his initial war aims to conquer and control Ukraine. We cannot rest now. As I assured President Zelenskyy, the American people will continue to stand with the brave Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom."

Russia's Ministry of Defense is claiming Wednesday that it is seeing "attempts of sabotage and strikes by Ukrainian forces against facilities on Russian Federation territory" and "if such cases continue, the Russian Armed Forces will strike at decision-making centers, including in Kyiv, from which the Russian army has so far refrained."

In a Telegram post, the Ministry of Defence also claimed it has surrounded Ukrainian forces in Mariupol, in addition to recently taking a port there.

"During the day, high-precision weapons destroyed 36 enemy assets," it also said. "Among them: 2 repair bases and 2 missile-artillery weapon depots of the 57th and 24th mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Troops in Vrubovka and Berestovoe; 5 strong points of units of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade in Popasnaya and Barvenkovo; 1 command post of the 15th Separate Regiment of the Ukrainian National Guard in Cherkasskoe."

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday. (AP/Andrew Marienko)

A 110-page report released Wednesday by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe says experts have found "clear patterns of International Humanitarian Law violations by the Russian forces in their conduct of hostilities" in Ukraine.

"If they had respected their IHL obligations in terms of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack and concerning specially protected objects such as hospitals, the number of civilians killed or injured would have remained much lower," it says. "Similarly, considerably fewer houses, hospitals, cultural properties, schools, multi-story residential buildings, water stations and electricity systems would have been damaged or destroyed."

"The World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), monitoring the situation in Ukraine, has indicated having received reports of numerous cases of torture in the Temporary Detention Centre of Kherson under the control of Russia," the OSCE report also said. "Persons detained there, mostly Ukrainian veterans of military operations in eastern Ukraine and civilians, are severally beaten, subject to mock executions and denied access to food, water and medical care."

The presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia visited Ukraine on Wednesday to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"We will continue advocating for Ukraine's membership in the European Union and helping this heroic nation overcome the horrors of war," Lithuania President Gitanas Nauseda said in a tweet.

Fugitive oligarch and Russian President Vladimir Putin's close friend Viktor Medvedchuk is seen handcuffed after a special operation was carried out by Ukraine on Tuesday. (Photo by Security Service of Ukraine/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov signaled Wednesday that Russia has no interest in trading prisoners with Ukraine for Viktor Medvedchuk, who is an associate of Vladimir Putin and the former leader of a Ukrainian pro-Russian party.

Medvedchuk, who escaped while being held in home confinement in Kyiv on allegations of treason was recaptured Tuesday by Ukraine’s SBU security service, officials said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed in his nightly address on Tuesday that Medvedchuk could be traded for Ukrainian "boys and girls who are now in Russian captivity."

But Peskov said Wednesday that “Medvedchuk is not a Russian citizen." 

"It has nothing to do with the special military operation. He is a foreign politician," Peskov added. "We don’t know at all whether he himself wants some kind of Russian participation in resolving this libelous situation against him.”

Fox News' Brie Stimson and NuNu Japaridze contributed to this report.

These images taken from video show a puppy being rescued Wednesday in eastern Ukraine. (Donetsk Regional Police/Cover Images/Handout)

A heartwarming video released Wednesday appears to show first responders pulling out a puppy from underneath the rubble of a building that was shelled by the Russian military in the village of Mikhailovka, in eastern Ukraine.

The animal is then reunited with its 77-year-old owner.

“Thanks to the boys for doing everything quickly and promptly here... Thanks a lot to them!” he reportedly said.

Ukrainian media is reporting Wednesday that more than 100 civilians have been found dead in the Sumy region in eastern Ukraine.

The reports cite local Gov. Dmytro Zhyvytsky as saying that some of the victims were found with their hands tied and with gunshot wounds to the head.

The claims could not immediately be independently verified.

Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson aims to bring her country into NATO in June this year as Finland also signals intent to join the Western alliance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Andersson told Swedish outlet SvD that her party, the Swedish Social Democrats, had made a decision on "the NATO issue," with party informants telling the outlet that the plan is to submit its application at the June 29 NATO meeting in Madrid. Any application would require 75% support in the legislature. 

"This is an important time in history," said Andersson, speaking alongside her Finnish counterpart on Wednesday. "The security landscape has completely changed."

For more on this story: Sweden plans NATO application, Finland signals intent to join with security assessment: Report

President Joe Biden waves as he walks to speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Des Moines International Airport, in Des Moines Iowa, on Tuesday. (AP/Carolyn Kaster)

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that it is "unacceptable" for President Joe Biden to describe Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a "genocide". 

Biden made the classification for the first time Tuesday. 

"We consider this kind of effort to distort the situation unacceptable," Peskov responded, according to Reuters. 

"This is hardly acceptable from a president of the United States, a country that has committed well-known crimes in recent times," he added. 

For more on this story: Russia reacts harshly after Biden calls Ukraine invasion ‘genocide,' accuses US 'crimes'

A ground staffer directs a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet during a training session in a military airbase outside of Kyiv in November 2016. (Getty Images)

A Ukrainian pilot who is frequently up in the sky trying to defend his country’s airspace from the Russian military says what Ukraine really needs to turn the tide is more advanced aircraft and weaponry – or else their pilots will continue to be "just targets" for the technologically-superior invading forces.  

The 29-year-old fighter pilot, who identified himself only by his call sign "Juice", made the remark to the Washington Post after Poland – and now Slovakia – floated plans of providing Soviet-era MiG-29 jets to Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s military. 

"We’re ready to be killed," Juice told the newspaper, describing how the MiG-29 jets he flies makes him and his colleagues "just targets" for Russia’s more advanced aircraft. "But we don’t want this, of course. We want to kill Russians and take down their bombers that are killing our cities and our families." 

For more on this story: Ukrainian pilot reveals what his country's military really needs in fight against Russia

In an about-face move the Biden administration on Wednesday decided against providing Ukraine with Mi-17 helicopters despite informing Congress of its intention to do so a day prior, a senior U.S. defense official told Fox News. 

The shipment of helicopters was considered Tuesday as part of a new $750 million aid package to Ukraine as it braces for a major offensive in its most eastern regions by Russian forces.

The Mi-17 is a Soviet-era helicopter designed in the mid-1970s which was previously relied on by Afghan forces and can be used in an aggressive capacity. 

For more on this story: US backs out of sending Mi-17 helicopters to Ukraine as part of $750M package

Responders are seen putting out a fire after a building is destroyed by a Russian rocket attack in downtown Kharkiv. (Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The Ukrainian city of Kharkiv was hit with 53 artillery and rocket launches over the past 24 hours, a regional official announced Wednesday, as Russian forces continue to head toward eastern Ukraine. 

"Our Armed Forces are constantly fighting to prevent the enemy from passing to Donetsk and Luhansk regions," head of the Kharkiv regional state administration Oleg Synegubov announced on Telegram.

"Russians continue to terrorize civilians," he added. "Unfortunately, during the past 24 hours, 22 civilians, including three children, were injured in the shelling of the region. Seven people died."

For more on this story: Kharkiv hit with 53 strikes in 24 hours, dozens injured as Russian convoy pushes south

(Fox News)

The newspaper Svenska Dagbladet is reporting Wednesday that Sweden is looking to join NATO by the end of June.

At a scheduled NATO meeting in Madrid, Spain on June 29 and 30, Sweden will submit their application, the newspaper reported, citing sources

Russian made an unverified claim Tuesday that more than 1,000 Ukrainian troops in the besieged city of Mariupol had surrendered.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj.-Gen. Igor Konashenkov said 1,026 troops from the Ukrainian 36th Marine Brigade surrendered at a metals plant in the city.

Thousands of civilians have been killed in the port city, which is strategically important to Russia, since the late February invasion.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is "failing," the U.K. Defense Ministry said Wednesday morning.

The ministry said that six Russian generals have been killed in the conflict along with heavy troops losses, Russian soldiers have turned on their commanders and more than 2,100 vehicles, artillery pieces and planes have been damaged, destroyed, abandoned or captured - three times that of Ukraine. Russian troops have even shot down their own aircraft, the ministry said.

The presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia plan to visit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Estonian President Alar Karis tweeted Wednesday morning along with photos of the leaders at a train station.

"On our way to Kyiv, to a city that has suffered terribly due to Russian war since my last visit," Karis wrote. "Together with Presidents @AndrzejDuda, @GitanasNauseda & @valstsgriba we visit #Ukraine to show strong support to people, will meet dear friend President @ZelenskyyUa #SlavaUkraini."

Polish President Andrzej Duda, Lithuania’s Gitanas Nauseda and Egils Levits of Latvia also are on the trip.

The leaders plan to discuss investigations into alleged Russian war crimes, including the massacre of civilians.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Russia appointing Army General Alexander Dvornikov to lead the war in Ukraine is an attempt by the country to "centralize command and control," U.K.'s Defense Ministry said in a Wednesday morning update.

"An inability to cohere and coordinate military activity has hampered Russia’s invasion to date," the update said.

Dvornikov has previous commanding experience in Syria and on Russia's southern border with eastern Ukraine since 2016.

"Russian messaging has recently emphasised progressing offensives in the Donbas as Russia’s forces refocus eastwards," the updated added. "Dvornikov’s selection further demonstrates how determined Ukrainian resistance and ineffective pre-war planning have forced Russia to reassess its operations."

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said Wednesday morning he was headed to Kyiv to send a "strong message of political support and military assistance."

"Lithuania will continue backing Ukraine's fight for its sovereignty and freedom," he added.

In this image provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, who is both the former leader of a pro-Russian opposition party and a close associate of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, sits handcuffed after being detained in a special operation carried out by the country's SBU secret service, Tuesday, April 12, 2022, in Ukraine. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Ukraine said Tuesday that  Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Putin Ukrainian politician who was under house arrest for suspected treason but escaped during the invasion had been recaptured.

He was detained in a special operation carried out by Ukraine's secret service.

In his nightly video address to the nation Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed that Russia could win Medvedchuk’s freedom by trading Ukrainians now held in Russian prisons.

Medvedchuk was the former leader of a pro-Putin political party and Putin is the godfather of his youngest daughter.

For more on this story: Pro-Putin fugitive politician captured in special operation, Ukraine says

Ukraine's Defense Ministry Wednesday morning said that Russian troops were continuing to attack civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhya and attacks on the besieged city of Mariupol, where the government said thousands have died, continues.

In the disputed eastern area of Ukraine, Ukrainian forces successfully countered six Russian attacks in the last 24 hours and "two units of car equipment and three artillery systems of the opponent were destroyed."

Michael O'Hanlon, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, describes the military technology that can benefit Ukraine in the war against Russia on 'The Story.'

Former Russian President and Deputy Chief of Security Council Dmitry Medvedev hinted at the possibility that Russia may soon make the death penalty legal again, according to reports from the Russian media outlet Komsomolskaya Pravda.

Medvedev's statement comes after Russia parted ways with the Council of Europe last month, which bound the country to a moratorium on the death penalty.

Medvevdev also claimed that members of the Russian military have been subject to torture when captured by Ukrainian forces, saying there have been incidents of Russian service members having their throats cut and being shot in the knee.

But according to author and former DIA intelligence officer Rebekah Koffler, Medvedev's statement is another example of Russia's attempt to spread disinformation.

"Moscow is running another disinformation operation to normalize the narrative of the death penalty as it seeks justification to use it against captured Ukrainian military personnel or domestic opposition members," Koffler told Fox News Tuesday. "Putin recently invoked the Stalin-era 'Red Terror' tactics, calling on Russian citizens to turn in perceived traitors to Russian authorities.

"He wants to instill fear on both Russians and Ukrainians who may consider anti-Russian government activities such as protests."

Putin says the invasion is going according to plan despite mounting contrary evidence and an admittance of hefty losses among Russian troops by the government.

He also said that the invasion would continue until its goals have been met.

Russian troops have withdrawn from Kyiv in the face of Ukraine's surprisingly strong defense and are instead focusing on the eastern part of the country.

Russia invaded on Feb. 24, with the goal, according to Western officials, of taking Kyiv, the capital, toppling the government and installing a Moscow-friendly regime. In the six weeks since, the ground advance stalled and Russian forces lost potentially thousands of fighters and were accused of killing civilians and other atrocities.

Putin claimed he had to invade to protect people in the Russian backed Donbas region of eastern Ukraine and for Russia's safety.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

President Biden called the actions of Russian forces in Ukraine "genocide" for the first time on Tuesday, a classification he had previously shied away from using.

"I called it genocide because it’s become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out even the idea of being Ukrainian. The evidence is mounting," Biden told reporters after appearing to reference the term earlier Tuesday.

In comments on inflation earlier Tuesday, Biden said that the prices Americans pay shouldn't depend on whether a dictator "commits genocide" against another country, an apparent shot at Russian President Vladimir Putin and his decision to invade Ukraine.

"We’ll let the lawyers decide, internationally, whether or not it qualifies," Biden later clarified in his answer to reporters in Iowa, "but it sure seems that way to me."

Click here to read more on Fox News.

Click here for Tuesday's live coverage.