Ukraine: What happened today, Wednesday, April 27

Today's key developments from the war in Ukraine

Workers dismantle the Soviet monument to Ukraine-Russia friendship in Kyiv amid Russian invasion of Ukraine. Picture: Genya SAVILOV / AFP via Getty Images

Wednesday saw Russia halt gas supplies to Bulgaria and Poland for rejecting its demand for payment in roubles, taking direct aim at European economies in its toughest retaliation so far against international sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

The step was denounced by European leaders as "blackmail", and comes as European countries have joined the United States in ramping up arms shipments to help Ukraine fend off a new Russian assault in the east.