Russia has said it would “like to avoid” intervening in Transnistria after the pro-Russian separatist region of Moldova reported a second unexplained attack on its infrastructure just miles from the Ukrainian border. 

In a worrying sign for Moldova’s separatist enclave hosting Russian troops not far from EU member Romania, Transnistria ordered schools to shut down and set up checkpoints. 

Ukraine has suggested the attacks could be “false flags” aimed at extending Russia’s invasion.

German tanks U-turn

Germany will send tanks to Ukraine in an about-turn by chancellor Olaf Scholz after weeks of tensions in his coalition government and pressure from his international allies. 

The decision is likely to further ratchet up tensions with Moscow, after Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said weapons sent to Ukraine would be a “legitimate target” and warned of the risk of the conflict escalating into World War Three. 

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, the weaponsmaker, is reportedly set to be given permission to sell refurbished Gepard (Cheetah) anti-aircraft tanks from German Army stocks.

Less than a week ago, the chancellor said that he would not send tanks to Ukraine in case it started a nuclear war. 

James Crisp analyses why he flip-flops between hesitancy and decisive action.

Kidnapped son

Fifteen days since Russian forces kidnapped his teenage son, Oleh Buriak is a man struggling to control his emotions. 

Mr Buriak, 50, heads the city council of Zaporizhzhya, a city of 750,000 on the Dnipro River in southeastern Ukraine. 

Until recently his son Vladislav, 16, was living with Mr Buriak’s ex-wife in nearby Melitopol, a city now under Russian-occupation. 

After staying in Melitopol during the final stage of his grandfather’s terminal cancer, Vladislav left on April 8 to rejoin his family in Zaporizhzhya. He never arrived. 

Read how the city council chief now finds himself left in an impossible position.

Comment and analysis

Around the world: Baldwin ‘always wanted’ real gun

Alec Baldwin “always wanted his real gun” on set, a new trove of evidence from an investigation into a deadly shooting during filming for the movie Rust has revealed. Text messages released on Monday said the actor “never liked anything fake like guns and even the rubber knife” when filming. Mr Baldwin’s gun mistakenly fired on the set of Rust, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Watch footage of him being interviewed by police, as dramatic police bodycam video showed medics battling to save Ms Hutchins’ life. Read on for what we have learned from the new Rust police files.

Tuesday interview

‘There are so many unhealthy ways to grieve’