Russia calls up retired soldiers after ‘mounting losses’

Russia has suffered such heavy losses in Ukraine that it is calling up soldiers who retired up to a decade ago, according to Western intelligence. The Ministry of Defence said that Moscow was seeking to “bolster troop numbers with personnel discharged from military service since 2012”. It said Moscow was also turning to recruits from the separatist region of Transnistria in Moldova to cover “mounting losses”. Ukraine yesterday said “big battles” were to take place in the eastern region of the Donbas, where Russian troops are moving after failing to capture Kyiv, the capital. Satellite images showed an eight-mile convoy of Russian armoured vehicles and artillery moving south towards the Donbas from near the city of Kharkiv. Early today, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of trying to evade responsibility for war crimes. Follow the latest on that and more in our live blog.

Since Russian forces withdrew from towns around Kyiv last weekend, Ukrainian investigators have been working rapidly to document evidence of war crimes committed during the month-long occupation. The scale of the job is enormous, as they work in districts described by residents as crime scenes, with the totality of atrocities unlikely to ever be fully documented. More than 1,200 civilians have been killed around the capital, with Ukrainian officials accusing Russia of murdering many of them. Read our correspondent Campbell MacDiarmid‘s dispatch from Bucha, one of the worst-hit suburbs. In other developments:

‘I’m the only National winner to be out of pocket’

Sam Waley-Cohen, the first amateur jockey to win the Grand National since 1990 at the weekend, has been interviewed by The Telegraph‘s racing correspondent Marcus Armytage – the last man to manage the feat. Waley-Cohen, a close friend of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, joked that he was the only jockey to be left out of pocket. He was ineligible for a share of the prize money as an amateur – and he was fined £400 for excessive use of the whip. Read his full interview with Marcus.

Daily dose of Matt

In his latest cartoon, Matt finds humour in the Chancellor’s political woes – and view Blower‘s latest political cartoon.

Also in the news: Today’s other headlines

Her Majesty’s health | The Queen has said Covid leaves “one very tired and exhausted” in a video call with NHS staff and former patients, where she reflected on the impact of “this horrible pandemic”. The 95-year-old monarch tested positive for Covid in late February, shortly after the Prince of Wales contracted the illness. She was described as having “mild cold-like symptoms”. Read more of the Queen’s own description.

Around the world: Macron to face Le Pen

Emmanuel Macron is set to face Marine Le Pen in the French presidential election run-off after an exit poll put him a few points ahead of his nationalist rival. Five years ago, Mr Macron trounced his opponent in the run-off, taking 66pc of the vote. This time, the final duel is expected to be far closer with Ms Le Pen in with a chance of snatching victory on April 24. In his analysis, Europe editor James Crisp says Mr Macron’s big campaign gamble appears to have paid off.