"Now is no time for complacency," Biden said in announcing the news. He also accused the Russian military of committing "horrific acts of brutality.""As the Russian military repositions for the next phase of this war, I have directed my Administration to continue to spare no effort to identify and provide to the Ukrainian military the advanced weapons capabilities it needs to defend its country," Biden said in a statement released by the White House. 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned his nation that the coming week would be as crucial as any in the war with Russia. Live updates.“When people lack the courage to admit their mistakes, apologize, adapt to reality and learn, they turn into monsters. And when the world ignores it, the monsters decide that it is the world that has to adapt to them. Ukraine will stop all this,” Zelenskyy said. “The day will come when they will have to admit everything. Accept the truth,” he said. 
Look inside one of the extravagant country homes of pro-Russian tycoon Viktor Medvedchuk who was captured by Ukrainian forces this week
- Ukraine this week said it seized a trove of assets belonging to Pro-Russia tycoon Viktor Medvedchuk.
- A 2014 photo series showcasing one of his country homes highlights the politician's extreme wealth.
- The property is equipped with an indoor swimming pool, a billiard room, and an artificial lake.
Viktor Medvedchuk, a Ukrainian tycoon with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is having a terrible, horrible no good, very bad week.
The Pentagon says it's monitoring 'deeply concerning' reports of Russia's possible use of chemical weapons in Ukraine
A spokesperson for the Pentagon said it couldn't confirm the reports, but they reflect its concerns about Russia's use of chemical agents in Ukraine."We are aware of social media reports which claim Russian forces deployed a potential chemical munition in Mariupol, Ukraine," Kirby said."We cannot confirm at this time and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
A spokesperson for the Pentagon said it couldn't confirm the reports, but they reflect its concerns about Russia's use of chemical agents in Ukraine."We are aware of social media reports which claim Russian forces deployed a potential chemical munition in Mariupol, Ukraine," Kirby said."We cannot confirm at this time and will continue to monitor the situation closely. On Tuesday, the pro-Russia politician was captured by Ukrainian forces after escaping house arrest on treason charges earlier this year. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared a photo of a haggard-looking, handcuffed Medvedchuk on Telegram as proof of his arrest.
Then, on Thursday, Ukrainian authorities said they seized a trove of assets belonging to Medvedchuk, including 23 houses, 32 apartments, 30 plots of land, 26 cars, and one yacht.
Over the last three decades, Medvedchuk has utilized his close relationship with Putin — who is godfather to Medvedchuk's youngest daughter — to install himself as one of Ukraine's most powerful backroom politicians, as well as one of its richest, with an estimated worth of $620 million, according to Forbes.
Medvedchuk was even thought to be Russia's top choice as a replacement for Zelenskyy as the Kremlin's puppet leader in Ukraine if Kyiv had fallen after the invasion.
New US sanctions will force Putin to focus on Russian economy over war, officials say: Live Ukraine updates
The newest round of sanctions against Vladimir Putin will force him to focus on holding together the Russian economy, officials say. Ukraine updates.The sanctions will target Russian supply chains that contribute to fueling the war, including “everything from looking at ways to go after the military devices that have been built to use not only in Ukraine but to project power elsewhere,” Adeyemo told the Associated Press. The Kremlin on Wednesday shot down Ukraine's offer to swap Medvedchuk for Ukrainian prisoners, seemingly cutting ties with the captured tycoon.
Photos from yonder days, however, highlight the luxurious life Medvedchuk previously lived.
Ilya Ponomarev, a former member of the Russian parliament, was the only one to vote against annexing Crimea in 2014.Ilya Ponomarev has been living in Kyiv, Ukraine, since 2016 after he was ousted by the Russian parliament. After the Russian invasion on February 24, the former politician took up arms and joined the Ukrainian forces. 
