Vladimir Putin has been “panicking” over the prospect that Russian people could overthrow his authoritarian government, Boris Johnson said as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues.

This has been a factor in the Russian president’s decision to launch the invasion, the PM said, adding that Putin has feared that civilians would demand the free press and free elections that Ukraine has.

Putin has been terrified that a Russian revolution would follow those seen in Georgia and Ukraine in the early 2000s, Mr Johnson told the Conservative Party spring conference.

Meanwhile, Russia has admitted to firing hypersonic weapons to destroy a missiles and weapons depot in western Ukraine.

The “dagger” missiles, that can evade defence systems, were deployed for the first time during Russia’s invasion to target the underground storage site in the Ivano-Frankivsk region – an official said.

Igor Konashenkov, a Russian defence ministry spokesman, has confirmed at a briefing that the Kinzhal missiles had hit the site – but Reuters news agency said it was not able to independently verify his statements.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-putin-moscow-rally-b2039462.html

A party remade by former President Donald Trump is in the process of being remade again.

Republican officeholders and office seekers aren't keen to admit it, but for most of them Russia's invasion of Ukraine has them publicly agreeing more on the substance with President Joe Biden than with Trump.

That comes through in the raucous bipartisan reception Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy got in front of Congress and also in Biden's agreement with a unanimous Senate that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a "war criminal."

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ukraine-revealing-gops-drift-trump-note/story?id=83489425

Two people who died when their helicopter crashed in rough terrain near Lake Okeechobee have been identified, officials said Saturday.

The two victims, Richard Preiser, 72, and Thomas Stout, 65, were both from Delray Beach, according to the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said the helicopter crashed Friday afternoon in the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area and took more than four hours to locate.

Deputies from the agency's wildlife unit reached the wreckage and confirmed both on board had died.

The wreckage was secured overnight by PBSO and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, which was difficult to get to without specialized vehicles, according to PBSO. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

https://apnews.com/af1326f9fb45a2f9b57ef0bfb8fe9e2e