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$3.5M luxury yacht built by West Michigan company like a ‘high-end home on the water’

• Updated: Mar. 17, 2022, 1:43 p.m. |
• Published: Mar. 17, 2022, 10:10 a.m.

• Brian McVicar | [email protected]

HOLLAND, MI — Inside Tiara Yachts, amid a whir of cranes, trucks and machinery, Thomas Slikkers climbs aboard a prototype of his company’s newest luxury watercraft, the EX 60.

Today, the 60-foot vessel is still a work in progress. Its hull is unpainted. The cockpit, engine and navigation system have yet to be installed. But Slikkers, Tiara’s president and CEO, lights up with excitement as he describes the high-end flourishes that will make his company’s newest creation akin to a “high-end home on the water.”

“It really is our greatest hits,” he said.

With a roughly $3.5 million price tag, the EX 60 will feature a customizable cockpit with plush seating, an outdoor breakfast bar, and two bathrooms. It boasts a well-appointed kitchen, and the propulsion system has extras such as assisted docking. Below deck, three sleeping areas can accommodate six adults.

For more than 60 years, the Slikkers family has been making boats in Holland — and the EX 60 is its biggest and most expensive boat yet.

The family’s start in the boating business dates back to 1955 when Leon Slikkers, Thomas Slikkers’ father, left his job at Chris-Craft Boats to start Slickcraft Boat Company. He funded the venture by selling his family’s home for $5,000 and using the proceeds to buy materials and rent space on Washington Avenue near downtown Holland. Then, he moved his family into an apartment above his new shop.

Launching the business was a gamble. But Leon Slikkers found success with the 16-foot Slickcraft premier. Featuring a molded mahogany plywood hull, the 16-foot vessel sold for $1,165 in 1958. By the late 1960s, the company had grown in popularity, and Slikkers sold his business to American Machine and Foundry.

But Leon Slikkers, whose family describes him as a “true entrepreneur,” soon craved independence.

In 1973, he resigned as president of Slickcraft, and the following year he launched S2 Yachts, the parent company of Tiara Yachts.

“It had very small, humble beginnings,” Thomas Slikkers said. “But within a short period of time, my dad was able to convince people that we’ve got a great product here.”

Today, the private, family-owned company has grown substantially.

Inside its headquarters, 725 E. 40th St., 600 employees design, build and sell yachts. The company’s boats, the least expensive of which retails for more than $500,000, are sold to customers throughout the U.S. as well as Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Italy and elsewhere. Its biggest markets are the U.S. and portions of Latin America.

“Wherever there’s big blue water, that’s usually a good market for us,” said Slikkers, who grew up with the business but officially joined Tiara Yachts in 1982 as an accounting clerk.

The EX-60, which has been in the works for 1 ½ years, is still under development, but the prototype is slated to be complete by mid-August and available to customers later this year. The company has a focus on luxury, and high-end features that create a comfortable, quiet experience for customers.

“We want you to enjoy nature, and enjoy the sounds of nature — not the sounds of our diesel engines,” said Andrew Bartlett, Tiara’s director of design.

Walking through the company’s cavernous factory, where about 400 workers create the yachts, Slikkers describes the craftsmanship that Tiara prides itself upon. Nearly everything on each yacht, from its furniture to its kitchen cabinets, are made in house. Engines that power Tiara’s boats are made by outside companies, such as Volvo Penta and Mercury.

Workers at Tiara can produce about one boat a day, Slikkers said.

On a recent afternoon, as a worker inside the factory inspected a 43-foot LS yacht, Slikkers said his company’s production line is not unlike an automotive assembly line. The process starts with the hull, the body of the boat, and about halfway through the deck is added. Later, chairs, furniture, paneling and interior fixtures are installed.

Finally, the vessel is painted, and put on a truck for delivery, he said.

“It hasn’t been painted yet,” Slikkers said, as he pointed to the 43-foot LS yacht. “So, it’s not as pretty as it’s going to be.”

Tiara Yachts, located at 725 E. 40th St. in Holland, on Thursday, March 10, 2022. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

While Tiara has evolved, adding new models, production techniques and automation, the company has stayed true to its roots as a family-owned company, Slikkers said. Walk inside Tiara Yachts, and you might bump into one of his six family members who work there.

His brother David serves as director of government relations, while his brother Bob is senior vice president of operations. His son Alex is a sales and marketing specialist, and two of his nephews, Tim and Kelly, also call Tiara yachts home. Kelly’s wife, Tiffany, has joined the family business too. She works in human resources.

That level of family involvement creates a bond that isn’t present in every business, said Slikkers, whose father, Leon, retired from Tiara in September.

“We aren’t trying to make sure that we’ve got a golden parachute tucked in the back corner in case we ever need to jettison at the first sign of trouble,” he said. “We’re the guys that are still driving the ship when she’s taking on water.”

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Tiara Yachts

By Jeff Hemmel | March 2023

Learn more about Tiara Yachts by viewing our extensive collection of boat tests, reviews and other related content. Boating-exclusive content is produced by expert, longtime boating enthusiasts with extensive knowledge of the boating industry. Whether you’re looking to buy, sell or just research the brand, our content is here to help.

This page was written by Boating Magazine’s expert editorial staff and reviewed by the Tiara Yachts ‘ marketing team for accuracy. Content will be updated as new boats and company updates are released.

Tiara Yachts traces its heritage back to 1946 , when founder Leon Slikkers began his boat-building career at Chris-Craft. Within 10 years he would go on to form his own brand, SlickCraft, embrace fiberglass hull construction and ultimately found S2 Yachts with sons David and Robert in 1974. Initially a builder of sailboats, S2 launched the Tiara powerboat line in 1976 that would ultimately become today’s Tiara Yachts brand. Handcrafted luxury models with virtually all components built in-house in Holland, Michigan , Tiara now produces 9 different models from 34’ to 60’. These include the EX series, powered by Volvo Penta’s Inboard Performance System (IPS) pod drives, and the LS, LX and LE models powered by Mercury Verado outboards.

On this page:

Quick overview.

• Types of Boats
• Boat Tests & Reviews

Tiara produces five upscale model series, including inboard vessels from 39 to 60 feet in the Coupe and EX lines. Outboard powered models range from 34 to 48 feet in three distinct series: Luxury Sport (LS) , Luxury Crossover (LX) , and Luxury Express (LE) .

Types of Tiara Yachts

Tiara builds a five-series line of both inboard and outboard-powered boats, divided into Coupe inboard-powered sedan cruisers in 39’, 44’ and 49’ lengths; LS outboard-powered, center-console dayboats in 34’, 38’, 43’ and 48’ lengths; a 34’ LX dual-console bowrider ; 43’ and 48’ LE express cruisers ; and the 54′ and 60’ EX inboard-powered yachts .

• A trio of models in the 39’ – 49’ range, the inboard-powered Coupe series boasts classic styling and includes the 41’ C39 , 45’ C44 and 50’ C49 .
• Open aft cockpits offer breezy passenger seating in Ultraleather® lounges.
• Glass-enclosed salons featured well-appointed galleys and starboard helm station powered by the latest in Volvo Penta® and Garmin® technologies .
• Overnight accommodations below include up to two staterooms and mid-cabin .
• Each model features at least one head compartment with a separate shower .
• Ideal for cruising, overnighting , and entertaining .

The EX Series embodies flexible luxury and endless adventure. This series combines elements from Tiara’s latest outboard models to put a focus on maximizing exterior enjoyment, while providing all the lavish comforts required for an extended stay that are synonymous with their inboard heritage.

A variety of aft cockpit layouts allow owners to emphasize their choice of cruising comfort, dining or fishing amenities.

• At 60’, the EX 60 is Tiara’s largest-ever model.
• The large, glass-doored main salon features a full galley and entertainment area .
• Below deck a trio of staterooms and two full-size heads can accommodate up to six adults.
• The aft sides of the boat also open on both port and starboard side to expand the deck area, give the cockpit an open feel and allow access to the surrounding waters.
• Ideal for cruising, overnighting, entertaining .
• Outboard-powered dayboats with a centerline helm, the LS Series — including the 34LS , 38LS , 43LS and 48LS — are great for entertaining a crowd or overnighting for couples or small families.
• Walkaround access is provided to large, open bows with wraparound seating .
• Galleys allow for food and drink prep.
• Aft cockpit layouts provide social seating arrangements that can transform for cruising and entertaining, watersports or fishing.
• Glass windshields are integrated into the hardtops.
• Below deck, depending on size accommodations include a forward berth with a private head to a pair of staterooms with separate head and shower compartments.
• Ideal for cruising, entertaining, watersports, and fishing .
• A single 34′ model with twin outboard power, Tiara defines the 34LX as a luxury crossover .
• A spacious, bow-cockpit social zone is accessed via a centerline walk-thru between the LX’s dual consoles .
• The spanning windshield is integrated into a hardtop with a manual sunroof .
• The cockpit offers socially laid-out seating for a crew , including transformational seats that switch from forward focus underway to aft-facing recliners or sunpads.
• An outdoor galley with sink and refrigerator and port-console head compartment round out the amenities.
• Ideal for day cruising, watersports, entertaining , hanging out at the sandbar and casual fishing.
• Two models — the 43LE and 48LE — make up Tiara’s LE series.
• Luxury-minded, outboard-powered express cruisers , models feature a recessed chaise lounge/sunpad on the bow deck, fully equipped galley in the enclosed salon, rotating aft lounge module with buffet and electric grill and fold-down portside terrace.
• Below-deck accommodations include forward and mid-cabin berths with enclosed head and separate shower compartment.
• Ideal for cruising, multi-night onboard stays, entertaining.
• Fish equipment options available.

Boat Tests & Reviews

As the most trusted source of boating information on the internet, Boating Magazine has produced in-depth reviews of over 10 Tiara Yachts . These tests are conducted by an expert staff made up of true boating enthusiasts. Tests and reviews include not only performance testing and passenger amenities, but also dig deep into a boat’s construction, handling, and overall safety .

More Tiara Yachts >>

Tiara Yachts Videos

Boating Magazine has produced a variety of reviews of Tiara Yachts. Video adds another element to any boat review, allowing viewers to see and experience a boat’s features firsthand. Video reviews are hosted by Boating’s same expert editorial staff , enthusiastic boaters themselves who know what to look for in a boat…and how it will improve a viewer’s boating experience.

Tiara Yachts Boat Tests

Expanding the Legacy, the Tiara Yachts 48 LS

Experience the adventure of tiara yachts, tiara yachts 43 le review, tiara yachts 43 ls review, faqs about tiara.

Find the answers to frequently asked questions about Tiara Yachts, including the types of boats Tiara makes, where they’re produced and how to find a Tiara Yachts boat that fits your needs and lifestyle.

Tiara builds two true yachts, the EX 54 and the EX 60 , powered by Volvo Penta’s Inboard Performance System. Outboard-powered choices include the LS dayboat from 34’ – 48’, a 35’ LX dual-console bowrider , 43’ and 48’ LE express cruisers .

Tiara Yachts is headquartered and boats built in Holland, Michigan.

Tiara works closely with two power partners, Volvo Penta and Mercury. Inboard models use Volvo Penta’s Inboard Performance System (IPS) . Tiara’s outboard models use Mercury Verados.

Tiara Yachts provides Limited Warranty coverage on products sold for use by retail customers . It applies to the original purchaser of the boat but can be transferred to subsequent owners. Coverage includes defects in materials and workmanship in the boat and all components and accessories for two years; structural defects in materials and workmanship in hull and deck for a period of five years; blistering due to defects in material and workmanship in the painted surface of the hull bottom for a period of five years, providing that the surface has not been altered in any way (including sanding, sandblasting or application of a coating other than standard antifouling paint). Exceptions apply. 

Tiara Yachts are easy to maintain. Like any boat, basic maintenance, including washing and waxing the fiberglass hull, keeping compartments clean and dry, and cleaning and using protectant on vinyl surfaces will keep any boat looking and performing like new for years to come.

Boats left in the water should have hulls cleaned yearly to remove marine growth; anti-fouling paint on submerged areas of the hull should also be applied.

Follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule, including yearly engine service, to ensure reliable, safe operation. Factory-recommended service should be performed at an authorized Tiara Yachts dealer.

All Tiara models are designed with family excursions in mind, with abundant creature comforts and stable, smooth-running hull designs. Depending on model and size, overnight accommodations run from berths for two to full-size cabins, head compartments, showers and galleys perfect for larger groups.

Tiara Yachts are available in the United States, Canada, and multiple international locations. Find your nearest Tiara Yachts dealer here .

How to Care for a Tiara Boat

How to properly flush your boat’s motor.

How to run inboard, outboard and sterndrive engines on land.

How to Maintain a Boat’s Trim-and-Tilt System

How to care for your outboard’s trim-and-tilt system.

Marine Transmission Care Tips

Eight tips to help you properly maintain a marine transmission.

Tools for Drying Your Boat

Easily dry your boat promptly after each wash.

How to Wash a Boat the Right Way

These tips will turn your boating chore into a labor of love.

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10 ways to keep marine vinyl upholstery looking like new.

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Tiara Yachts Parts & Accessories

Over 60 years ago, Tiara Yachts embarked on a voyage to create the finest yachts in the world, made in the U.S.A. Every Tiara Yacht is finished with the most durable, highest quality materials available in luxury boat building, establishing the uppermost standards of comfort and sophistication, distinguishing themselves apart from other luxury boat manufacturers.

Tiara Yachts pursues the ultimate goal of perfection, both in the products they make and in the entire conduct of their business. They bring focus to life through sophisticated design and engineering, creating luxury sport yachts that are visually stunning, incredibly comfortable, technologically advanced, and easier to pilot.

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Russia-Ukraine war live: Putin tries to claim Russia isn’t after Kharkiv – despite massive attack on region

LIVE – Updated at 08:09

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed there are “no plans” to take the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv despite tens of thousands of his forces having recently stormed across the border into the region and getting within artillery range of the city.

Speaking on the second day of his two-day tour of China , Putin claimed he had ordered the attack to create a “buffer zone” between Ukrainian soldiers and the Russian region of Belgorod.

When asked if Russian forces planned to take control of Kharkiv city, some 20 miles from the current fighting, Putin said: “As for Kharkiv, there are no such plans as of today.”

While Ukrainian officials and military analysts maintain that Russian forces in the Kharkiv region do not have the manpower or weaponry to take its namesake capital, and that the attack is likely an attempt to create a “buffer zone”, as Putin puts it, as well as draw Ukrainian forces away from other battles further east, there is little doubt that Russia would try to invade the city if it had the capability.

Ukraine says it has halted Russian advance in Kharkiv town

• Ukraine launches massive drone attack against occupied Crimea and across Russia

What’s the latest in Russia and Ukraine? Day 814

• Vladimir Putin speaks on final day of China tour

Russia's Putin arrives in China for state visit in a show of unity between the authoritarian allies

Vladimir Putin landed in Beijing on Thursday for a two-day state visit to China in a show of unity between the authoritarian allies.

Putin‘s visit comes as Russia has become more economically dependent on China following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago.

On the eve of the visit, Putin said in an interview with Chinese media that the Kremlin is prepared to negotiate over the conflict in Ukraine. “We are open to a dialogue on Ukraine, but such negotiations must take into account the interests of all countries involved in the conflict, including ours,” Putin was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency.

The Russian leader’s two-day trip comes as his country’s forces have pressed an offensive in northeastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv region that began last week in the most significant border incursion since the full-scale invasion began, forcing almost 8,000 people to flee their homes.

Along with Moscow’s efforts to build on its gains in the nearby Donetsk region, the 2-year-old war has entered a critical stage for Ukraine’s depleted military that is awaiting new supplies of anti-aircraft missiles and artillery shells from the United States.

“We have never refused to negotiate,” Putin was quoted as saying by Xinhua. “We are seeking a comprehensive, sustainable and just settlement of this conflict through peaceful means. We are open to a dialogue on Ukraine, but such negotiations must take into account the interests of all countries involved in the conflict, including ours.”

Ukrainian military moves out troops due to ‘intensive’ enemy fire'

Heavy enemy fire has prompted Ukraine’s military to reposition some troops in the Kupiansk direction to the east of the country’s second largest city, Kharkiv, the General Staff said today.

“In certain districts, as a result of intensive enemy fire, our units regrouped to more advantages positions,” the late-night report said.

Kupiansk was occupied by Russian troops in the first weeks of the February 2022 invasion, but recaptured by Ukrainian forces later in the year. The area has seen heavy fighting in recent months.

Putin says he is ‘grateful to China' for peace efforts on Ukraine war

Vladimir Putin said he spoke to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping about Russian invasion of Ukraine after he reached Beijing for a two-day visit.

“We are grateful to China for its efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis,” he said. The Russian president said he would brief the Chinese leader on the situation in Ukraine where Russian forces are advancing on several fronts.

China had issued a proposal for peace in Ukraine last year but the bid did not conclude and Kyiv has put forth its own peace agreement, seeking ejection of Russian troops from its territory.

Mr Putin’s visit to Beijing comes as Moscow presses forward on a new offensive in Ukraine.

What’s the latest in Ukraine and Russia? Day 813

Good morning.

Intense fighting has continued in the northeast Kharkiv region in what British Defence Minister Grant Shapps said should be a “wake up call” to Ukraine’s allies who have become “distracted” from the war.

“We must back [the Ukrainians] all the time, not just periodically,” Mr Shapps said, adding that a $60bn US military package “took too long to get through Congress”. It was blocked for seven months by Donald Trump-supporting Republicans keen to shore up more funds for securing their border with Mexico.

Ukrainian war tracker DeepState said Russian forces had advanced into a stretch of land between the villages of Hlyboke and Lyptsi, which is less than 20 miles from the region’s capital Kharkiv, home to some 1.3 million civilians.

An aid worker in Kharkiv city running a shelter for evacuees from Lyptsi told me on Wednesday that the civilians could hear the bombs “coming closer and closer” as they fled the village.

In the fight next-door, a local Ukrainian official said Russian forces had entered the streets of Vovchansk, a town some 35 miles from Kharkiv city.

In southern Ukraine, Russia fired three deadly glide bombs, nicknamed “building destroyers”, at the centre of Kherson city, injuring at least 19 people and destroying several homes.

“The city centre of Kherson. In the middle of the day, three Russian aerial bombs hit a residential area,” regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Telegram yesterday.

In China, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, where the Russian leader said he was “grateful” to China for its efforts to end the war in Ukraine, referring to their peace proposal that was dismissed by Ukraine as simply a recital of the Kremlin’s demands.

Xi lauds China-Russia ties as Putin arrives in Beijing

Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to work with counterpart Vladimir Putin to “rejuvenate” their countries as the pair started a day of talks in Beijing, saying China would “always be a good partner” of Russia, according to Chinese state media.

Putin arrived on Thursday for a two-day state visit that will include detailed talks on Ukraine, Asia, energy and trade with Xi, his most powerful political backer and fellow geopolitical rival of the United States.

“The China-Russia relationship today is hard-earned, and the two sides need to cherish and nurture it,” Xi told Putin as they met in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

“China is willing to ... jointly achieve the development and rejuvenation of our respective countries, and work together to uphold fairness and justice in the world.”

China and Russia declared a “no limits” partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing just days before he sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine, triggering the deadliest land war in Europe since World War Two.

A compilation of Russia’s latest propaganda claims …

Below is a compilation of the latest Russian claims regarding its war in Ukraine.

The claims cannot be verified but we repost them to show you the mood inside Moscow and the messages they are trying to convey to their own public. Much of the propaganda they push is intended to give the impression to the Russian population that the West is funding a proxy war against Russia in Ukraine and that, despite this, Russia is nevertheless succeeding in its war.

Russia’s Federal Security Service has claimed it has detained Ukrainian agents in Crimea, and that one of them admitted to having transferred information on air defence systems protecting the Crimean bridge, state news agency RIA reported.

The speaker of Russia’s State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, meanwhile, said this morning that Ukraine was dragging the US and Europe into a big war, and Western leaders needed to avoid a major global catastrophe.

Vladimir Putin arrives in China to meet Xi Jinping as West watches with growing concern

China has rolled out the red carpet to welcome Russian president Vladimir Putin for a potentially consequential and heavily symbolic state visit that will be closely watched in the West.

Mr Putin’s second visit in less than a year comes as Western nations, led by the US, are putting pressure on China to stop throwing its economic and industrial weight behind Russia’s war in Ukraine .

The two-day trip is Mr Putin’s first abroad since starting his new term as president earlier this month.

Vladimir Putin arrives to meet Xi Jinping in China as West watches with concern

How Ukraine’s war changed Oleksandr Usyk – and how it didn’t

Russian forces trying to take Lyptsi village in Ukraine's Kharkiv region -RIA

Russian forces are on the approaches to the village of Lyptsi, in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, and have started work to seize it, Russian state news agency RIA reported, citing a local Russian-installed official.

The claim cannot be verified and Russian officials often issue premature reports - but civilians fleeing Lyptsi over the past few days told aid workers in Kharkiv city that they could hear the bombs coming “closer and closer”.

The latest update from Ukrainian war tracker DeepState, known to have close ties to the military, suggests Russia forces are still more than three miles away from the village.

The small village of Lyptsi is around 16 miles north of the city centre of Kharkiv, the region’s namesake capital that is home to some 1.3 million citizens.

Ukraine’s Zelensky cancels foreign visits as Putin’s forces advance around Kharkiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has cancelled all his upcoming foreign trips as he looks to concentrate on Russia’s advance in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region .

It comes as US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced a new $2 billion (£1.6bn) weapons deal during a visit to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv , before suggesting Washington could sign a bilateral agreement with Ukraine in the coming weeks.

Mr Blinken did not go into detail about what would be included in the latest pledge, which will be drawn from the $61bn package passed by Congress last month.

Zelensky cancels foreign visits as Putin’s forces advance around Kharkiv

Zelensky travels to Kharkiv amid Russian offensive in region’s north

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has travelled to the city of Kharkiv amid a raging Russian offensive in the north of the region.

Mr Zelensky said on Telegram he held a meeting with the military, and described the situation as extremely difficult though “controlled in general”.

“As of today, the situation in Kharkiv Oblast is generally under control, our soldiers are inflicting significant losses on the occupier. But the direction remains extremely difficult - we are strengthening our units,” he wrote.

Earlier, the Ukrainian military said its forces were fighting Russian troops in northern districts of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region but the invaders had been unable to break through deeper into the border town.

“The enemy’s plans to penetrate deeper into the town of Vovchansk and gain a foothold there were thwarted,” the Ukrainian General Staff said in a statement.

US will send artillery, rockets and ammunition in $1bn arms package to Ukraine

US sending largest military aid package to Ukraine so far

Photos show Putin and Xi meeting in Beijing

We have some more photos dropping on the wires from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing.

It’s time we gave Ukraine the tools it needs to finish the job

Maps show the state of Russia’s advance in the Kharkiv region

Updated maps published by Ukrainian war tracker DeepState have shown the state of Russia’s offensive in the northeast Kharkiv.

The attack began last Friday, at around 5.30am, and took place across two sectors.

In the first assault, Russian forces have advanced to the north and northwest suburbs of Vovchansk, a small city from where thousands of civilians have been evacuated. They have pushed roughly three and a half miles from the Russian border into the Kharkiv region, occupying nearly 22 square miles of territory.

In the second assault, Russian forces are advancing towards the village of Lyptsi, having taken Hlyboke and Lukiantsi yesterday. They have pushed nearly five miles from the Russian border into the Kharkiv region, occupying 31 square miles of territory.

That means that Russian forces are within artillery range of Kharkiv city, the region’s namesake capital, which is home to 1.3 million civilians.

AP gets rare look as Ukraine tries to slow Russia with drones on new front

Sri Lanka to send delegation to Russia to help repatriate men duped into Ukraine fighting

Sri Lanka will dispatch a high-level delegation to Russia to investigate the fate of hundreds of nationals reportedly fighting in the war in Ukraine, a top official said on Thursday.

Social media campaigns via WhatsApp have targeted ex-military personnel with promises of lucrative salaries and promises of citizenship, the Defence Ministry has said, warning its nationals not to be duped.

The messages, sent by Sri Lankan nationals, provide a number to agents, who then arrange the documentation and the flights.

The campaigns have proved appealing as Sri Lanka struggles to emerge from its worst financial crisis in more than seven decades, which has doubled poverty rates from pre-pandemic levels and pushed hundreds of people to migrate.

Earlier this month, Sri Lankan authorities launched investigations into reports of its citizens, mostly with military training, being trafficked to fight in the war in Ukraine, said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya.

“The primary challenge lies in determining the exact number of individuals in Russia. As per unofficial sources, approximately 600-800 Sri Lankan individuals are in Russia,” he told reporters.

Ukraine says it has checked Russia's offensive in a key town, but Moscow says it will keep pushing

Ukrainian units locked in street battles with the Kremlin’s forces in a key northeastern Ukraine town have halted the Russian advance, military officials in Kyiv claimed Thursday, though a senior Moscow official said the frontline push had enough resources to keep going.

Russian attempts to establish a foothold in the town of Vovchansk, which is among the largest towns in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region with a prewar population of 17,000, “have been foiled,” Ukraine’s general staff said in a midday report.

Russian forces ‘executing’ fleeing civilians in Vovchansk, says Ukrainian minister

Russian forces have “executed” civilians desperately trying to flee the battered Ukrainian town of Vovchansk, Ukraine’s Interior Minister has claimed.

Ihor Klymenko, writing on the Telegram messenger service, said Russian soldiers were killing civilians who were trying to flee Vovchansk on foot after the soldiers entered the north and northwest suburbs of the town. He added that they were “kidnapping” civilians that remained in the town and “herding [them] into basements”.

“As of now, according to operational information, the Russian military, who were trying to gain a foothold in the city, did not allow local residents to evacuate: people began to be kidnapped and herded into basements,” he wrote.

“It is known about the first executions of civilians by the Russian military. In particular, one of the inhabitants of Vovchansk tried to escape on foot, refused to obey the commands of the invaders - the Russians killed him.”

Denmark to send military aid worth $815 million to Ukraine

Denmark will send a new military aid package to Ukraine, including primarily air defense and artillery, worth around 5.6 billion Danish crowns (£644 million), the Danish Defence Minister wrote on social media platform X on Thursday.

China and Russia reaffirm their ‘no-limits’ partnership

Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked Chinese leader Xi Jinping for China’s proposals on ending the war in Ukraine, which have been rejected by Ukraine and its western supporters as largely following the Kremlin’s line.

At their summit, Mr Putin and Mr Xi reaffirmed a “no-limits” partnership that has grown deeper as both countries face deepening tensions with the West, and criticised US military alliances in Asia and the Pacific region.

China claims to take a neutral position in the conflict, but it has backed Moscow’s contentions that Russia was provoked into attacking Ukraine by the West, and continues to supply Russia with key components that Moscow needs for its productions of weapons.

A joint statement after Mr Putin and Mr Xi met said that both sides believe that for “a sustainable settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, it is necessary to eliminate its root causes”.

Zelensky visits Kharkiv as battleground situation deteriorates

President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the northeastern city of Kharkiv on Thursday to boost morale and reinforce Ukraine’s troops in the region where Russian forces are trying to press their new offensive beyond the border areas.

Moscow has made inroads of at least several kilometres into the north of Kharkiv region since Friday, forcing Kyiv’s outmanned troops to try to hold the line on a new front as Russia mounts more pressure on the front in the east.

“The direction remains extremely difficult - we are strengthening our units,” Zelensky said after holding a meeting in the city with his top commander and senior military leaders.

The Ukrainian leader, who has cancelled all his upcoming foreign trips as the battlefield situation deteriorates, met wounded soldiers recovering at a medical facility and posed for photographs with troops at another location.

International Monetary Fund to assess Ukraine’s war-torn economy

The International Monetary Fund will start a new Ukraine mission in coming weeks to assess the war-torn country’s economy and performance under a $15.6 billion loan program, IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack said on Thursday.

Kozack told a regular press briefing that the mission on the next loan program review will assess the latest economic developments in Ukraine and revise its macroeconomic framework and analysis of the country’s debt sustainability.

Russia expels British embassy official in tit-for-tat response

Russia has expelled the defence attache at the British Embassy in Moscow in a tit-for-tat response to the expulsion of one of its own diplomats from London last week.

The Russian foreign ministry said an embassy official had been summoned on Thursday and told Captain Adrian Coghill must leave the country within seven days.

The move follows the expulsion of Russian defence attache Colonel Maxim Elovik on May 8, whom the Home Secretary said was an “undeclared military intelligence officer”.

In a statement on its Telegram channel, the Russian foreign ministry said the expulsion of Col Elovik had been politically motivated and caused significant damage to relations between the two countries.

US announces new sanctions over North Korea-Russia arms transfers

The United States announced sanctions on Thursday on two Russian individuals and three Russian companies for facilitating arms transfers between Russia and North Korea, including ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine.

It is the latest round of sanctions imposed by the Treasury and State departments to disrupt and expose arms transfers between the two countries, a Treasury Department statement said.

“Today’s action reflects our commitment to disrupt the DPRK’s (Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea) deepening military cooperation with Russia,” Brian Nelson, the under secretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in the statement.

“The United States will continue to take action to hold accountable those who seek to facilitate the shipment of weapons and other materiel to enable Russia’s war,” Nelson added.

It’s horrifying what’s happened to Ukrainians with disabilities during Russia’s war – we cannot abandon them

Used as human shields, starved or deprived of medicines , tortured, abducted, disappeared. These are the potential crimes that have been committed against people with disabilities since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine , according to a new 18-month investigation by The Independent .

That doesn’t even cover what those close to the frontline face with no way of getting to shelter or accessing food and water, under some of the most ferocious bombardments of our time.

As Maksym – a Ukrainian man with a disability who was disappeared into Russia early on in the war – told me, those with disabilities are the last to be remembered and the first to be left behind.

Read the full article here:

We cannot abandon Ukrainians with disabilities suffering during war

Zelensky seeks to boost troop morale with visit to Kharkiv as soldiers battle Putin’s advancing forces

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky sought to boost the morale his troops with a visit to the northeastern city of Kharkiv – with Russian forces making advances across the region .

Kyiv has rushed military units from other parts of the 600-mile front lines to shore up its forces in the area where the Russians launched their attack a week ago, exploiting weak fortifications and undergunned Ukrainian forces to make rapid advances which have sent thousands of refugees fleeing from their homes.

Vladimir Putin ‘s forces have made inroads of at least several kilometres into the north of Kharkiv region since Friday, with the city of Kharkiv itself only about 30 miles from the border with Russia .

Zelenky seeks to boost troop morale with Kharkiv visit as battle rages

People with disabilities face some of the most brutal conditions during war. We need urgent change

The devastating images from the war in Ukraine are a stark illustration of the consequences of conflict for ordinary people . The threat of injury or death from shelling, drones or missiles hangs over everything – but there is also facing day-to-day shortages of food and water , the destruction of schools and hospitals and potential criminal or sexual violence .

But it is also a fact that these harmful effects are not uniformly felt. Instead, studies show that minority groups are more significantly impacted by the destructive effects because war amplifies inequalities and vulnerabilities that already exist in society.

Read the full analysis from William Pons here:

People with disabilities face some of the most brutal conditions during war

Russia ramps up strike drone use on Kharkiv front, Ukrainian artillery crew says

Ukrainian artillery on the Kharkiv frontline are facing a bigger threat than ever from Russia’s fleet of Lancet kamikaze drones, according to a howitzer crew fighting there.

One comes, then a second one comes, 10 minutes later a third one comes,” said call sign Artist, the fresh-faced 21-year-old commander of an artillery battery of the 42nd Brigade which has been firing non-stop to repel Russia’s new offensive in the region over the past week.

The soldiers requested that they only be referred to by their military call signs to protect their identities.

The drone, with X-shaped wings and carrying several kilograms of explosive, was already one of the biggest threats to Ukrainian artillery and armour for over a year.

The presence in Kyiv of the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, at what is becoming a critical juncture in Ukraine’s war of survival against Russia , is, of course, extremely welcome.

Were they being undiplomatically honest, however, the Ukrainians would admit that they would far rather have received a bumper consignment of Patriot missile defence systems, F-16 fighters and Abrams armoured vehicles than the distinguished statesman.

That way, they might have a better chance of preventing the Russians from destroying their second city, Kharkiv . Such a denouement is unlikely – but the possibility of it cannot be dismissed.

Putin and Xi Jinping claim their ‘unprecedented partnership’ is a stabilising influence at Beijing talks

Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing on Thursday aimed at presenting a united front amid the pomp and spectacle of a state visit that was being closely watched around the world.

There was not a great deal of substance to the statements issued publicly by the two leaders after their meeting, which included a state dinner on Thursday night as well as talks ranging across a broad range of subjects from the war in Ukraine to their shared trade interests.

But nor was there any sign that recent US sanctions against Chinese companies exporting to Russia had dampened Mr Xi’s enthusiasm for relations with the man he welcomed as his “old friend”.

Putin and Xi Jinping laud world stabilising influence at Beijing talks

It’s horrifying what’s happened to Ukrainians with disabilities during Russia’s war

Read the full article from Bel Trew here:

Ukrainian soldiers fighting street battles have finally halted Russian forces near Kharkiv, foiling their advance to capture the key northeastern town of Vovchansk, military officials said.

Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed in a midday report yesterday that the Russian attempts to grab a foothold in Vovchansk “have been foiled”.

The town, among the largest in the Kharkiv region, had a pre-war population of 17,000.

As of yesterday evening, Ukrainian authorities had evacuated some 8,000 civilians from the town. The Russian army’s usual tactic is to reduce towns and villages to ruins with aerial strikes before its units move in.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, calculated that Russian forces attacking in Kharkiv have advanced no more than 8km (5 miles) from the shared border.

It reckons Moscow’s main aim in Kharkiv is to create a “buffer zone” that will prevent Ukrainian cross-border strikes on Russia’s neighbouring Belgorod region.

Russia incapable of major advance in Ukraine, says Nato military chief

Nato’s top military officer has said he believes that Russia’s armed forces are incapable of any major gains in Ukraine at the moment.

“The Russians don’t have the numbers necessary to do a strategic breakthrough, we don’t believe,” US General Christopher Cavoli, Nato’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told reporters after a meeting of the organisation’s top military brass in Brussels.

“More to the point, they don’t have the skill and the capability to do it; to operate at the scale necessary to exploit any breakthrough to strategic advantage,” he said.

On being asked about whether Russia might be about to launch its anticipated summer offensive early, General Cavoli said “we can never be sure,” but he added that “what we don’t see is large numbers of reserves being generated some place” which would be needed for any such offensive.

Zelensky says Kharkiv’s difficult situation ‘under control’

Volodymyr Zelensky said he met with his top military chiefs fighting the Russian offensive in Kharkiv and that the fierce fighting there is now “generally under control”.

He acknowledged on social media that the situation is “extremely difficult” and said Ukraine was again strengthening its units in Kharkiv. Mr Zelensky also met with wounded soldiers and handed out medals.

“We clearly see how the occupier is trying to distract our forces and make our combat work less concentrated,” he said in his nightly video address.

In Russia, former Russian defence minister and now the head of the presidential Security Council Sergei Shoigu insisted Russian troops are pushing the offensive in many directions and that “it’s going quite well.”

“I hope we will keep advancing. We have certain reserves for the purpose, in personnel, equipment and munitions,” he said in televised remarks.

Russia expels UK defence attache in tit-for-tat diplomatic row

Russia has expelled Britain’s defence attache in a tit-for-tat response to the expulsion of one of its own diplomats from London last week, the country’s foreign ministry has said.

Captain Adrian Coghill, a Royal Naval officer based at the British Embassy in Moscow , was given a week to leave the country on Thursday, according to a post on the Russian foreign ministry’s Telegram channel.

The move follows the expulsion on May 8 of Russia’s defence attache in London, Colonel Maxim Elovik, on the grounds that he was an “undeclared military intelligence officer”.

Mother-son duo killed in drone attack, says Russia

A Ukrainian drone strike killed a mother and her four-year-old son who were travelling in a car in Russia’s southern Belgorod region, the regional governor said early today.

Vyacheslav Gladkov said one of several drones fired at the region hit a car in the village of Oktyabrsky, killing a woman at the site of the attack.

Her young son died of his injuries after being taken to a hospital. The boy’s father and a man driving the car were injured, but survived.

Additionally, the Russia-appointed governor of the port of Sevastopol in Crimea said air defence units intercepted several Ukrainian drones over the city.

Russia claims oil refinery fire contained after drone attack

Russian authorities say they have managed to contain a fire at the Tuapse oil refinery in Krasnodar, which broke out after a Ukrainian drone attack.

They claimed that there were no casualties in the incident, according to preliminary information.

Russian air defence and the Black Sea Fleet destroyed 102 Ukrainian drones and six uncrewed boats last night, Russia’s defence ministry said this morning.

An electrical substation was damaged in Sevastopol as a result of the attack, local governor Mikhail Razvozhaev said on Telegram. “There will be isolated blackouts,” he said.

“In view of the situation, I made a decision to cancel classes in all schools, institutions of secondary vocational education and kindergartens.”

Sevastopol closes schools after Ukrainian drone barrage

All schools have been closed in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol and classes cancelled after the region came under a heavy Ukrainian drone attack overnight.

At least 51 drones were intercepted overnight in Crimea, Russia’s defence ministry claimed.

Local governor Mikhail Razvozhaev took to Telegram and confirmed the shutdown.

“In view of the situation, I made a decision to cancel classes in all schools, institutions of secondary vocational education and kindergartens,” he said, adding that the region will see isolated blackouts.

In a major overnight aerial raid, Ukraine’s military hit an electricity substation in the region, causing rolling blackouts throughout the city housing Russia’s Black Sea naval fleet.

Ukraine does not typically comment on attacks on Russia and Russia-occupied Crimea but it says attacking energy and military infrastructure there aids Kyiv by weakening Russian capabilities.

Kim's sister denies North Korea has supplied weapons to Russia

The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un again denied Friday that her country has exported any weapons to Russia, as she labeled outside speculation on North Korea-Russian arms dealings as “the most absurd paradox.”

The US, South Korea and others have steadfastly accused North Korea of supplying artillery, missiles and other conventional weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine in return for advanced military technologies and economic aid. Both North Korea and Russia have repeatedly dismissed that.

Foreign experts believe North Korea’s recent series of artillery and short-range missile tests were meant to examine or advertise the weapons it was planning to sell to Russia.

As Ukraine claims the fighting in its northeast Kharkiv region has “stabilised” a week after Russia launched its surprise attack, both sides say they have successfully repelled overnight drone attacks.

Ukrainian forces said they shot down all 20 drones fired by Russia. Among the regions attacked was the Kharkiv region.

It damaged five buildings, one of them belonging to the district administration, Kharkiv’s regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov, said on Telegram.

In Russia, authorities said they had managed to contain a fire at an oil refinery in the town of Tuapse that broke out after a Ukrainian drone attack. The coastal town in southwest Russia is hundreds of miles from the nearest Ukrainian soldiers and demonstrated, again, the increasing range of Kyiv’s drone programme.

In Belgorod, just across the border with Ukraine, the region’s mayor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed that a mother and her son were killed by a Ukrainian drone strike. He did not provide evidence.

Further afield, Vladimir Putin began the second day of his two-day trip to China. He arrived in “Little Moscow” this morning, located in Harbin, the capital of China’s north-eastern Heilongjiang province, which shares a border with Russia. He lauded the two countries’ “inseparable” partnership in a speech.

And in the Middle East last night, Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk held a press conference with British boxer Tyson Fury ahead of their Saturday heavyweight boxing clash.

Mr Usky was wearing a traditional Ukrainian embroidered band in honour of Vyshyvanka Day, an annual celebration of Ukrainian unity. He is fighting to unify the heavweight division.

Zelensky says situation in Kharkiv region ‘stabilised' as of Friday

Russian forces have advanced six miles into Ukraine‘s Kharkiv region in one area but the situation has “stabilised” as of Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said, according to by RBC-Ukraine media outlet.

”Today, our defence forces have stabilised the Russians where they are now. The deepest point of their advance is 10 km,” Mr Zelensky told journalists.

Footage appears to show the aftermath of a Ukrainian drone attack on southwest Russia

Footage collated from various Russian Telegram channels appear to show the aftermath of a series of Ukrainian drone strikes on southwest Russia.

Satellite imagery shows destroyed Russian fighter jets

Satellite imagery released this morning has shown that at least Russian fighter jets have been destroyed at an airbase in occupied Crimea.

The Russian defence ministry reported an attack on Tuesday night on the Belbek airbase on the port city of Sevastopol, claiming that US-supplied ATACMS long-range missiles had been used in the assault.

But they claimed that they had “destroyed” all ten missiles fired.

This new satellite imagery appears to cast doubt on that claim.

Zelensky: Not a single week in more than two years has gone by without Russian terror

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that “not a single week” in more than two years of war has gone by without Russia committing “terror against our people”.

In a message on Telegram, which included images of the latest attacks in Ukraine perpetrated by Russian forces, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine “must force Russia to a real, just peace”, referring to recent claims by Vladimir Putin that he was interested in a peace deal - though only one on his terms.

“There has not been a single week in more than two years of this war when Russia refrained from terror against our people,” Mr Zelensky wrote.

“Russia is trying to expand the war, accompanying it invariably with empty words about peace. We must force Russia to a real, just peace by all means. Our defence against assaults and blows is decisive.

“Thank you to everyone who defends Ukraine! Thanks to all the countries that help us!”

Vladimir Putin tours ‘Little Moscow’ as he trumpets deepening ties with China

Vladimir Putin kicked off his second day in China with a visit to Harbin city as the Russian president trumpets deeping economic and strategic ties between the two powerful neighbours.

Harbin in the northeastern Heilongjiang province, which borders Russia’s Far East , has deep social, economic and cultural ties with its neighbouring country. The city was once known as “Little Moscow ” for its substantial Russian population and cultural influence.

It remains a centre of Sino-Russian cooperation.

Vladimir Putin tours ‘Little Moscow’ Harbin as he trumpets deepening ties with China

Russian forces expanded area of active combat by almost 70 km, Ukraine's army chief says

Russian forces have expanded the area of active combat by almost 43 miles (70 km) by launching their offensive in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine's army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Friday

“The enemy expanded the zone of active hostilities by almost 70 kilometers, thus trying to force us to use an additional number of brigades from the reserve,” he wrote on Telegram.

He added that he expected fighting to intensify as Kyiv troops are also preparing to defend in northern region of Sumy.

Zelensky seeks to boost troop morale with Kharkiv visit as battle rages

Photos show Ukrainian soldiers defending against the Russian attack in the northeast Kharkiv region

Some photos have just dropped on the wires showing Ukrainian soldiers fighting against the Russian advance in the northeastern Kharkiv region.

The images are a rare insight into what life is like on the frontlines for Ukrainian soldiers.

Capturing Ukraine's Kharkiv is not part of Russia's current plan, says Putin

President Vladimir Putin has said that capturing the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv is not part of Russia’s current plan and that Russian forces operating nearby are creating a “buffer zone” for Russia’s own security.

Putin, who said that all of the military operations were proceeding according to plan, was speaking at a new conference in China.

More information on the Ukrainian long-range strikes across Russia and occupied Ukraine

We have some more information on the long-range Ukrainian strikes across Russia and occupied Crimea overnight.

A Kyiv intelligence source told Reuters that one of the attacks, on an oil refinery in the coastal Russian village of Tuapse, has caused damage that will require repairs. Another strike on a power station in Sevastopol has also caused power cuts.

Russia expels British defense attaché in a tit-for-tat move

We have some more photos from the Ukrainian battle in Kharkiv

1Below we have some photos showing the Ukrainian battle with advancing Russian forces in the northeast Kharkiv region.

Zelensky signs law allowing some convicts to serve in Ukraine’s army

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a law allowing some categories of convicts to serve in the army, parliament’s database shows.

A separate law enhancing fines for those not abiding by army mobilization rules was signed as well, its entry on the parliament’s website showed.

UK is a de facto participant in Ukraine war, says Russian ambassador

Russia’s ambassador to Britain has said that London is a de facto participant in the Ukraine war because of the weapons it was supplying to Kyiv and said it was also sharing real-time intelligence too.

Andrei Kelin, Russia’s ambassador to Britain, made the comments to Russia’s Rossiya-24 state TV channel.

A small group of demonstrators have gathered in the Ukrainain capital of Kyiv, outside the city hall, to demand protection of LGBTQ people’s rights to mark the International Day against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia.

Putin’s playing a game of thrones with his inner circle. And one man is rising in the shadows

Sergei Borisovich Korolev, the first deputy director of the FSB, is said by European officials to have emerged a winner behind the scene in the Russian president’s recent Kremlin reshuffle . The Independent’s World Affairs Editor Kim Sengupta on the rise of Mr Korolev and why is so dangerous. You can read the piece here .

At least two dead in Russian airstrike in Kharkiv, officials say

At least two people have been killed and a further 13 wounded after Russian forces fired bombs at Kharkiv city, officials in the region have announced.

The governor of the wider Kharkiv region, Oleh Syniehubov, said the Russians strike twice using “anti-aircraft guns”.

Igor Terekhov, mayor of Kharkiv, home to around 1.3 million civilians, announced the explosions just after 1.30pm GMT. Around 10 minutes ago, he updated the death toll of the strike to two.

“Already two dead and 13 wounded,” he said. Four of those injured are in serious condition.

We will bring you more details when we can. At this point, there is no footage or photos of the affected area.

Boxing’s coming home – Tyson Fury ready to put on a show against Oleksandr Usyk

Why did Russian forces advance in the Kharkiv region?

While Putin maintains that his forces are not trying to take Kharkiv city but rather create a “buffer zone” in the region, the question of how his troops were able to occupy more than 50 square miles of territory and advance up to six miles into the region remain unanswered.

In just one week - the surprise attack started in the early hours of last Friday - Russian forces have made noticeable gains, though they may not prove significant.

Below, military analyst Emil Kastehelmi has gone into depth about how the attack was unable to unfold. He helps run the Black Bird Group, which has tracked the war in Ukraine daily for more than two years.

Russian missile damages civilian infrastructure in Ukraine's Odesa region

A Russian missile attack has damaged civilian infrastructure and injured at least five people in Ukraine‘s southern Odesa region, the regional governor said.

Three people were hospitalized, Oleh Kiper added on the Telegram messaging app.

“In the Odessa district, a heavy fire occurred at the site,” he said.

Ukraine‘s air force said Russia had launched at least four missiles, and local chats reported a series of powerful explosions.

Russian troops also attacked the region overnight with drones that Ukraine said it had downed.

Taiwan’s foreign minister says China and Russia are supporting each other's ‘expansionism’

We’re pausing our live coverage of the Ukraine war this evening but keep checking independent.co.uk for the latest updates.

Ukrainian drone attack kills one in Belgorod in southern Russia, governor says

A Ukrainian drone attack killed one person and injured another in southern Russia's Belgorod region, Regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Friday.

Gladkov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said the drone hit the village of Novaya Naumovka, just inside the Russian border, where the two residents were tending a garden.

Russia's Defence Ministry later reported that air defence units had intercepted and destroyed 14 multiple-launch rockets originating in Ukraine.

Reuters could not independently confirm the reports.

Ukraine has launched frequent drone and shelling attacks on Belgorod and other Russian regions on its border.

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