Ukraine claims Google Maps has unblurred previously-censored Russian bases

Images shared on social media appear to show Russian military bases with Ukrainian officials claiming Google Maps have unblurred them, something the tech giant denies

Ukrainian officials have claimed Google Maps has unveiled previously censored Russian military bases – but the tech giant insists they’ve always been visible.

The military shared satellite imagery appearing to show a number of Russian command posts including warships, planes and missile silos. In a Twitter post, the Ukrainian army claimed the images were newly uncensored by Google.

The tech giant often blur areas that are sensitive to national security such as military bases.

Despite the claims, Google Maps were quick to insist the pictures were always available, it has been reported.

A Google spokesperson said: “We haven’t made any blurring changes to our satellite imagery in Russia.”

Russian media later claimed images display “the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, a nuclear weapons store near Murmansk, submarines in the Far East peninsula of Kamchatka, and a military airbase in the Western city of Kursk”.

This comes as Russian forces escalate the war in the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine, reports The Sun.

The fresh attack was heralded by wave of missile strikes, hitting more than 300 targets across the country.

Speaking in his nightly address the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said a “very large part of the entire Russian army” is now focused on the offensive.

“No matter how many Russian troops they send there, we will fight. We will defend ourselves.”

Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, assured Ukrainians their forces could hold off the offensive.

“Believe in our army, it is very strong,” he said.

A Russian state TV presenter has made the shocking claim that the UK is preparing to attack the country with nuclear weapons.

Well-known journalist Vladimir Solovyov alleged that images and reports about invading troops committing genocide in Ukraine are being shown in the UK to prepare the British public.

He claimed the images of tortured and people and destroyed homes and towns were simply to sway public opinion in the UK against Moscow.