Jonathan Ernst | Reuters It has become routine since Russia invaded Ukraine: President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky talk by phone every time the US announces a new military aid package for Kyiv. But a phone call between the two leaders in June had different results than previous ones, according to four people familiar with the call. Biden had just finished telling Zelensky that he had just given the go-ahead for another billion dollars in US military aid to Ukraine when Zelensky started listing all the additional aid he needed and wasn’t getting. Biden lost his temper, people familiar with the call said. The American people were generous enough and their government and the US military were working hard to help Ukraine, he said, raising his voice and Zelensky could show a little more gratitude. A spokesman for the National Security Council declined to comment for the story. A spokesman for Zelenskyy did not respond to a request for comment. Read the full story at NBC News.
Blinken talks to his Chinese counterpart about Russia’s war in Ukraine
Taiwan was the focus of 90-minute, “direct and frank” talks between Foreign Secretary Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Stephanie Reynolds | Afp | Getty Images US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke with his Chinese counterpart about Russia’s war in Ukraine, the State Department confirmed in a statement. Blinken spoke with State Councilor and Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. “The secretary raised Russia’s war against Ukraine and the threats it poses to global security and economic stability,” Price said. Washington has repeatedly warned Beijing, the world’s second-largest economy, against providing financial aid to Moscow to help Russian President Vladimir Putin ease global sanctions. — Amanda Macias
Sanctions and Russian exit increase demand for jet fuel in Central Asia
Russians are seen trying to leave their country to avoid a military call-up for the Russia-Ukraine war as queues form at the Kazbegi border crossing in the Kazbegi municipality of Stepantsminda, Georgia on September 27, 2022. Mirian Meladze | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Central Asian demand for jet fuel is soaring as the region has become a key air traffic hub, taking over from sanctions-hit Moscow and handling an influx of Russians leaving military service. Demand surged after Russia and the West closed their airspace to each other’s aircraft after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine on February 24. It intensified further after President Vladimir Putin declared a “partial mobilization” on September 21 and Russians left the country in huge numbers, with more than 200,000 leaving for Kazakhstan alone. Industry data seen by Reuters showed that supplies of jet fuel from Russia to Central Asia rose in January to September to 385,590 tonnes from 194,444 tonnes in the same period in 2021. Central Asia, along with Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, has become an alternative route for Russians trying to reach Europe in the absence of direct flights from Russia to the EU. Airports in the region have also increased Russian turnover of goods and they enhanced the servicing and refueling of Russian aircraft. — Reuters
21 ships dedicated to Black Sea Grain Initiative await further instructions after Russia’s decision to withdraw from humanitarian food program
Ships, including those carrying grain from Ukraine awaiting inspections, are seen anchored off the coast of Istanbul on October 14, 2022 in Istanbul, Turkey. Chris McGrath | Getty Images The agency that oversees Ukraine’s grain exports said there are 21 ships waiting to leave the besieged country. The Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul, which oversees agricultural exports from Ukraine, said the ships have a capacity of more than 700,000 metric tons. One ship is chartered by the World Food Program and is carrying 30,000 metric tons of wheat bound for the Horn of Africa. Before the war, Ukraine and Russia accounted for nearly a quarter of the world’s grain exports until those shipments were severely disrupted for nearly six months. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, a UN-backed deal brokered in July, eased Russia’s naval blockade and saw the opening of three key Ukrainian ports. The first ship departed the port of Odessa, Ukraine on August 1 carrying more than 26,000 metric tons of corn. Since then, nearly 400 ships carrying a total of 9 million metric tons have left Ukrainian ports. On Saturday, Moscow suspended its participation citing retaliation for Kiev’s “terrorist act” against Russian warships. — Amanda Macias
Norway puts military alert in response to war in Ukraine
Norway will put its military on high alert from Tuesday as it tightens security in response to the war in Ukraine, the Scandinavian country’s prime minister said, Reuters reported. Norway is now the biggest gas exporter in the European Union, accounting for about a quarter of all EU imports after a drop in Russian flows. Houses by the sea in Norway Ryhor Bruyeu | EyeEm | Norway “This is the most serious security situation in many decades,” Prime Minister Jonas Gar Stoer told a news conference. “There are no signs that Russia is expanding its war to other countries, but heightened tensions make us more exposed to threats, intelligence operations and influence campaigns.” The armed forces will spend less time training and more time on operational tasks, and the Home Guard, a rapid mobilization force, will play a more active role, Defense Minister Bjoern Arild Gram said. — Reuters
More than 6,400 people have died in Ukraine, according to the UN
A community worker carries a cross during the funeral of Mykhaylo Matyushenko, a colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who was shot down in the sky over the Black Sea on June 26, 2022, in the Alley of Heroes of the Bucha cemetery, in the Kyiv region on October 3, 2022, in the midst of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Sergey Supinsky | AFP | Getty Images The United Nations has confirmed 6,430 civilian deaths and 9,865 injuries in Ukraine since Russia invaded its former Soviet neighbor on February 24. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said the death toll in Ukraine is likely higher because armed conflict may delay reporting of deaths. The international body said most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling by heavy artillery and multiple launch rocket systems, as well as rockets and airstrikes. — Amanda Macias
Intense fighting in the Kharkiv region, the situation “really tense”
Artillery craters mark the landscape on October 24, 2022 in Sulyhivka, Kharkiv Region, Ukraine. Carl Court | News Getty Images | Getty Images Heavy fighting is taking place in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine with the country’s armed forces battling to liberate 24 settlements and facing active Russian resistance in the process. “Our Armed Forces are actively fighting for the liberation of our territories. We still have an average of 24 settlements under occupation. I say “on average” because the situation is really changing on the front,” Oleg Synehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Command , he said during a nationwide telethon, Ukrinform news agency reported on Monday. Synehubov said that Ukrainian forces are “making every effort to fully liberate the region as soon as possible” but that Russian units are “actively resisting and are not going to leave”. “The situation is really tense there,” he added, with both sides trying to strengthen their positions. “Defense and fortification structures are being built. Let me remind you that we have a 315-kilometer border with the Russian Federation. The Russians are also reinforcing positions from their territory. Indeed, construction is underway in fortified areas, concrete structures,” said Synehubov. —Holly Elliott
12 ships leave Ukrainian ports, despite Russia’s suspension of Black Sea Grain Initiative
A general view shows a road and rail bridge, which has been built to connect the Russian mainland with the Crimean peninsula, at sunrise in the Kerch Strait, Crimea, November 26, 2018. REUTERS | Pavel Rembroff A dozen ships carrying grain have left Ukrainian ports, despite Moscow’s announcement that it will suspend its participation in the United Nations-backed Black Sea Initiative. A record 354,500 tons of grain were transferred to ships leaving Ukrainian ports under the Black Sea grain deal, a spokesman for the Odessa military administration said, according to Reuters. In response to Russia’s decision to stop participating in the deal, the UN, Turkey and Ukraine reached an agreement on Sunday to unblock 16 grain ships in Turkish waters. This deal resolves Russian-imposed inspection delays and helps avert fears of a global food crisis. The UN and Turkish delegations provided 10 inspection teams to inspect 40 ships, Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ukraine’s infrastructure minister, said in a tweet. The Russian delegation is aware of the new inspection plan, he added. – Rocio Fabbro
Russian reserves will likely use “barely usable” weapons.
Russian reservists deployed to fight in Ukraine are likely to be using weapons that are in a “barely usable condition”, according to the UK Ministry of Defence. Russia has deployed several thousand newly mobilized reservists to the front lines in Ukraine since mid-October, the ministry noted, and “in many cases they are poorly equipped.” “In September, Russian officers were concerned that…
title: “Latest News From Russia And The War In Ukraine " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-26” author: “Alan Baillargeon”
Fathi Al-masri | AFP | Getty Images Martin Griffiths, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, rejected Russian claims that the Black Sea Grain Initiative was being used by the West to give Ukraine a “military operational advantage”. “We are wasting time, the shipping industry is wasting money and we are delaying the delivery of food when millions are hungry and unable to pay their bills,” Griffiths told the UN Security Council. “We are encouraged by Russia’s assurance that it is not withdrawing from the initiative and is merely temporarily suspending activities in the application,” he added. Griffiths urged all parties to the Black Sea Grains Initiative to resolve outstanding issues in order to resume Ukrainian agricultural exports. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, a UN-backed deal brokered in July, eased Russia’s naval blockade and saw the opening of three key Ukrainian ports. The first ship departed the port of Odessa, Ukraine on August 1 carrying more than 26,000 metric tons of corn. Since then, nearly 400 ships carrying a total of 9 million metric tons have left Ukrainian ports. On Saturday, Moscow suspended its participation in the deal, which was due to expire next month, citing retaliation for Kiev’s “terrorist act” against Russian warships. — Amanda Macias
Power and water have been restored in Kyiv after rocket attacks, but emergency restrictions remain
Vehicles drive along a street with the Hagia Sophia silhouetted in the background, as the city plunges into near-darkness after a military strike partially destroyed electricity infrastructure, in Kyiv on October 31, 2022. Sergey Supinsky | AFP | Getty Images Kyiv’s electricity provider DTEK, Kyivski Elektromerezhi, said power has now been restored in Kyiv following Russia’s missile attacks this morning. “We have restored power to consumers and water facilities that were left without power due to the Russian terrorist attack on the city’s critical infrastructure facilities on the morning of October 31,” said a post from DTEK’s official Facebook page. However, following the instructions of the electricity transmission system operator Ukrenergo, emergency power restrictions will be in place in Kyiv, leaving some without electricity “according to the needs of the electricity system”, DTEK said. Power will be fully restored once the system is stabilized and with Ukrenergo’s instructions, according to the provider. This morning’s rocket attacks hit 18 facilities, the majority of which were energy-related, leaving 80% of Kyiv residents without water or electricity. – Rocio Fabbro
Ukraine says it shot down nearly all of Russia’s early morning missile strikes
Smoke rises from a factory fire following an airstrike by Russian forces that hit Ukraine’s Kramatorsk in Donetsk Region as the Russia-Ukraine war continues on October 27, 2022. Methane Acta | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Ukraine’s Air Force said it shot down about 44 of the roughly 50 recorded Russian missiles that rained down on Ukrainian cities this morning. Last week, Ukrainian military spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said the country’s air force had shot down more than 300 Iranian Shahed-136 “kamikaze” drones since Russia introduced the new weapons into the battlefield. Ihnat has previously hailed Western air defense systems for countering Russian missiles. In recent weeks, Moscow has carried out several devastating missile and drone attacks against what Kyiv said were civilian targets and vital infrastructure such as energy facilities. The representatives of Iran and Russia at the United Nations strongly denied reports that Tehran supplied Moscow with a fleet of drones for use in Ukraine. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied using Iranian-made drones to target residential and other areas with high civilian populations. — Amanda Macias
The US embassy in Kyiv is sheltered after a barrage of Russian missiles
The US embassy in Kyiv said it had taken shelter after a barrage of Russian missiles hit major Ukrainian cities. “Like millions of Ukrainians, the US embassy team in Kyiv is once again sheltering in place as Russia continues its cruel and barbaric missile attacks against the people of Ukraine in an attempt to leave the country cold and dark as we approach winter,” said US Ambassador Bridget. Brink wrote in a tweet. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal said Russia’s shelling of various parts of Ukraine appeared to target civilian energy infrastructure. “Missiles and drones hit 10 areas, where 18 facilities were damaged, most of them energy-related,” he wrote on Telegram. He added that 80% of Kyiv was without power. — Amanda Macias
Biden lost his temper with Zelensky in the June phone call
U.S. President Joe Biden holds a teleconference event with battery-electric industry grant winners related to recent infrastructure initiatives from the White House in Washington, D.C., Oct. 19, 2022. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters It has become routine since Russia invaded Ukraine: President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky talk by phone every time the US announces a new military aid package for Kyiv. But a phone call between the two leaders in June had different results than previous ones, according to four people familiar with the call. Biden had just finished telling Zelensky that he had just given the go-ahead for another billion dollars in US military aid to Ukraine when Zelensky started listing all the additional aid he needed and wasn’t getting. Biden lost his temper, people familiar with the call said. The American people were generous enough and their government and the US military were working hard to help Ukraine, he said, raising his voice and Zelensky could show a little more gratitude. A spokesman for the National Security Council declined to comment for the story. A spokesman for Zelenskyy did not respond to a request for comment. Read the full story at NBC News.
Blinken talks to his Chinese counterpart about Russia’s war in Ukraine
Taiwan was the focus of 90-minute, “direct and frank” talks between Foreign Secretary Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Stephanie Reynolds | Afp | Getty Images US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke with his Chinese counterpart about Russia’s war in Ukraine, the State Department confirmed in a statement. Blinken spoke with State Councilor and Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. “The secretary raised Russia’s war against Ukraine and the threats it poses to global security and economic stability,” Price said. Washington has repeatedly warned Beijing, the world’s second-largest economy, against providing financial aid to Moscow to help Russian President Vladimir Putin ease global sanctions. — Amanda Macias
Sanctions and Russian exit increase demand for jet fuel in Central Asia
Russians are seen trying to leave their country to avoid a military call-up for the Russia-Ukraine war as queues form at the Kazbegi border crossing in the Kazbegi municipality of Stepantsminda, Georgia on September 27, 2022. Mirian Meladze | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Central Asian demand for jet fuel is soaring as the region has become a key air traffic hub, taking over from sanctions-hit Moscow and handling an influx of Russians leaving military service. Demand surged after Russia and the West closed their airspace to each other’s aircraft after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine on February 24. It intensified further after President Vladimir Putin declared a “partial mobilization” on September 21 and Russians left the country in huge numbers, with more than 200,000 leaving for Kazakhstan alone. Industry data seen by Reuters showed that supplies of jet fuel from Russia to Central Asia rose in January to September to 385,590 tonnes from 194,444 tonnes in the same period in 2021. Central Asia, along with Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, has become an alternative route for Russians trying to reach Europe in the absence of direct flights from Russia to the EU. Airports in the region have also increased Russian turnover of goods and they enhanced the servicing and refueling of Russian aircraft. — Reuters
21 ships dedicated to Black Sea Grain Initiative await further instructions after Russia’s decision to withdraw from humanitarian food program
Ships, including those carrying grain from Ukraine awaiting inspections, are seen anchored off the coast of Istanbul on October 14, 2022 in Istanbul, Turkey. Chris McGrath | Getty Images The agency that oversees Ukraine’s grain exports said there are 21 ships waiting to leave the besieged country. The Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul, which oversees agricultural exports from Ukraine, said the ships have a capacity of more than 700,000 metric tons. One ship is chartered by the World Food Program and is carrying 30,000 metric tons of wheat bound for the Horn of Africa. Before the war, Ukraine and Russia accounted for nearly a quarter of the world’s grain exports until those shipments were severely disrupted for nearly six months. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, a UN-backed deal brokered in July, eased Russia’s naval blockade and saw the opening of three key Ukrainian ports. The first ship left the port of Odessa, Ukraine on August 1st carrying…
title: “Latest News From Russia And The War In Ukraine " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-18” author: “Lorna Schardein”
The Washington Post | The Washington Post | Getty Images Ukraine’s National Police announced it has uncovered 34 locations where it believes Russian forces have illegally detained and tortured people. “Thirty-four locations where the Russians illegally detained and tortured civilians were found in the recaptured regions: Kharkiv region – 24, Kherson region – 3, Kiev region – 3, Sumy region – 2, Donetsk, Chernihiv regions – 1 each, The press service of National Police posted on Telegram, according to a translation by the Ukrinform news agency. A man claiming to be a former detainee tortured with electric shocks by the Russian military inspects the debris inside a damaged Russian command center on September 29, 2022 in Izium, Ukraine. On September 9, Ukrainian armed forces struck the center known as a prison and torture chamber. Paula Bronstein | News Getty Images | Getty Images Ukrainian police and international investigators continue to uncover and document evidence of many alleged war crimes by Russian occupation forces, including widespread incidents of rape and torture and mass killings that Ukraine says are war crimes. Russia says it is targeting civilians despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary with daily shelling of residential buildings and civilian infrastructure. Medical examiners collect evidence at the Regional Police Station allegedly used by Russian occupiers for torture, in Balakliia, Kharkiv Region, northeastern Ukraine. Future Publishing | Future Publishing | Getty Images As of Oct. 31, Ukrainian police have opened 40,742 criminal proceedings for alleged crimes committed by Russian servicemen “and their accomplices” in Ukraine, Ukrinform reported. — Holly Elliott
Russia moves large ballistic missile to Belarus to send West ‘a message’, UK says
Russia may have transferred large ballistic missiles to Belarus as a “message to the West”, the UK Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday. In an intelligence update on Twitter, the ministry said Russia is likely to have deployed AS-24 Killjoy missiles (air-launched ballistic missiles) to Belarus “mainly to send a message to the West and portray Belarus as increasingly complicit in war”. Belarus is a strong ally of Russia, although it is widely seen as a vassal of Moscow. Although not directly involved in the Ukraine conflict, it has aided Russia during the war and missiles have been fired into Ukraine from Belarus. Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during their meeting in Sochi on February 22, 2021. ALEXEI DRUZININ | AFP | Getty Images The ministry said Moscow has a “very limited stockpile” of AS-24 Killjoy missiles and “continues to expend its advanced long-range munitions against targets of limited operational importance.” However, basing such weapons in Belarus would give Russia “a little added advantage in terms of attacking additional targets inside Ukraine.” The UK said evidence that Russia was deploying such missiles in Belarus emerged after images showed two MiG-31K Foxhound interceptors “almost certainly parked at Belarus’ Machulishchi airfield on October 17, with a large canister stored near a protective Earth. “It is possible that the canister is related to the AS-24 Killjoy ballistic missile, a large munition that the MiG-31K variant is adapted to carry.” He noted that Russia had not previously deployed these weapons in Belarus, and while it has occasionally fired these weapons during the war in Ukraine, “stockpiles are likely very limited.” “It continues to expend its advanced long-range munitions against targets of limited operational importance,” he noted, and with a range of more than 2,000 kilometers, the Killjoy missile base in Belarus “gives Russia little additional advantage in terms of attacking additional targets inside Ukraine. “ — Holly Elliott
Ukraine sees more bombing overnight after wave of rocket attacks
Ukraine reported more shelling in several areas overnight, as well as heavy fighting along the front line in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, a day after it witnessed a wave of attacks in several areas. Shelling has been reported in the Dnipropetrovsk region in southeastern Ukraine, and there were reports of shelling in the southern port city of Mykolaiv overnight, demolishing half an apartment building and killing one resident, Reuters reported. A Ukrainian missile is fired from a vehicle of the 53rd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donetsk Region on October 28, 2022. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Meanwhile, Ukraine’s armed forces said in an early morning briefing that fighting remained intense on the front line in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. He said on Facebook that the Russian army is “concentrating its efforts on limiting the defense forces of Ukraine in certain directions and is not stopping offensive operations in the directions of Bakhmut and Avdiivka” in Donetsk. “The enemy continues to shell units of the defense forces along the contact line, fortify the lines in separate directions and carry out aerial reconnaissance. They are hitting critical infrastructure and civilian homes, in violation of international humanitarian law, laws and customs of war,” said the Tuesday of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Kovalev. People use touch on their phones to view a weapons exhibition in near-darkness on October 31, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine, after rocket attacks disrupted power and water supplies. Ed Ram | News Getty Images | Getty Images A wave of missile attacks targeted Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure on Monday, with the major cities of Kyiv and Kharkiv among those targeted. Hundreds of thousands of people were left without electricity and water for hours, although Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said water supplies had been restored on Tuesday morning. — Holly Elliott
Zelensky confirmed Ukraine’s support for the Black Sea Wheat Initiative in a call with the UN Secretary General
“The morning is difficult. We are dealing with terrorists. Dozens of missiles, Iranian Shahid,” Zelensky wrote on his official Telegram account, referring to the Iranian-made Shahid drones increasingly used by Russian forces. Ukrinform | Future Publishing | Getty Images Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about Russia’s decision to suspend its role in the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Zelensky said he confirmed Ukraine’s support for the deal, which reopened three Ukrainian ports for agricultural exports, during his conversation with Guterres. “We are ready to remain guarantors of global food security,” Zelensky wrote on Twitter. The Ukrainian leader also said he had informed Guterres of Russia’s missile attacks and called for a “tough” UN response. — Amanda Macias
UN warns of rising food prices as Black Sea Grains Initiative stalls
Farmers are seen harvesting wheat in Druzhkivka, Ukraine on August 7, 2022. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images The Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development said the FAO Food Price Index has been in decline for six consecutive months, partly due to the Black Sea Grains Initiative. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, a UN-backed deal brokered in July, eased Russia’s naval blockade and saw the opening of three key Ukrainian ports. Since August, nearly 400 ships carrying a total of 9 million metric tons have left Ukrainian ports for international destinations. “The Food and Agriculture Organization’s food price index has fallen for six consecutive months by about 16%. According to World Bank models, this decline may have prevented more than 100,000,000 people from falling into poverty,” said Rebecca Greenspan before the Security of the United Nations. Council. Greenspan added that uncertainty over the continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative is now causing food prices to rise again. “Just today, wheat futures rose by over 6%,” he said, calling on all parties to make “every effort to continue and expand the Black Sea Wheat Initiative.” — Amanda Macias
Turkey calls for ‘common sense’ on Black Sea Grains Initiative at UNSC meeting
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a joint press conference with Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita in Chisinau, Moldova, May 9, 2022. Vladislav Culiomza Reuters Turkey’s UN representative called for “common sense” at a UN Security Council meeting on the suspension of Russia’s participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative. “Today we call for common sense, common sense in recognizing the need for restraint, common sense in supporting our responsibility to protect the world’s most vulnerable populations who have turned to the United Nations,” said spokesman Feridun Sinirlioğlu. He argued that the deal should be “decoupled from developments on the ground” as it was done in good faith and should continue that way. He also praised the achievements of the Initiative, which has moved more than 9.5 million metric tons of grain and food and reduced global food prices since it was agreed in July. “The Black Sea Grains Initiative marked a turning point in how we put the needs of the furthest behind, even in times of war,” Sinirlioğlu said. “Turkey hopes that reason will prevail and the Black Sea Wheat Initiative will remain intact and in place,” he said. Turkey has been in contact with both Ukraine and Russia to ensure the continuation of the agreement, according to Sinirlioğlu. Russia suspended the…
title: “Latest News From Russia And The War In Ukraine " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-10” author: “Andrew Rosa”
Andrei Rudakov | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Russia’s economy shrank by 5% year-on-year in September, according to the economy ministry, a sharper contraction than the 4% recorded a month earlier. Western sanctions and the fallout from Russia sending tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine in February have pushed the country into recession, but Moscow says the West has failed to destroy the Russian economy. Earlier this year, economists forecast a double-digit recession for 2022. The economy ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that the country was on track to contract 2.9% this year and that September’s slowdown was due to a high base effect compared to the same month last year. — Reuters
Ukraine’s foreign ministry is calling for increased sanctions against Russian state media
The English-language Russian news site RT “is intended for a Western audience, and so what is shown on RT is not what is said in Russia,” said Jeremiah Fowler of Security Discovery. Lionel Bonaventure | AFP | Getty Images Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry called for new and expanded sanctions against Russian state media over its disinformation campaign and to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. “We call on the international community to introduce and expand sanctions against Russian state media that spread false information, including to justify Russia’s armed attack against Ukraine,” the ministry said in a statement. “The invasion of Russian troops became a new record of violent repression against representatives of the regional media: hundreds of media outlets in the temporarily occupied territories were forced to stop their work due to threats and the impossibility of conducting journalistic activities under conditions of temporary occupation,” the ministry said. According to data from the Institute of Mass Information, Russia has committed 457 crimes against journalists and media outlets in Ukraine in the eight months since the large-scale incursion began. “We also express our gratitude to thousands of Ukrainian and international journalists who, often risking their lives, tell the world the truth about the war in Ukraine,” the ministry said. – Rocio Fabbro
Putin confirms restart of Black Sea Wheat Initiative, but says Russia may withdraw again
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a press conference following the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) leaders’ summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, October 14, 2022. Ramil Sitdikov Sputnik via Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin said that despite Russia’s return to the Black Sea Initiative, he “reserves the right to withdraw” from the agreement if Ukrainian guarantees are not met. Russia suspended its participation in the grain deal over the weekend after it claimed a Ukrainian drone attacked its Black Sea fleet in Crimea. Ukraine did not claim responsibility for the attack, which some Ukrainian officials blamed on Russian soldiers mishandling their own weapons. “We asked for assurances and guarantees from the Ukrainian side that nothing like this will happen in the future,” Putin said at a meeting with the permanent members of the Russian Security Council. “I have instructed the Ministry of Defense to reiterate our full participation in this project,” he added. “At the same time, Russia reserves the right to withdraw from these agreements if these guarantees are violated by Ukraine.” Early in the war, Russia relied on its Black Sea fleet to launch missiles deep into Ukraine, but the fleet was put back on the defensive after a series of embarrassing attacks in the spring by Ukrainian forces. Before last weekend’s drone attack, analysts noted that Russia already appeared to be laying the rhetorical groundwork for pulling out of the deal, before reversing course this week. The grain is critical to feeding populations in some of the world’s poorest countries, and a return to a full blockade could have caused famine for millions in Asia and the Middle East. Putin also pledged to deliver “for free” the “entire volume” of grain delivered by Ukraine to poorer countries if Russia pulls out of the deal in the future. – Rocio Fabbro
The Kremlin insists Russia will honor international commitments to responsible nuclear powers
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs the meeting of the supervisory board of the presidential forum “Russia – Land of Opportunities” at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on April 20, 2022. Mikhail Tereshchenko Sputnik | via Reuters The Kremlin’s Foreign Ministry released a new statement pushing back on a New York Times report that Russian generals discussed how Moscow could use a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine. “Russia is strictly and consistently guided by the doctrine that a nuclear war cannot be won and should never be fought,” said the statement, which was published in English on the ministry’s website. The Times, citing unnamed U.S. intelligence officials, said word of the troubling conversations leaked to the intelligence community in mid-October. The Kremlin said it remains fully committed to the 5-nation pledge released in January this year, which said in part that “none of our nuclear weapons are aimed at each other or any other state”. Asked about the new statement, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, “we’re monitoring it as best we can.” Growing concerns about the potential development of a Russian nuclear weapon are due in part to provocative statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as perceived frustration in Moscow over Russia’s inability to make progress on the battlefield in Ukraine. — Christina Wilkie
North Korea Prepares to Supply Russia with Weapons to Wage War in Ukraine, White House Says
White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby addresses the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, July 27, 2022. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US has indications that North Korea has agreed to supply Russian President Vladimir Putin with weapons for his war in Ukraine. “We don’t think this is going to change the course of the war,” Kirby told reporters by telephone, adding that the US was nevertheless “concerned” about these additional arms shipments. “It’s certainly not going to change our calculus,” Kirby said, adding that the US and its allies will continue to supply Kyiv with additional security packages. Kirby declined to elaborate on any possible diplomatic or economic responses Washington might pursue if North Korea supplies Russia with weapons. On Tuesday, Kirby said the US also had indications that Iran was preparing to send Russia more drones as well as surface-to-surface missiles. Moscow has carried out dozens of devastating missile and drone strikes against civilian targets and vital infrastructure, relying heavily on Iranian drones. Iran and Russia have strongly denied reports that Tehran supplied Moscow with a fleet of drones for use in Ukraine, and the Kremlin has repeatedly denied using Iranian drones to target residential and other civilian areas. — Amanda Macias
UN welcomes Russia’s re-engagement in Black Sea Grains Initiative
A photo taken on October 31, 2022 shows a cargo ship loaded with grain being inspected at the anchorage area of the southern entrance of the Bosphorus in Istanbul. Ozan Kose | AFP | Getty Images UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed Russia’s announcement of resuming its participation in the implementation of the Black Sea Grains Initiative. Guterres “is grateful for Turkey’s diplomatic efforts and thanks UN Coordinator Amir Abdullah and his team for their work to keep this vital food supply line open,” the UN Secretary-General’s spokesman wrote Stefan Duzaric. Dujarric added that the Secretary-General “continues his commitment with all actors to renew and fully implement” the agreement. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, an agreement brokered in July between Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations, eased Russia’s naval blockade and helped reopen three key Ukrainian ports. The first ship departed the port of Odessa, Ukraine on August 1 carrying more than 26,000 metric tons of corn. Since then, more than 400 ships carrying food have left Ukrainian ports. On Saturday, Moscow suspended its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative in retaliation for Kiev’s “terrorist act” against Russian warships. — Amanda Macias
A new film about the occupation of Mariupol by Russia premieres in New York
Screening of the documentary film “Mariupol, unlost hope” in New York, New York on November 1, 2022. Amanda Macias | CNBC A documentary focusing on Russia’s brutal attack on the seaside city of Mariupol has made its US debut in New York. The film, titled “Mariupol, Unlost Hope,” tells the stories of five Ukrainian residents of Mariupol who witnessed Russia’s brutal takeover of the industrial port city. “Three women and two men, who lived in Mariupol during the first month of the invasion, tell what they have seen and felt, how they made decisions in the middle of a war,” wrote the producers of the film. Mariupol, which is still under Russian occupation, has since been labeled a “city of graves” due to heavy fighting and indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure. Proceeds from the event will be used to organize further screenings of documentaries on the situation in Ukraine. — Amanda Macias
‘World’s biggest human displacement crisis’, says UN on Ukrainian refugees displaced by war
A taxi driver takes in his arms a child from Ukraine, a refugee from…
title: “Latest News From Russia And The War In Ukraine " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-03” author: “Cindy Abernethy”
Ambassador Deborah Bronnert arrived at the Foreign Office shortly after 10:30 local time (0730 GMT) as a small crowd chanted anti-British slogans and held placards reading “Britain is a terrorist state”. Bronnert was inside the ministry for about 30 minutes, a Reuters reporter at the scene said. There was no immediate statement from either Russia or Britain on the details of what was discussed. Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) and British Ambassador to Russia Deborah Jane Bronnert (L) at the Kremlin in Moscow on February 5, 2020. Alexey Nikolsky | Afp | Getty Images Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday that the ambassador would be summoned over Saturday’s drone attack in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Britain says the allegations are false. After the drone attack, Russia temporarily suspended participation in a UN-brokered Black Sea deal. Russia views Britain as a particularly insidious Western power, which President Vladimir Putin says is plotting to destroy Russia and destroy its vast natural resources. After Russia invaded Ukraine, Britain, along with the United States and the European Union, imposed some of the toughest sanctions in history and provided weapons to help Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry said the British navy blew up the Nord Stream gas pipelines, a claim London said was false and meant to distract from Russian military failures in Ukraine. — Reuters
Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station operating on diesel generators, again
This photo taken on September 11, 2022, shows a security person standing in front of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia, amid the war in Ukraine. Stringer | Afp | Getty Images The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine is back on with diesel generators after it was disconnected from the Ukrainian grid following Russian bombing, Ukraine’s nuclear power company said on Thursday. In a Telegram post, Energoatom said shelling by Russian forces on Wednesday had destroyed the last two high-voltage lines connecting the plant to the Ukrainian grid and that Russia wanted to connect the plant to the Russian grid. “At 23:04 [Wednesday], the power station went into full blackout mode. All 20 diesel generators have started operating,” Energoatom said. Although the plant’s six reactors are shut down, electricity is still needed for cooling and safety functions. Energoatom said it had 15 days of fuel to run the diesel generators while the plant is in blackout mode. “The countdown has begun. Due to the occupation of the factory and the intervention of Rosatom [Russia’s state nuclear energy company] representatives in its operation, the Ukrainian side’s opportunities to keep the ZNPP in safe operation are significantly limited,” he said. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was seized by Russian forces earlier this year and has been a pawn in the war, with both sides accusing each other of bombing and endangering the plant, which is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. International experts in the field of atomic energy have warned that the possibility of disaster is high, given the active hostilities around and near the plant. — Holly Elliott
Ukraine’s first lady urges the West to provide more weapons ahead of winter
First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska during the opening night of Web Summit 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal on November 1, 2022. Rita Franka | Nurphoto | Getty Images Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska on Wednesday called on Western leaders to provide more military support as the country continues to defend itself against Russian aggression. Zelenska urged the international community not to be war-weary, saying allied countries must fight the aggressor together. “I understand that these are outside the duties of first ladies, but we are already outside normal protocols because of the war,” Zelenska told CNBC’s Karen Cho, according to a translation. “Ukraine needs more weapons, more military aid,” he said, calling specifically for air defense missiles. — Karen Gilchrist
Russia’s economic decline deepens in September
Wholesale food market in Moscow. Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Russia’s monthly economic slump continued in September with gross domestic product falling 5 percent year-on-year, according to the latest data from Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development, according to state-run Interfax news agency. The decline in economic output in September followed a 4% year-on-year drop in August and a 4.3% decline in July. According to the ministry, the decline in Russia’s GDP in the third quarter of 2022 amounted to 4.4% year-on-year, after a 4.1% decline in the second quarter and a 3.5% growth in the first quarter. Russia has been laboring under the weight of international sanctions on key sectors, businesses and individuals for months after its invasion of Ukraine, although it was subject to other economic sanctions before the war for other reasons, such as alleged US election meddling, cyber attacks and its attachment. of Crimea in 2014. Russian consumers face a significant cost of living as inflation remains high, at 12.9% in October, although it is gradually easing (inflation was 14.3% in August) after the central bank raised interest rates to deal with price increases. Russia has insisted that its economy is able to weather the challenges posed by sanctions and, as a major exporter of oil and natural gas, has managed to maintain revenue streams from exports of these commodities to economic partners in Asia, particularly India and the China. However, Western agencies such as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the IMF and the World Bank expect Russia’s economic decline to be significant this year. Between them, they have predicted that Russia’s GDP could fall by at least 5.5% in a best-case scenario to nearly 9% in a worst-case scenario. For its part, the Russian ministry forecast that Russia’s economic output would fall by 2.9 percent in 2022 and by 0.8 percent in 2023, before rising by 2.6 percent in 2024 and 2025, Interfax reported. — Holly Elliott
Russian military leaders reportedly considered using tactical nukes on Ukraine
CNBC’s Shep Smith examines reports that Russian military leaders recently discussed the possibility of using a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine.
Putin confirms restart of Black Sea Wheat Initiative, but says Russia may withdraw again
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a press conference following the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) leaders’ summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, October 14, 2022. Ramil Sitdikov Sputnik via Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin said that despite Russia’s return to the Black Sea Initiative, he “reserves the right to withdraw” from the agreement if Ukrainian guarantees are not met. Russia suspended its participation in the grain deal over the weekend after it claimed a Ukrainian drone attacked its Black Sea fleet in Crimea. Ukraine did not claim responsibility for the attack, which some Ukrainian officials blamed on Russian soldiers mishandling their own weapons. “We asked for assurances and guarantees from the Ukrainian side that nothing like this will happen in the future,” Putin said at a meeting with the permanent members of the Russian Security Council. “I have instructed the Ministry of Defense to reiterate our full participation in this project,” he added. “At the same time, Russia reserves the right to withdraw from these agreements if these guarantees are violated by Ukraine.” Early in the war, Russia relied on its Black Sea fleet to launch missiles deep into Ukraine, but the fleet was put back on the defensive after a series of embarrassing attacks in the spring by Ukrainian forces. Before last weekend’s drone attack, analysts noted that Russia already appeared to be laying the rhetorical groundwork for pulling out of the deal, before reversing course this week. The grain is critical to feeding populations in some of the world’s poorest countries, and a return to a full blockade could have caused famine for millions in Asia and the Middle East. Putin also pledged to deliver “for free” the “entire volume” of grain delivered by Ukraine to poorer countries if Russia pulls out of the deal in the future. – Rocio Fabbro
Agricultural shipments continue from Ukraine as grain deal continues
Video Credit: Burak Kara | Getty Images The bulk carrier Asl Tia is seen passing through Turkey’s Bosphorus Straits, carrying 39,000 metric tons of sunflower oil from Ukraine on Wednesday. The ship is on its way to China. Russia on Tuesday joined a deal that provides safe passage for grain shipments from Ukraine, which Russia invaded in February. Russia has severely disrupted Ukraine’s agricultural production and before the deal blocked outbound shipping. The agreement was brokered by Turkey and the UN. The Kremlin announced it was pulling out of the deal over the weekend after Ukraine attacked warships from its Black Sea fleet. However, the loaded trucks sailed on and Moscow rejoined the deal on Wednesday. Ukraine is one of the world’s largest grain exporters, with nations in Asia, Africa and beyond depending on its food shipments. — Ted Kemp
Turkey’s Erdogan tells Zelensky to increase diplomatic efforts to end war
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of the ruling AKP Party (AKP) during a meeting at the parliament in Ankara, Turkey, May 18, 2022. Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE PROVIDED BY THIRD. NO RESALES. NO FILES. MANDATORY CREDIT Murat Cetinmuhurdar Reuters Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Ukrainian President…
