John Thys | AFP | Getty Images Three NATO member countries have yet to sign ratification protocols for Finland and Sweden to join the military alliance. Of NATO’s 30 member countries, Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey are the latest countries to grant membership to Sweden and Finland. In May, both nations began the formal process of applying to NATO as Russia’s war in Ukraine raged. All 30 members of the alliance must ratify countries’ entry into the group. Last month, US President Joe Biden signed ratification documents after a 95-1 vote in the Senate for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. — Amanda Macias
Senior Chinese diplomat presses Ukraine’s foreign minister for ‘peaceful settlement’
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a meeting in Bali on July 9, 2022. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that the South China Sea is not a “safari park” for countries outside the region or a “battle arena”. for the great powers to compete in. Stephanie Reynolds | Afp | Getty Images Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi told Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba that all efforts that contribute to a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis should be supported, state media reported Friday. “The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected,” he said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, adding that China always stands by peace. Both diplomats last spoke to each other in April. — Reuters
The world’s largest yacht with ties to a Russian oligarch is being taken to Germany by authorities
The world’s largest superyacht with links to Russian billionaire and business tycoon Alisher Usmanov has been towed to a dock in Bremen, Germany. The stunning superyacht was initially restrained from its mooring by German authorities on March 3. Usmanov has been targeted by the US and its allies following coordinated global sanctions on Russian elites with ties to the Kremlin following Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine. The yacht, named Dilbar after Usmanov’s mother, spans over 500 feet and is equipped with two helipads and the largest indoor pool ever installed on a private yacht. The Ministry of Finance estimates that the current value of Usmanov’s yacht is about $735 million. — Amanda Macias
436 bodies were exhumed from a mass grave. 30 show signs of torture, Ukraine says
Searchers carry a body bag in a forest near Izyum, eastern Ukraine, on September 23, 2022, where Ukrainian searchers have discovered more than 440 graves after Russian forces recaptured the town, bringing new allegations of war atrocities. Sergey Bobok | Afp | Getty Images Ukrainian officials said 436 bodies have been exhumed from a mass grave in the eastern city of Izium, 30 of which show visible signs of torture. The site was found shortly after Ukrainian forces recaptured the area, which had been held by Russian forces for about six months. Three additional mass graves have been found in areas retaken during a swift counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces in the northeastern region of Kharkiv, regional governor Oleh Synyehubov and police chief Volodymyr Tymoshko told reporters. Many mass graves were uncovered earlier this year by Ukrainian authorities around cities and towns that had been taken over by Russian troops. Moscow rejects accusations that its forces are behind the deaths. — Natasha Toorak
Long queues form at Russia’s border as many try to escape the mobilization
Long lines of cars are piling up at Russia’s border with its neighbors, several news agencies reported, as many Russians try to leave the country after President Vladimir Putin called on Wednesday for a “partial” mobilization to fight in Ukraine. Some men have been waiting for up to 24 hours as European governments debate whether to allow fugitive Russians into their countries. “I’ve been waiting in my car since Thursday afternoon,” said one man at the Russia-Georgia border, according to The Guardian. “Everybody’s worried that the border will be closed until we get anywhere near it,” he said. Videos posted on social media show some men using bicycles and scooters to block traffic. As of Thursday, more than 1,300 people had been arrested in Russia for protesting Putin’s mobilization order. — Natasha Toorak
Putin even more entrenched in Ukrainian corner after threats of nuclear war, experts say
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to the media after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) leaders’ summit in Samarkand on September 16, 2022. Sergei Bobylyov | AFP | Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin’s renewed nuclear threats have raised fears that his plans for escalation in Ukraine may not be limited to mobilizing more troops. While he has issued apocalyptic threats against the West in the past, Putin’s thinly veiled warnings in a rare national address on Wednesday showed he was willing to raise the risk of nuclear conflict to avoid an embarrassing military defeat. Whether Kyiv and its allies should now be more concerned about the threat was up for debate, analysts said. Read the full story from NBC News. — NBC NEWS
UN lists nearly 6,000 dead in Ukraine since war began, but total death toll likely higher
A volunteer places a cross on the grave of one of the fifteen unidentified people killed by Russian troops, amid Russia’s continued offensive in Ukraine, during a burial ceremony in the town of Bucha, Kyiv region, Ukraine, September 2, 2022. Vladyslav Musiienko Reuters The United Nations has confirmed 5,916 civilian deaths and 8,616 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 the 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
China ‘affirms respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity’, says Ukrainian Kuleba
China has expressed its respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba tweeted after meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the UN General Assembly in New York. “I met with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss relations between Ukraine and China. My counterpart confirmed China’s respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its rejection of the use of force as a means of resolution disputes,” Kuleba wrote. Chinese media quoted Wang as saying that all efforts for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine should be supported. China’s stance on the war has been described by analysts as a careful balancing act, never abandoning its alliance with Russia while also expressing its opposition to the conflict in Ukraine. — Natasha Toorak
Russian forces have forcibly expelled up to 1.6 million Ukrainians, US official says
Russian forces have forcibly deported between 900,000 and 1.6 million Ukrainians to Russia, the US ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council said. “Multiple sources report that Russian authorities have interrogated, arrested and forcibly deported between 900,000 and 1.6 million Ukrainian citizens,” Michele Taylor told the UN Council, calling on its members to investigate “the growing evidence of Russian operations filtering, forced deportations and disappearances’. Ukraine and Western governments have accused Russian forces of forcibly transporting Ukrainian nationals to “infiltration camps” and then transporting them to Russia. Moscow has rejected the accusations, calling them “fantasy”. The forced deportation of civilians from one country to another is considered a war crime by the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross. — Natasha Toorak
Ukrainian mayor urges residents of Russian-held regions not to cooperate with referendums
A boy wearing a T-shirt with the letter “Z”, the tactical insignia of Russian troops in Ukraine, and holding a flag of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) – the breakaway region of eastern Ukraine – stands at the entrance to the embassy DNR in Moscow on September 23, 2022, as Moscow-controlled regions of Ukraine vote in annexation referendums that Kyiv and its allies say are illegal and illegal. Alexander Nemenov Afp | Getty Images The Ukrainian-elected mayor of the city of Melitopol is urging those in the Russian-occupied areas of the country not to participate in the so-called “referendums” held by the Russian authorities. “We call on the residents of the occupied territories not to participate in the mock referendum in any way,” Ivan Fedorov wrote via Telegram. “To participate in this is to support the bloody plan to escalate the war against Ukraine, to voluntarily become part of a closed totalitarian society, to take part in the responsibility for war crimes, to agree to the mobilization of men aged 16-55 to replenish the cannons of the Russian Army, to commit a criminal offence.” “Do not open the door to rioters. Do not go to the polling stations. Completely ignore the entire election process. Stay as far as possible from Russian military and enemy equipment. Our heroic armed forces of Ukraine will definitely liberate all occupied territories from racism,” Federov said, adding, “more importantly, taking part in a fake referendum is the worst betrayal.” —…
title: “Latest News On Russia And The War In Ukraine " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-02” author: “Bobby Gamble”
Odd Andersen | Afp | Getty Images The US Central Intelligence Agency had warned Germany weeks ago of possible attacks on gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, German magazine Spiegel reported after reports of gas leaks in Russian pipelines to Germany. The German government received the CIA tip over the summer, Spiegel reported, citing unnamed sources, adding that Berlin was undertaking a targeted attack on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines. A German government spokesman declined to comment, Spiegel added. — Reuters
Superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian businessman fetches $37.5 million at auction
The Axioma superyacht owned by Russian oligarch Dmitrievich Pumpyansky, who is on the EU’s list of sanctioned Russians, is seen docked in a port amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in Gibraltar, March 21, 2022. Jon Nazca | Reuters A superyacht linked to a sanctioned Russian businessman fetched $37.5 million at auction in Gibraltar last month after it was sold at the behest of creditor JP Morgan, a court confirmed, in the first sale of its kind since the invasion of Russia in Ukraine. The 72.5m Axioma was seized by Gibraltar authorities in March after the US bank said its alleged owner, a company owned by Dmitry Pubyansky, had reneged on the terms of a 20.5m euro (19.6 million dollars). Pumpyansky, 58, was until March the owner and chairman of steel pipe maker OAO TMK, a supplier to Russian energy company Gazprom. — Reuters
NATO chief talks to Zelensky and confirms alliance support
“I just spoke with President Zelensky and made it clear that NATO allies are unwavering in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and right to self-defense,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg tweeted. “The mock referendums being held by Russia have no legitimacy and are a flagrant violation of international law. These territories are Ukraine,” he added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the call in a separate tweet and said he thanked the NATO chief for “condemning Russia’s illegal referendums.” “We discussed the current developments on the battlefield and further support of the alliance member states to the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” Zelenksi added. — Amanda Macias
Gas leaks from Russian pipelines to Europe spark fears of sabotage
BORNHOLM, DENMARK – SEPTEMBER 27: Danish Defense shows the gas leak in Nord Stream 2 as seen by the Danish F-16 interceptor in Bornholm, Denmark on September 27, 2022. Danish defense/ | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Europe is investigating leaks at two Russian gas pipelines that exited the Baltic Sea, raising concerns from Copenhagen to Moscow about sabotage of infrastructure at the heart of an energy standoff. But it was unclear who might be behind any foul play, if proven, in the Nord Stream pipelines that Russia and European partners have spent billions of dollars building. Poland’s prime minister blamed sabotage for the leaks, without giving details, while Denmark’s prime minister said it could not be ruled out. Russia, which has cut gas supplies to Europe after Western sanctions were imposed over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, said sabotage was possible and that the incident undermined the continent’s energy security. A senior Ukrainian official called it a Russian attack to destabilize Europe, without providing evidence. The Nord Stream pipelines have been flashpoints in an escalating energy war between European capitals and Moscow that has hit major Western economies, sent gas prices soaring and sparked a hunt for alternative energy sources. — Reuters
The UN is calling for the immediate release of those detained in Russia protesting Putin’s mobilization order
Russian police officers detain a protester protesting against the mobilization in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. AP Photo The UN has called on the Kremlin to release people detained in Russia for protesting President Vladimir Putin’s mobilization order. “As of September 26, according to credible reports, some 2,377 protesters had been arrested since last Wednesday in various locations across the country. It is unclear how many people remain in detention,” wrote Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. . “We stress that arresting people solely for exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of liberty,” Shamdasani said, adding that the UN is calling for the immediate release of all those detained in this manner. — Amanda Macias
NATO air forces conduct training exercises over the Baltic Sea
Two Swedish Air Force aircraft fly over their homeland in 2021. Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images NATO members Hungary, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, Turkey, United Kingdom, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania took part in the training exercises called “Ramstein Alloy”. “The series of exercises integrates more than two dozen NATO fighter and support aircraft and airborne early warning aircraft with NATO and national command and control centers,” the alliance wrote in a statement. “Realistic exercises train allied forces to deter and, if necessary, defend against any aggression.” — Amanda Macias
Russian reservists called up in Putin’s mobilization attend departure ceremony
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last week that he was mobilizing hundreds of thousands of Russians to bolster Moscow’s military in Ukraine, sparking protests and a flight of men abroad. Reservists who have been called up to active duty attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea. Reservists who enlisted during the partial mobilization attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 27, 2022. Stringer | AFP | Getty Images Reservists who enlisted during the partial mobilization attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 27, 2022. Stringer | AFP | Getty Images Reservists who enlisted during the partial mobilization attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 27, 2022. Stringer | AFP | Getty Images Reservists who enlisted during the partial mobilization attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 27, 2022. Stringer | AFP | Getty Images Reservists who enlisted during the partial mobilization attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 27, 2022. Stringer | AFP | Getty Images Reservists who enlisted during the partial mobilization attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 27, 2022. Stringer | AFP | Getty Images
Wheat rises on concern over Russian crops
Wheat is loaded onto a cargo ship at the international port of Rostov-on-Don for shipment to Turkey, July 26, 2022. Stringer | AFP | Getty Images Wheat futures in Chicago rose, supported by concern over Russian supplies as some farmers are drafted into the military, while corn and soybeans rose from near two-week lows in the previous session on a slower-than-expected harvest in USA. Wheat prices rose 1.5% and were set to snap a two-session losing streak. “Agricultural markets have come under pressure in recent sessions due to global recession concerns,” said a Singapore-based trader. “But we have a little strength today as the US harvest is slow.” The most active Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) corn contract was up 0.4% at $6.69 a bushel by 11:30 GMT, and soybeans added 0.7% to 14.21-1/2 dollars a bushel. Wheat gained 1.5% to $8.70-1/2 a bushel. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the corn harvest was 12 percent complete as of Sunday, behind the average analyst estimate of 13 percent and the five-year average of 14 percent. The soybean harvest was 8 percent complete, missing analysts’ average estimate of 11 percent and the five-year average of 13 percent, the agency said after the market closed on Monday. — Reuters
Nord Stream is leaking “a serious safety and environmental risk”, say analysts
Workers are seen at the construction site of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline near the town of Kingisepp, Leningrad Region, Russia, June 5, 2019. Anton Vaganov | Reuters Suspected leaks reported on the Nord Stream pipeline from Russia to Germany represent a “serious safety and environmental risk”, according to Eurasia Group experts. Nord Stream operator Nord Stream AG said on Tuesday that both Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines had suffered “unprecedented” damage through three known leaks, adding that it was impossible to estimate when the gas network system would be able to operate. Danish and Swedish authorities declared a no-ship zone around the site of the suspected leak in their maritime zones, while Denmark raised its energy and gas security alert level. Henning Gloystein, director of energy, climate and resources, and Jason Bush, senior analyst, both at Eurasia Group, said in a note Tuesday that while German and Danish authorities said the cause of the leaks was unknown, “unplanned leaks in undersea pipelines are rare as they are designed to prevent accidental damage.’ “Several EU sources said sabotage appeared likely. Neither pipeline was delivering commercial gas at the time of the leaks, however given that both lines were still under pressure and each has the capacity to flow around 165 million cubic meters of heavy methane gas per day.” they said, adding: “Leaks of this magnitude pose a serious security and environmental risk, especially if Russia does not stop pumping gas into the system.” Nord Stream 1 and 2 have been largely focused on the breakdown of relations between Europe and Russia due to the war in Ukraine. The new Nord Stream 2 pipeline had not even opened when the German government refused to certify it for commercial operations following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the operational Nord Stream 1 pipeline is currently not being used to deliver Russian gas to Europe after Gazprom, the Russian gas giant, said there was a technical fault in a turbine that could not be repaired due to Western sanctions. THE…
title: “Latest News On Russia And The War In Ukraine " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-08” author: “Cedric Massengale”
Oleksiy Biloshytskyi | Oleksiy Biloshytskyi via Reuters Ukrainian forces are to mine the area in and around Lyman, a logistics hub for Russian occupation forces that was recaptured by Ukrainian troops over the weekend. “The city itself has been cleared [Russian] invaders. Of course, some of them are still running around somewhere, and are now being actively hunted. But stabilization measures continue there. First of all, there is a very dangerous situation with mines,” Eastern Command spokesman Serhii Cherevatyi said on Monday, according to comments carried by the Ukrinform news agency. “The occupiers left many anti-personnel mines, the so-called trip wires, ‘butterfly mines’ that cannot be seen behind the sheets,” he added. He said foreign journalists have asked to enter the retaken city, but it is still very dangerous as “the minefields are doing everything to make it safe,” Tserevati said. — Holly Elliott
Ukrainian forces are gaining ground in the southern region of Kherson
Ukrainian forces are gaining ground in liberated areas of the southern Kherson region, according to a spokesman for the southern military command. Southern command spokeswoman Natalia Humeniuk told reporters on Monday that Ukrainian forces in the south were “waging battles and gaining ground in the areas that have already been liberated and those that are still maintaining defense.” “We also continue to work with local people along the contact line, along the front line, in those settlements that are under enemy fire. About 45 settlements have been shelled in the last day,” Humeniuk told reporters, according to comments reported by the news. Ukrinform agency, with efforts to evacuate civilians. Humeniuk also said that Russian troops are inspecting households in occupied areas of the region for men between the ages of 18 and 35 in order to call them up and replenish their military units. CNBC was unable to verify Humeniuk’s comments. — Holly Elliott
An official stationed in Russia admits that Ukraine has made “excavations” in the Kherson region
Pro-Ukraine volunteers from Chechnya train near Kyiv. The Zelenskyy government has shown growing confidence in recent weeks, increasingly taking the initiative in a conflict that the Kremlin itself has admitted has stalled. Genya Savilov | Afp | Getty Images Ukrainian forces appear to be making progress in a counteroffensive in the southern region of Kherson, one of four areas Moscow “annexed” last week, with an official based in Russia admitting that Kiev forces are making gains around Kherson. “It’s tense, let’s put it that way,” Vladimir Saldo, the head of Ukraine’s Kherson region who is based in Russia, said on state television, Reuters reported. He said Ukrainian forces had made some breakthroughs in the area and had taken control of some settlements. Ukraine continued to make advances both in the country’s northeast, in the Kharkiv region, and in Kherson in the south, seemingly undeterred by President Putin’s announcement last week that Moscow was “annexing” four regions to Ukraine: Kherson, Zaporizhia and self-proclaimed “republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, separatist and pro-Russian. Ukraine and its allies condemned the move, calling it illegal and illegal. — Holly Elliott
Pro-Russian groups raise funds in crypto to support paramilitary operations
Pro-Russian groups are raising funds in cryptocurrencies to support paramilitary operations and avoid US sanctions as the war with Ukraine continues, an investigation published Monday revealed. As of Sept. 22, these fundraising groups had raised $400,000 in cryptocurrency since the hack began on Feb. 24, according to TRM Labs, a digital asset compliance and risk management firm. The investigation revealed that groups, using encrypted messaging app Telegram, are offering ways for people to send funds used to supply Russian-linked militia groups and support combat training in locations near the Ukrainian border. Russian paramilitary groups are raising cryptocurrency funds using the messaging app Telegram, according to research published by TRM Labs. Matt Cardy | News Getty Images | Getty Images One group TRM Labs identified raising funds is Task Force Rusich which the US Treasury Department describes as a “neo-Nazi paramilitary group that has fought alongside the Russian military in Ukraine.” The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFCA) sanctioned Task Force Rusich. In a Telegram channel, TRM Labs discovered that this group wanted to raise money for items such as thermal imaging equipment and radios. Read more about the story here
The only way to end war is on the battlefield, says the lawmaker
Ukraine won’t negotiate with Russia unless it agrees to withdraw all its troops from Ukrainian soil — but with that increasingly unlikely, a resolution to the conflict is currently on the table, a Ukrainian lawmaker told CNBC . “Ukraine is ready for negotiations at any time, but negotiations about what? About the withdrawal of Russian troops from our territory? Sure,” Oleksii Goncharenko, a Ukrainian lawmaker, told CNBC on Monday. “But Putin is not going to do that. He claimed that the territories he invaded are Russian … so clearly he chose the escalation mode and that’s why the only response is on the battlefield and Ukraine is doing that.” Goncharenko noted that Putin’s partial military mobilization, which is expected to call up 300,000 men to fight in Ukraine, will only prolong the war rather than allow Moscow to win it. Likening the Russian army and state to a dinosaur, he said:[It has] a huge body, tiny head and very tiny brains inside that head.” “When Russia will realize [it can’t win] we are ready to negotiate, but it seems that Putin will never do it,” he said. — Holly Elliott
Russian mobilization characterized by dysfunction and disorganization, UK says
Reservists who enlisted during the partial mobilization attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 27, 2022. – Stringer | Afp | Getty Images The “partial military mobilization” announced by President Putin two weeks ago is proving dysfunctional and disorganized, according to Britain’s Ministry of Defence. President Putin announced the call on September 21, prompting thousands of eligible fighters to try to leave the country. Other reports state that the men going to fight in Ukraine are poorly trained and poorly equipped for war. There have been many reports of men being recruited by mistake. Britain’s Ministry of Defense said even Putin had acknowledged problems with the draft, telling his National Security Council on September 29 that “many questions will be raised during this mobilization campaign and we must immediately correct our mistakes and let’s not repeat them. “ Reservists who enlisted during the partial mobilization attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 27, 2022. Stringer | Afp | Getty Images “Putin’s unusually quick acknowledgment of the problems underscores the mobilization’s dysfunction in the first week. Local officials are likely unclear about the exact scope and legal rationale of the campaign,” the ministry said on Twitter. “They have almost certainly enlisted some personnel who are outside the definitions claimed by Putin and the Ministry of Defense. “, the ministry added. — Holly Elliott
Criticism of the invasion of Ukraine is growing in Russia, even from pro-Kremlin figures
Ukrainian troops pose for a photo in Lyman, Ukraine, in this photo released on social media on Oct. 1, 2022. Oleksiy Biloshytskyi | Oleksiy Biloshytskyi via Reuters The Russian defeat at Liman in northeastern Ukraine and elsewhere in the Kharkiv region, combined with the Kremlin’s failure to carry out a partial military mobilization effectively and fairly, are “radically changing the Russian intelligence space,” according to analysts at the Institute for the Study. war’s. “The Russian intelligence space has diverged significantly from the narratives preferred by the Kremlin and the Russian Defense Ministry that things are generally under control,” analysts at the defense and foreign affairs think tank said on Sunday, noting that the recapture of the Lyman from Ukraine in northeastern Kharkiv This weekend leads to growing criticism of President Putin’s regime, top officials and the so-called “special military operation” (as Russia calls it) in Ukraine. “Kremlin-backed media and Russian millbloggers — a prominent Telegram community comprised of Russian war correspondents, former proxy officials, and nationalists — mourn Lyman’s loss while criticizing the bureaucratic failures of the partial mobilization,” noted the analysts in their latest assessment of the war. Ukraine recaptures Lyman, key logistics hub for Russian forces. Institute for the Study of War “Kremlin sources and bloggers attribute the defeat around Liman and Kharkiv Oblast to failures by the Russian military to properly supply and reinforce Russian forces in northern Donbass and complain about a lack of transparency about the war’s progress,” they added. ISW noted that it is becoming more common for even the most pro-Kremlin TV shows in Russia to host guests who are critical of the development of the conflict, and some even criticized Putin’s decision to annex four Ukrainian regions last Friday “before securing the administratively their borders or even the front line, expressing doubts about Russia’s ability to ever occupy all of these territories.” “Kremlin propagandists are no longer hiding…
title: “Latest News On Russia And The War In Ukraine " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-09” author: “Gary Nixon”
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters The US has seen no signs that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, State Department spokesman Ned Price said. “Right now, we have seen no reason to adjust our own nuclear posture, nor do we have any indication that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons, but we have heard these very troubling statements,” Price told reporters during a daily briefing. newspaper. press release. The US is closely monitoring Russia’s nuclear rhetoric, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters in a separate call. — Amanda Macias
‘Absolutely nothing to’ Russian claims Ukraine will use ‘dirty bomb’, White House says
John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, speaks during a news conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 21, 2022. Nicholas Kamm | AFP | Getty Images The US has criticized Russian claims that Ukraine is planning to use a “dirty bomb”, adding that there is “absolutely nothing to the Russian claim”. The US is concerned about the allegations, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on a conference call. “They [the Russians] they are the ones who publicized this matter and obviously, we know that they are false and that there is no plan by the Ukrainians to do this,” Kirby said. “Obviously we take the matter seriously,” he added. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier Monday that the Kremlin was concerned “about possible provocations from Ukraine using a ‘dirty bomb,’” according to the Russian Defense Ministry. — Amanda Macias
The group that oversees Ukraine’s agricultural exports says it is working to address the backlog of more than 100 ships awaiting inspection
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 it was working to address the backlog of 113 ships awaiting inspection. The Joint Coordination Center, or JCC, said in a statement that it is “concerned that delays may cause disruption to supply chain and port operations.” “The JCC is discussing ways to address the backlog noting that the next harvest is approaching and silos at Ukrainian ports covered by the Initiative will soon be full again,” the group wrote. The JCC has allowed the movement of more than 8.5 million metric tons of food products under the Black Sea Grains Initiative, an agreement announced in July between Ukraine, Russia, the United Nations and Turkey. Read more about the Black Sea Grain Initiative here. — Amanda Macias
NATO Secretary General Rejects Russia’s ‘Dirty Bomb’ Claims.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg gestures during a press conference with Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde after Finland and Sweden signed their countries’ accession protocols at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 5 July 2022. Yves Herman | Reuters NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned Russia’s “false claim” that Ukraine was planning to use a “dirty bomb” inside its territory. “NATO Allies reject this claim,” he tweeted. “Russia should not use this as a pretext for escalation.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed back against the Russian claims, arguing that the allegation only shows that Russia itself is likely preparing to use the “dirty bomb”. The United States, the United Kingdom and France have also spoken out against Russia’s claims. NATO allies have provided extensive support to Ukraine, implementing enhanced measures in 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea. After the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid, member countries agreed to strengthen the existing Comprehensive Assistance Package to Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion. This led to more support in various security areas, including communications, cyber defense, medical supplies, body armor, security equipment and anti-drone systems. – Rocio Fabbro
Russian court to hear WNBA star Griner’s appeal
NBA women’s basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport and later charged with illegal possession of cannabis, awaits the verdict in a dock before a court hearing in Khimki outside Moscow , in August. 4, 2022. Evgenia Novozhenina AFP | Getty Images WNBA star Brittney Griner’s appeal hearing before a Russian court is set for Tuesday. Earlier this month, a Russian judge decided to hear Griner’s appeal after she was convicted on drug charges and sentenced to nine years in prison. Griner has been held in a Russian detention center for more than eight months since her arrest earlier this year. Griner will appear via video conference at the hearing, which is expected to last about an hour. The judge’s verdict is expected later Tuesday. — Amanda Macias
US Joint Chiefs Chairman Milley talks with Russian counterpart as war enters ninth month
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley participates in a news briefing at the Pentagon on May 23, 2022 in Arlington, Virginia. Alex Wong | Getty Images Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley spoke by phone with the Chief of the Russian General Staff General Valery Gerasimov. “Military leaders discussed various issues of security-related concern and agreed to keep the lines of communication open. In accordance with past practice, specific details of their conversation will be kept private,” Joint Chiefs spokesman Col. Dave Butler wrote. reading the call. Milley’s call comes as US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had two phone calls with his Russian counterpart last week. — Amanda Macias
Russia claims ‘dirty bomb’ threat is ‘obvious’, despite Western denials
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a joint press conference of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow, Russia, February 18, 2022. Sergey Guneev Sputnik | Reuters Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov insisted the threat of a “dirty bomb” was real, although the United States, Britain and France denied the possibility. “Their distrust of the information provided by the Russian side does not mean that the threat of using such a ‘dirty bomb’ ceases to exist. The threat is obvious,” Peskov told a news conference. Peskov’s remarks followed claims by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu that Ukraine was planning provocations using a “dirty bomb,” which contaminates surrounding areas with radioactivity without using a nuclear explosion. The UK, US and France denounced the claims as “manifestly false”. Peskov also said there are currently no scheduled calls to Russian President Vladimir Putin, following a series of international calls Shoigu has made in recent days, including to the US and other Western allies. – Rocio Fabbro
Ukrainian club urges FIFA to remove Iran from World Cup
Hanging paper airplanes are seen in front of the Iranian embassy during a protest against Iran’s alleged supply of drones to Russia after Kiev was hit by a series of deadly attacks on Monday, in Kyiv, Ukraine, October 18, 2022. Methane Acta | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Ukraine’s top football club urged FIFA on Monday to remove Iran from the World Cup over the country’s alleged military support for the Russian invasion. Shakhtar Donetsk chief executive Sergei Palkin accused Iran of “direct involvement in terrorist attacks against Ukrainians”, suggesting his country’s team should play in Qatar instead of a replacement. “This will be a fair decision that should draw the attention of the whole world to a regime that is killing its best people and helping to kill Ukrainians,” Palkin said in a statement a day before his side played Celtic in the Champions League League. The White House said on Thursday that the US has evidence that Iranian troops are “directly engaged on the ground” in Crimea supporting Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and civilians. And Ukraine’s intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, said in a published interview Monday that Russian forces had used about 330 Iranian-made “Shahed” drones since Saturday — and that more had been ordered. — Associated Press
The US Secretary of Defense speaks with his Russian counterpart in a follow-up telephone call
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during the Ukraine Security Advisory Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base on April 26, 2022 in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany. Thomas Lohnes | Getty Images US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Russian counterpart over the weekend, the third known phone call since the Kremlin’s wide-ranging invasion of Ukraine in late February. Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said Austin spoke with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Sunday after a phone call on Friday morning. Ryder said Shoigu asked for the next call. “Secretary Austin rejected any pretense of Russian escalation and affirmed the value of continued communication amid Russia’s illegal and unjustified war against Ukraine,” the Pentagon said in the call. — Amanda Macias
More than 6,300 people have died in Ukraine, according to the UN
A picture shows a mass grave of civilians at a cemetery near Lyman, Donetsk region, on October 11, 2022. Sergey Bobok | AFP | Getty Images The United Nations has confirmed 6,374 civilian deaths and 9,776 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…
title: “Latest News On Russia And The War In Ukraine " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-07” author: “Norman Johnson”
Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said the new government shares Turkey’s concern about the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization in Turkey, Europe and the United States. “There will be no nonsense from the Swedish government when it comes to the PKK,” Billstrom told The Associated Press in an interview. “We are fully behind a policy which means that terrorist organizations do not have the right to operate on Swedish soil.” Turkey blocked Sweden and Finland’s historic bid to join NATO over concerns that the two countries — Sweden in particular — had become a safe haven for PKK members and affiliated groups. — Associated Press
Yum Brands to exit Russia completely with deal to sell KFC stores
Yum Brands said it has reached an agreement to sell its KFC restaurants in Russia to a local operator there, paving the way for a full exit from the country. The restaurant company, which also owns the Taco Bell and Pizza Hut brands, will transfer ownership of its Russian KFC locations, operating system and master franchise rights to Smart Service Ltd, which is run by its existing Russian franchisees KFC, Konstantin Yurievich Kotov and Andrey Eduardovich Oskolkov. , Yum said in a press release. The buyer will be responsible for rebranding the restaurants and retaining existing employees. Many Western companies have sold their Russian assets to local managers as they try to comply with sanctions related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. — Reuters
There are no signs that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, the State Department says
U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price holds a press briefing on Afghanistan at the State Department in Washington, Aug. 16, 2021. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters The US has seen no signs that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, State Department spokesman Ned Price said. “Right now, we have seen no reason to adjust our own nuclear posture, nor do we have any indication that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons, but we have heard these very troubling statements,” Price told reporters during a daily briefing. newspaper. press release. The US is closely monitoring Russia’s nuclear rhetoric, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters in a separate call. — Amanda Macias
‘Absolutely nothing to’ Russian claims Ukraine will use ‘dirty bomb’, White House says
John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, speaks during a news conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 21, 2022. Nicholas Kamm | AFP | Getty Images The US has criticized Russian claims that Ukraine is planning to use a “dirty bomb”, adding that there is “absolutely nothing to the Russian claim”. The US is concerned about the allegations, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on a conference call. “They [the Russians] they are the ones who publicized this matter and obviously, we know that they are false and that there is no plan by the Ukrainians to do this,” Kirby said. “Obviously we take the matter seriously,” he added. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier Monday that the Kremlin was concerned “about possible provocations from Ukraine using a ‘dirty bomb,’” according to the Russian Defense Ministry. — Amanda Macias
The group that oversees Ukraine’s agricultural exports says it is working to address the backlog of more than 100 ships awaiting inspection
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 it was working to address the backlog of 113 ships awaiting inspection. The Joint Coordination Center, or JCC, said in a statement that it is “concerned that delays may cause disruption to supply chain and port operations.” “The JCC is discussing ways to address the backlog noting that the next harvest is approaching and silos at Ukrainian ports covered by the Initiative will soon be full again,” the group wrote. The JCC has allowed the movement of more than 8.5 million metric tons of food products under the Black Sea Grains Initiative, an agreement announced in July between Ukraine, Russia, the United Nations and Turkey. Read more about the Black Sea Grain Initiative here. — Amanda Macias
NATO Secretary General Rejects Russia’s ‘Dirty Bomb’ Claims.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg gestures during a press conference with Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde after Finland and Sweden signed their countries’ accession protocols at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 5 July 2022. Yves Herman | Reuters NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned Russia’s “false claim” that Ukraine was planning to use a “dirty bomb” inside its territory. “NATO Allies reject this claim,” he tweeted. “Russia should not use this as a pretext for escalation.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed back against the Russian claims, arguing that the allegation only shows that Russia itself is likely preparing to use the “dirty bomb”. The United States, the United Kingdom and France have also spoken out against Russia’s claims. NATO allies have provided extensive support to Ukraine, implementing enhanced measures in 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea. After the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid, member countries agreed to strengthen the existing Comprehensive Assistance Package to Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion. This led to more support in various security areas, including communications, cyber defense, medical supplies, body armor, security equipment and anti-drone systems. – Rocio Fabbro
Russian court to hear WNBA star Griner’s appeal
NBA women’s basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport and later charged with illegal possession of cannabis, awaits the verdict in a dock before a court hearing in Khimki outside Moscow , in August. 4, 2022. Evgenia Novozhenina AFP | Getty Images WNBA star Brittney Griner’s appeal hearing before a Russian court is set for Tuesday. Earlier this month, a Russian judge decided to hear Griner’s appeal after she was convicted on drug charges and sentenced to nine years in prison. Griner has been held in a Russian detention center for more than eight months since her arrest earlier this year. Griner will appear via video conference at the hearing, which is expected to last about an hour. The judge’s verdict is expected later Tuesday. — Amanda Macias
US Joint Chiefs Chairman Milley talks with Russian counterpart as war enters ninth month
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley participates in a news briefing at the Pentagon on May 23, 2022 in Arlington, Virginia. Alex Wong | Getty Images Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley spoke by phone with the Chief of the Russian General Staff General Valery Gerasimov. “Military leaders discussed various issues of security-related concern and agreed to keep the lines of communication open. In accordance with past practice, specific details of their conversation will be kept private,” Joint Chiefs spokesman Col. Dave Butler wrote. reading the call. Milley’s call comes as US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had two phone calls with his Russian counterpart last week. — Amanda Macias
Russia claims ‘dirty bomb’ threat is ‘obvious’, despite Western denials
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a joint press conference of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow, Russia, February 18, 2022. Sergey Guneev Sputnik | Reuters Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov insisted the threat of a “dirty bomb” was real, although the United States, Britain and France denied the possibility. “Their distrust of the information provided by the Russian side does not mean that the threat of using such a ‘dirty bomb’ ceases to exist. The threat is obvious,” Peskov told a news conference. Peskov’s remarks followed claims by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu that Ukraine was planning provocations using a “dirty bomb,” which contaminates surrounding areas with radioactivity without using a nuclear explosion. The UK, US and France denounced the claims as “manifestly false”. Peskov also said there are currently no scheduled calls to Russian President Vladimir Putin, following a series of international calls Shoigu has made in recent days, including to the US and other Western allies. – Rocio Fabbro
Ukrainian club urges FIFA to remove Iran from World Cup
Hanging paper airplanes are seen in front of the Iranian embassy during a protest against Iran’s alleged supply of drones to Russia after Kiev was hit by a series of deadly attacks on Monday, in Kyiv, Ukraine, October 18, 2022. Methane Acta | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Ukraine’s top football club urged FIFA on Monday to remove Iran from the World Cup over the country’s alleged military support for the Russian invasion. Shakhtar Donetsk chief executive Sergei Palkin accused Iran of “direct involvement in terrorist attacks against Ukrainians”, suggesting his country’s team should play in Qatar instead of a replacement. “This will be a fair decision that should draw the attention of the whole world to a regime that is killing its best people and helping to kill Ukrainians,” Palkin said in a statement a day before his team played at Celtic in. ..
title: “Latest News On Russia And The War In Ukraine " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-09” author: “Edna Faria”
The inspection, prompted by Kyiv inviting IAEA officials to its facility, was welcome news after Moscow accused Ukraine of building a so-called radioactive “dirty bomb” for use on its soil. The inspection results confirmed Russia’s “world’s top liar status,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted. Meanwhile, Russian missiles hit residential areas in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhia, the region’s governor said, although no casualties were reported. As fighting around Kherson and other parts of southeastern Ukraine continues, reports of low morale among Russian troops continue, with Britain’s Ministry of Defense suggesting Russian troops are under orders to shoot their own soldiers if they try to retreat. Accounts of this have been shared with independent Russian media.
title: “Latest News On Russia And The War In Ukraine " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-13” author: “Steven Martin”
Chris McGrath | Getty Images The agency that oversees the export of Ukrainian agricultural products said there is a backlog of 77 ships waiting to be loaded with cargo. The Joint Coordination Center also reported that around 15 loaded ships are waiting for inspection in Turkish territorial waters. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, an agreement brokered in July between Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations, eased Russia’s naval blockade and saw the opening of three key Ukrainian ports. Since the signing of the agreement, more than 10 million metric tons of grain and food have left for destinations around the world. Kyiv has previously accused Moscow of suspending inspections and delaying ship movements. — Amanda Macias
Eight ships to depart from Ukrainian ports under the Black Sea Initiative
A photo taken on October 31, 2022 shows cargo ships loaded with grain at the anchorage area of the southern entrance of the Bosphorus in Istanbul. Ozan Kose | Afp | Getty Images The agency that oversees the export of Ukrainian agricultural products said eight ships would depart from the besieged country. The amount of grain and other foodstuffs exported under the Black Sea Grain Initiative has so far exceeded 10 million metric tons. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, an agreement brokered in July between Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations, eased Russia’s naval blockade and saw the opening of three key Ukrainian ports. — Amanda Macias
Biden has ‘no intention’ to meet Putin on sidelines of G-20
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a press conference after a trilateral meeting with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Sochi, Russia, October 31, 2022. Sergey Bobylev | Sputnik | via Reuters The White House said the Biden administration does not plan to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the upcoming G20 summit. “He has no intention of meeting with President Putin,” White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre told reporters during a daily press briefing when asked if preparations were underway for a bilateral. He added that Ukraine should also be able to attend the G-20 meetings in Indonesia, regardless of whether Putin attends. “We have been very clear about how we view this invitation,” added Jean Pierre. — Amanda Macias
White House says Russian influence in US election ‘well known and well documented’
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre holds the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, September 23, 2022. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre said Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin’s claims that Russia interfered and continues to interfere in the US election were no surprise. “These comments tell us nothing new or surprising, as we all know,” Jean-Pierre told a news conference. “It is widely known and well documented in the public domain that entities associated with Yevgeny Prigozhin have attempted to influence elections around the world, including in the United States.” According to Jean-Pierre, Prigozhin “is a known bad actor who has been punished by the United States, the United Kingdom, but also the European Union.” “We also know that part of Russia’s efforts include promoting narratives aimed at undermining democracy and sowing division and discord. It is not surprising that Russia is highlighting its efforts and constructing … a story about its successes in eve of the election,” he said ahead of Tuesday’s subsequent midterm elections. Prigozhin is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Earlier this year, the US State Department offered a $10 million reward for information about Prigozhin and other Russian entities and individuals who knowingly interfered in the US election. – Rocio Fabbro
UK and France discuss clean energy cooperation and support for Ukraine on the sidelines of COP27
British Conservative MP Rishi Sunak leaves his home address in London, Britain, October 24, 2022. Peter Nicholls | Reuters UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron met on the sidelines of the COP27 climate conference in Egypt to discuss continued cooperation on clean energy and support for Ukraine. “They noted opportunities for the UK and France to work further together on the clean energy transition, including on nuclear power policy,” a Downing Street spokesman said. “The leaders also discussed the ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine and the continued importance of maintaining military and economic support for Ukraine’s defense.” Alternative energy supply has become a key issue for the UK, France and the rest of Europe, which are heavily dependent on Russian gas and energy imports. As countries look to climate-friendly energy solutions, including nuclear and other clean energy sources, to meet their climate commitments, European leaders have also sought to reduce natural gas use and find alternative sources amid fears that the continued purchase of Russian natural gas helps finance Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. – Rocio Fabbro
Zelenskyy’s adviser says Ukraine is ready for negotiations with Russia’s next leader
A top adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready for negotiations, not just with current Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Ukraine has never refused to negotiate. Our negotiating position is known and open,” Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted. The negotiations, however, depend on Russia withdrawing from Ukrainian soil, Podolyak added, something he believes Putin is “obviously not” ready for. “Therefore, we are constructive in our assessment: we will talk to the next leader of the Russian Federation,” he said, referring to the Russian Federation. That statement comes as growing calls for Ukraine to open up to negotiations have come mainly from Turkey and the United States in the past week, as concerns abound from allies about “Ukraine fatigue” and members’ disapproval of continued financial support to the Ukraine. – Rocio Fabbro
Zelensky says Ukraine won’t attend G-20 summit if Putin attends
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier meet as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues in Kyiv, Ukraine on October 25, 2022. Jesco Denzel | BPA | via Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his war-weary country will not attend the G-20 summit if Russian President Vladimir Putin attends. “My personal position and the position of Ukraine was that if the leader of the Russian Federation participates, then Ukraine will not participate. Let’s see how it will be in the future,” Zelensky said on the Telegram messaging app, according to a translation by NBC News. . Zelensky added that he has received several invitations to attend the G-20 in Indonesia. Last week, Indonesia’s president told the Financial Times that he had a “strong impression” that Putin would miss the G-20 summit. — Amanda Macias
Ukraine is experiencing blackouts amid intense attacks by the Russian military
A cafe is without electricity in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv after three Russian missiles hit targeted energy infrastructure on October 11, 2022. Lviv’s mayor said a third of homes were without power. Yuriy Dyachyshyn Afp | Getty Images Ukraine’s state electricity company announced a blackout in Kyiv and seven other regions of the country after Russia’s devastating strikes on energy infrastructure. The move comes as Russian forces continue to pound Ukrainian towns and villages with missiles and drones, damaging power plants, water supplies and other civilian targets, in a war nearing the end of nine months. Ukrenergo, the sole operator of Ukraine’s high-voltage transmission lines, initially said in an online statement that planned blackouts would take place in the capital and the greater Kyiv region, as well as in several areas around it — Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr , Sumy, Poltava and Kharkiv. Later in the day, however, the company released an update saying that scheduled outages of a certain number of hours are not enough and instead there will be emergency outages, which could last indefinitely. Ukraine has been dealing with power outages and water cuts since Russia began unleashing a massive barrage of missiles and drones on the country’s energy infrastructure last month. — Associated Press
Russian billionaire known as ‘Putin’s chef’ says he meddled in US election
Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russian businessman and close ally of Vladimir Putin. He recently admitted to creating the Wagner Group, a private military company fighting in Ukraine, in 2014. Mikhail Svetlov | Getty Images Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Monday that he interfered in the US election and would continue to do so in the future, the first such admission by a figure formally implicated by Washington in efforts to influence US politics. In comments posted by the Concord catering company’s press service on Russia’s Facebook counterpart VKontakte, Prigozhin said: “We have interfered (in the US election), we are interfering and we will continue to interfere. Carefully, precisely, surgically and in our own way , as we know how to do”. The remark was published on the eve of the US midterm elections in response to a request for comment from a Russian news website. “During our operations, we will remove both the kidneys and the liver at once,” Prigozhin said. He did not elaborate on the cryptic comment. Prigozhin, who is often referred to as “Putin’s chef” because his catering company handles Kremlin contracts, has been formally accused of sponsoring Russia-based “troll farms” that seek to…
title: “Latest News On Russia And The War In Ukraine " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-15” author: “James Cox”
Chris McGrath | Getty Images The agency that oversees the export of Ukrainian agricultural products said there is a backlog of 77 ships waiting to be loaded with cargo. The Joint Coordination Center also reported that around 15 loaded ships are waiting for inspection in Turkish territorial waters. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, an agreement brokered in July between Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations, eased Russia’s naval blockade and saw the opening of three key Ukrainian ports. Since the signing of the agreement, more than 10 million metric tons of grain and food have left for destinations around the world. Kyiv has previously accused Moscow of suspending inspections and delaying ship movements. — Amanda Macias
Eight ships to depart from Ukrainian ports under the Black Sea Initiative
A photo taken on October 31, 2022 shows cargo ships loaded with grain at the anchorage area of the southern entrance of the Bosphorus in Istanbul. Ozan Kose | Afp | Getty Images The agency that oversees the export of Ukrainian agricultural products said eight ships would depart from the besieged country. The amount of grain and other foodstuffs exported under the Black Sea Grain Initiative has so far exceeded 10 million metric tons. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, an agreement brokered in July between Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations, eased Russia’s naval blockade and saw the opening of three key Ukrainian ports. — Amanda Macias
Biden has ‘no intention’ to meet Putin on sidelines of G-20
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a press conference after a trilateral meeting with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Sochi, Russia, October 31, 2022. Sergey Bobylev | Sputnik | via Reuters The White House said the Biden administration does not plan to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the upcoming G20 summit. “He has no intention of meeting with President Putin,” White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre told reporters during a daily press briefing when asked if preparations were underway for a bilateral. He added that Ukraine should also be able to attend the G-20 meetings in Indonesia, regardless of whether Putin attends. “We have been very clear about how we view this invitation,” added Jean Pierre. — Amanda Macias
White House says Russian influence in US election ‘well known and well documented’
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre holds the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, September 23, 2022. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre said Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin’s claims that Russia interfered and continues to interfere in the US election were no surprise. “These comments tell us nothing new or surprising, as we all know,” Jean-Pierre told a news conference. “It is widely known and well documented in the public domain that entities associated with Yevgeny Prigozhin have attempted to influence elections around the world, including in the United States.” According to Jean-Pierre, Prigozhin “is a known bad actor who has been punished by the United States, the United Kingdom, but also the European Union.” “We also know that part of Russia’s efforts include promoting narratives aimed at undermining democracy and sowing division and discord. It is not surprising that Russia is highlighting its efforts and constructing … a story about its successes in eve of the election,” he said ahead of Tuesday’s subsequent midterm elections. Prigozhin is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Earlier this year, the US State Department offered a $10 million reward for information about Prigozhin and other Russian entities and individuals who knowingly interfered in the US election. – Rocio Fabbro
UK and France discuss clean energy cooperation and support for Ukraine on the sidelines of COP27
British Conservative MP Rishi Sunak leaves his home address in London, Britain, October 24, 2022. Peter Nicholls | Reuters UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron met on the sidelines of the COP27 climate conference in Egypt to discuss continued cooperation on clean energy and support for Ukraine. “They noted opportunities for the UK and France to work further together on the clean energy transition, including on nuclear power policy,” a Downing Street spokesman said. “The leaders also discussed the ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine and the continued importance of maintaining military and economic support for Ukraine’s defense.” Alternative energy supply has become a key issue for the UK, France and the rest of Europe, which are heavily dependent on Russian gas and energy imports. As countries look to climate-friendly energy solutions, including nuclear and other clean energy sources, to meet their climate commitments, European leaders have also sought to reduce natural gas use and find alternative sources amid fears that the continued purchase of Russian natural gas helps finance Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. – Rocio Fabbro
Zelenskyy’s adviser says Ukraine is ready for negotiations with Russia’s next leader
A top adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready for negotiations, not just with current Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Ukraine has never refused to negotiate. Our negotiating position is known and open,” Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted. The negotiations, however, depend on Russia withdrawing from Ukrainian soil, Podolyak added, something he believes Putin is “obviously not” ready for. “Therefore, we are constructive in our assessment: we will talk to the next leader of the Russian Federation,” he said, referring to the Russian Federation. That statement comes as growing calls for Ukraine to open up to negotiations have come mainly from Turkey and the United States in the past week, as concerns abound from allies about “Ukraine fatigue” and members’ disapproval of continued financial support to the Ukraine. – Rocio Fabbro
Zelensky says Ukraine won’t attend G-20 summit if Putin attends
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier meet as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues in Kyiv, Ukraine on October 25, 2022. Jesco Denzel | BPA | via Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his war-weary country will not attend the G-20 summit if Russian President Vladimir Putin attends. “My personal position and the position of Ukraine was that if the leader of the Russian Federation participates, then Ukraine will not participate. Let’s see how it will be in the future,” Zelensky said on the Telegram messaging app, according to a translation by NBC News. . Zelensky added that he has received several invitations to attend the G-20 in Indonesia. Last week, Indonesia’s president told the Financial Times that he had a “strong impression” that Putin would miss the G-20 summit. — Amanda Macias
Ukraine is experiencing blackouts amid intense attacks by the Russian military
A cafe is without electricity in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv after three Russian missiles hit targeted energy infrastructure on October 11, 2022. Lviv’s mayor said a third of homes were without power. Yuriy Dyachyshyn Afp | Getty Images Ukraine’s state electricity company announced a blackout in Kyiv and seven other regions of the country after Russia’s devastating strikes on energy infrastructure. The move comes as Russian forces continue to pound Ukrainian towns and villages with missiles and drones, damaging power plants, water supplies and other civilian targets, in a war nearing the end of nine months. Ukrenergo, the sole operator of Ukraine’s high-voltage transmission lines, initially said in an online statement that planned blackouts would take place in the capital and the greater Kyiv region, as well as in several areas around it — Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr , Sumy, Poltava and Kharkiv. Later in the day, however, the company released an update saying that scheduled outages of a certain number of hours are not enough and instead there will be emergency outages, which could last indefinitely. Ukraine has been dealing with power outages and water cuts since Russia began unleashing a massive barrage of missiles and drones on the country’s energy infrastructure last month. — Associated Press
Russian billionaire known as ‘Putin’s chef’ says he meddled in US election
Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russian businessman and close ally of Vladimir Putin. He recently admitted to creating the Wagner Group, a private military company fighting in Ukraine, in 2014. Mikhail Svetlov | Getty Images Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Monday that he interfered in the US election and would continue to do so in the future, the first such admission by a figure formally implicated by Washington in efforts to influence US politics. In comments posted by the Concord catering company’s press service on Russia’s Facebook counterpart VKontakte, Prigozhin said: “We have interfered (in the US election), we are interfering and we will continue to interfere. Carefully, precisely, surgically and in our own way , as we know how to do”. The remark was published on the eve of the US midterm elections in response to a request for comment from a Russian news website. “During our operations, we will remove both the kidneys and the liver at once,” Prigozhin said. He did not elaborate on the cryptic comment. Prigozhin, who is often referred to as “Putin’s chef” because his catering company handles Kremlin contracts, has been formally accused of sponsoring Russia-based “troll farms” that seek to…
