Ukraine wants more ‘game-changer’ HIMARS. The U.S. says it’s complicated.
If only they had more, and more sophisticated, weapons from the West, Ukrainian officials often tell their American counterparts and anyone else who will listen, they could make short work of Russian invaders. Last month’s arrival of the first of what are now a dozen U.S. multiple-launch precision rocket systems, known as HIMARS, has already been a game changer, soldiers here said this week.
Since a recent HIMARS strike on an enemy ammunition depot in Izyum, located southeast of Ukraine’s second-largest city Kharkiv, Russian shelling has been “10 times less” than before, said Bohdan Dmytruk, a battalion commander in Ukraine’s 93rd Mechanized Brigade.
Yet the Biden administration has parceled out the rocket systems slowly, watching how the Ukrainians handle them — and how the Russians respond. To fighters on the ground, that makes little sense at a crucial moment in the war.
Read the full story here.
If only they had more, and more sophisticated, weapons from the West, Ukrainian officials often tell their American counterparts and anyone else who will listen, they could make short work of Russian invaders. Last month’s arrival of the first of what are now a dozen U.S. multiple-launch precision rocket systems, known as HIMARS, has already been a game changer, soldiers here said this week.
Since a recent HIMARS strike on an enemy ammunition depot in Izyum, located southeast of Ukraine’s second-largest city Kharkiv, Russian shelling has been “10 times less” than before, said Bohdan Dmytruk, a battalion commander in Ukraine’s 93rd Mechanized Brigade.
Yet the Biden administration has parceled out the rocket systems slowly, watching how the Ukrainians handle them — and how the Russians respond. To fighters on the ground, that makes little sense at a crucial moment in the war.
Read the full story here.
U.K. to host 2023 Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine for ‘security’ reasons
Britain is to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine, which won the competition in May, organizers have confirmed.
Traditionally, the winner plays host to the following year’s event. But with Ukraine embroiled in a war with Russia, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), organizer of the broadcast, announced last month that the show could not be held there. As Britain was this year’s runner-up, the EBU opened talks with the BBC.
“We’re exceptionally grateful that the BBC has accepted to stage the Eurovision Song Contest in the UK in 2023,” said Eurovision executive supervisor Martin Österdahl in a statement Monday.
Read the full story here.
Britain is to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine, which won the competition in May, organizers have confirmed.
Traditionally, the winner plays host to the following year’s event. But with Ukraine embroiled in a war with Russia, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), organizer of the broadcast, announced last month that the show could not be held there. As Britain was this year’s runner-up, the EBU opened talks with the BBC.
“We’re exceptionally grateful that the BBC has accepted to stage the Eurovision Song Contest in the UK in 2023,” said Eurovision executive supervisor Martin Österdahl in a statement Monday.
Read the full story here.
Moldova ‘very worried’ Russia may invade, prime minister says
Moldova is “very worried” about a potential Russian invasion as Russian forces prepare to step up attacks in Ukraine’s east and south, close to the border with the small nation of 2.5 million.
Moldova’s prime minister, Natalia Gavrilita, said the possibility that her country could be the next to be invaded on orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin “is a hypothetical scenario for now.”
“But if the military actions move further into the southwestern part of Ukraine and toward Odessa, then of course we are very worried,” she said in an interview Sunday with CNN.
Read the full story here.
Moldova is “very worried” about a potential Russian invasion as Russian forces prepare to step up attacks in Ukraine’s east and south, close to the border with the small nation of 2.5 million.
Moldova’s prime minister, Natalia Gavrilita, said the possibility that her country could be the next to be invaded on orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin “is a hypothetical scenario for now.”
“But if the military actions move further into the southwestern part of Ukraine and toward Odessa, then of course we are very worried,” she said in an interview Sunday with CNN.
Read the full story here.
Russia’s Gazprom to slash gas to Germany, as Putin fosters uncertainty in Europe
Russian energy giant Gazprom on Monday said it would halve the natural gas flowing through its main pipeline to Germany, keeping European countries in a state of uncertainty as they scramble to build up energy supplies for winter.
Starting Wednesday, the daily gas flow through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline — the biggest between Russia and Western Europe — will be set at 33 million cubic meters, Gazprom said. That amounts to about 20 percent of capacity, down from 40 percent. Gazprom cited problems with a turbine.
Germany’s Ministry for the Economy and Climate said it saw no technical reason for the reduction in deliveries. “We are monitoring the situation very closely,” it said in a statement.
Read the full story here.
Russian energy giant Gazprom on Monday said it would halve the natural gas flowing through its main pipeline to Germany, keeping European countries in a state of uncertainty as they scramble to build up energy supplies for winter.
Starting Wednesday, the daily gas flow through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline — the biggest between Russia and Western Europe — will be set at 33 million cubic meters, Gazprom said. That amounts to about 20 percent of capacity, down from 40 percent. Gazprom cited problems with a turbine.
Germany’s Ministry for the Economy and Climate said it saw no technical reason for the reduction in deliveries. “We are monitoring the situation very closely,” it said in a statement.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- Russian state energy giant Gazprom signaled to the regulator of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline that gas would flow at 20 percent capacity this week — down from 40 percent.
- Russia said Monday that missile strikes on the Black Sea port of Odessa — one day after the grain deal — should not undermine the agreement signed by Moscow and Kyiv.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is in the Republic of Congo as part of a four-day tour to try to shore up African support for the war in Ukraine.
- The board of the European Investment Bank approved $1.625 billion of European Union financial assistance for Ukraine — of which about two-thirds will be immediately available.
- Ukraine says it is within range of targets in the Kherson region as part of a counteroffensive in the south.
- Russia is struggling to extract and repair vehicles damaged by fighting, according to British military intelligence.
More live updates here.
- Russian state energy giant Gazprom signaled to the regulator of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline that gas would flow at 20 percent capacity this week — down from 40 percent.
- Russia said Monday that missile strikes on the Black Sea port of Odessa — one day after the grain deal — should not undermine the agreement signed by Moscow and Kyiv.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is in the Republic of Congo as part of a four-day tour to try to shore up African support for the war in Ukraine.
- The board of the European Investment Bank approved $1.625 billion of European Union financial assistance for Ukraine — of which about two-thirds will be immediately available.
- Ukraine says it is within range of targets in the Kherson region as part of a counteroffensive in the south.
- Russia is struggling to extract and repair vehicles damaged by fighting, according to British military intelligence.
More live updates here.
Facing resistance, E.U. agrees to watered-down gas rationing plan
European Union member states on Tuesday agreed on a plan to reduce gas consumption amid looming shortages, though the measures are less far-reaching than originally conceived in the wake of resistance from southern European countries.
While the 27 member states said that a reduction in gas use of up to 15 percent may become mandatory if gas storage levels drop dangerously low, they “specified some exemptions and possibilities" from the target, according to a release.
The exemptions — which could apply in a wide range of cases — had not been part of the earlier plans.
Read the full story here.
European Union member states on Tuesday agreed on a plan to reduce gas consumption amid looming shortages, though the measures are less far-reaching than originally conceived in the wake of resistance from southern European countries.
While the 27 member states said that a reduction in gas use of up to 15 percent may become mandatory if gas storage levels drop dangerously low, they “specified some exemptions and possibilities" from the target, according to a release.
The exemptions — which could apply in a wide range of cases — had not been part of the earlier plans.
Read the full story here.
Russia to withdraw from International Space Station
Russia on Tuesday announced it will withdraw from the International Space Station (ISS) project after 2024, signaling an end of an era in one of the last remaining areas of cooperation between Russia and the United States.
Russia’s newly appointed head of space agency Roscosmos announced the decision in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, saying that the company will instead focus on building its own orbital station.
“We will fulfill all our obligations to our partners, but the decision to leave this station after 2024 has been made,” the space agency chief Yury Borisov said.
Read the full story here.
Russia on Tuesday announced it will withdraw from the International Space Station (ISS) project after 2024, signaling an end of an era in one of the last remaining areas of cooperation between Russia and the United States.
Russia’s newly appointed head of space agency Roscosmos announced the decision in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, saying that the company will instead focus on building its own orbital station.
“We will fulfill all our obligations to our partners, but the decision to leave this station after 2024 has been made,” the space agency chief Yury Borisov said.
Read the full story here.
How will the Ukraine grain deal affect the global food crisis?
Russia and Ukraine agreed Friday to restart grain exports from Ukraine after a months-long blockade that fueled a growing global food crisis — but an attack on the port of Odessa on Saturday immediately cast doubt on Moscow’s commitment to the deal.
Ukraine and Russia are among the world’s top producers of grain, cooking oil and fertilizers. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent prices skyrocketing and caused shortages of food staples around the world.
The deal, which consists of two agreements brokered by the United Nations and facilitated by Turkey, was a major diplomatic achievement after world leaders and humanitarian organizations had sounded the alarm for months about rising hunger, especially in the Middle East and Africa.
Read the full story here.
Russia and Ukraine agreed Friday to restart grain exports from Ukraine after a months-long blockade that fueled a growing global food crisis — but an attack on the port of Odessa on Saturday immediately cast doubt on Moscow’s commitment to the deal.
Ukraine and Russia are among the world’s top producers of grain, cooking oil and fertilizers. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent prices skyrocketing and caused shortages of food staples around the world.
The deal, which consists of two agreements brokered by the United Nations and facilitated by Turkey, was a major diplomatic achievement after world leaders and humanitarian organizations had sounded the alarm for months about rising hunger, especially in the Middle East and Africa.
Read the full story here.
War narrows the many divides between east and west in Ukraine
With Moscow continuing to wage scorched-earth campaigns in the east and south, Ukrainians have abandoned their homes in droves. According to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration, more than 6 million people are now displaced within Ukraine, in addition to the nearly 5 million who have fled the country entirely.
Along with them have gone businesses and workplaces. Many, like Oleksii Vakhrushev’s company and more than a dozen of its employees, have headed to areas in western Ukraine where fighting and missile attacks have been minimal. Their journey represents a massive and very fluid demographic shift taking place within the country — one that is altering it economically and possibly changing Ukrainians’ own perception of one another.
East and west are growing closer, Vakhrushev believes. “We teach them, and they teach us,” he explained.
Read the full story here.
With Moscow continuing to wage scorched-earth campaigns in the east and south, Ukrainians have abandoned their homes in droves. According to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration, more than 6 million people are now displaced within Ukraine, in addition to the nearly 5 million who have fled the country entirely.
Along with them have gone businesses and workplaces. Many, like Oleksii Vakhrushev’s company and more than a dozen of its employees, have headed to areas in western Ukraine where fighting and missile attacks have been minimal. Their journey represents a massive and very fluid demographic shift taking place within the country — one that is altering it economically and possibly changing Ukrainians’ own perception of one another.
East and west are growing closer, Vakhrushev believes. “We teach them, and they teach us,” he explained.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- European Union member states on Tuesday agreed on a plan to reduce gas consumption amid looming shortages, as Ukraine urged Europe to “get rid of any dependence” on Moscow.
- Russia on Tuesday announced it would withdraw from the International Space Station (ISS) project after 2024.
- Russia struck the region of Odessa early Tuesday, launching a “massive” missile attack that hit buildings on the coast, according to preliminary reports from regional officials.
- Brittney Griner appeared in court Tuesday and is set to testify this week in her Moscow trial on drug charges.
- Russia struck civilian targets and critical infrastructure in Kharkiv and its surrounding region Tuesday, officials there said.
More live updates here.
- European Union member states on Tuesday agreed on a plan to reduce gas consumption amid looming shortages, as Ukraine urged Europe to “get rid of any dependence” on Moscow.
- Russia on Tuesday announced it would withdraw from the International Space Station (ISS) project after 2024.
- Russia struck the region of Odessa early Tuesday, launching a “massive” missile attack that hit buildings on the coast, according to preliminary reports from regional officials.
- Brittney Griner appeared in court Tuesday and is set to testify this week in her Moscow trial on drug charges.
- Russia struck civilian targets and critical infrastructure in Kharkiv and its surrounding region Tuesday, officials there said.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- As Kyiv prepares for shipments from three ports, a center to monitor grain exports opened in Istanbul under the deal to release millions of tons of grain cut off by a Russian naval blockade. The joint coordination center brings together Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations to resolve any violations of the agreement.
- Ukrainian forces struck the Antonivsky bridge in Kherson overnight, as they target a key supply link over the Dnipro river in a bid to wrest the southern region out of Russian hands. A Russian-backed official there said a HIMARS, a rocket launcher supplied by the United States, hit the structure, which is now pierced with holes but still standing.
- Air defense systems from Britain, antiaircraft weapons from Germany and ammunition from the United States have arrived in Ukraine. Six British Stormer HVM air defense systems made it to the front in Ukraine this week, the southern military command said.
More live updates here.
- As Kyiv prepares for shipments from three ports, a center to monitor grain exports opened in Istanbul under the deal to release millions of tons of grain cut off by a Russian naval blockade. The joint coordination center brings together Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations to resolve any violations of the agreement.
- Ukrainian forces struck the Antonivsky bridge in Kherson overnight, as they target a key supply link over the Dnipro river in a bid to wrest the southern region out of Russian hands. A Russian-backed official there said a HIMARS, a rocket launcher supplied by the United States, hit the structure, which is now pierced with holes but still standing.
- Air defense systems from Britain, antiaircraft weapons from Germany and ammunition from the United States have arrived in Ukraine. Six British Stormer HVM air defense systems made it to the front in Ukraine this week, the southern military command said.
More live updates here.
5 countries hit hard by the grain crisis in Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement Friday in Istanbul to restart Ukrainian grain shipments to buyers across the world and help Russia export grain and fertilizers — a deal hailed as a major diplomatic breakthrough after months of mounting concerns that the war in Ukraine would continue to worsen the mounting global food crisis.
Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian ports and the ripple effects of Western sanctions on Moscow have driven up global food prices, raised fears of looming grain shortages and exacerbated concerns about rising hunger around the world.
Ukraine and Russia produce about a third of the wheat traded in global markets, and about a quarter of the world’s barley, according to the Washington-based International Food Policy Research Institute.
Read the full story here.
Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement Friday in Istanbul to restart Ukrainian grain shipments to buyers across the world and help Russia export grain and fertilizers — a deal hailed as a major diplomatic breakthrough after months of mounting concerns that the war in Ukraine would continue to worsen the mounting global food crisis.
Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian ports and the ripple effects of Western sanctions on Moscow have driven up global food prices, raised fears of looming grain shortages and exacerbated concerns about rising hunger around the world.
Ukraine and Russia produce about a third of the wheat traded in global markets, and about a quarter of the world’s barley, according to the Washington-based International Food Policy Research Institute.
Read the full story here.
U.S. offers deal to Russia to free Brittney Griner as she testifies in Moscow
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the United States has made a “substantial proposal” to Russia to secure the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and jailed American Paul Whelan. The announcement came hours after Griner faced the most crucial moment yet in her Moscow trial on drug charges, giving evidence to a judge in a bid for leniency.
She faces 10 years in prison in a case that has further strained U.S.-Russian relations, already badly damaged by the war in Ukraine. Blinken added that he would speak to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a significant break from his past strategy of avoiding contact with senior Russian officials and seeking maximum isolation of Moscow.
Griner began her testimony Wednesday by describing her arrest at a Moscow airport in February after customs officials found two cannabis vape cartridges in her baggage.
Read the full story here.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the United States has made a “substantial proposal” to Russia to secure the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and jailed American Paul Whelan. The announcement came hours after Griner faced the most crucial moment yet in her Moscow trial on drug charges, giving evidence to a judge in a bid for leniency.
She faces 10 years in prison in a case that has further strained U.S.-Russian relations, already badly damaged by the war in Ukraine. Blinken added that he would speak to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a significant break from his past strategy of avoiding contact with senior Russian officials and seeking maximum isolation of Moscow.
Griner began her testimony Wednesday by describing her arrest at a Moscow airport in February after customs officials found two cannabis vape cartridges in her baggage.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- WNBA star Brittney Griner took the stand in her Moscow trial on drug charges, as Ukraine restarts operations at three Black Sea ports under a deal designed to ease the global food crisis by exporting stockpiled Ukrainian grain.
- The Kremlin blamed cuts to Russian gas supplies to Europe on E.U. sanctions.
- Ukraine’s parliament approved a new prosecutor general. Andriy Kostin will become the country’s top prosecutor after winning support from 299 members of the 450-seat legislature.
- Ukrainian forces struck the Antonovsky Bridge in Kherson overnight, as they target a key supply link over the Dnieper River in a bid to wrest the southern region out of Russian hands.
- Air defense systems from Britain, antiaircraft weapons from Germany and ammunition from the United States have arrived in Ukraine.
More live updates here.
- WNBA star Brittney Griner took the stand in her Moscow trial on drug charges, as Ukraine restarts operations at three Black Sea ports under a deal designed to ease the global food crisis by exporting stockpiled Ukrainian grain.
- The Kremlin blamed cuts to Russian gas supplies to Europe on E.U. sanctions.
- Ukraine’s parliament approved a new prosecutor general. Andriy Kostin will become the country’s top prosecutor after winning support from 299 members of the 450-seat legislature.
- Ukrainian forces struck the Antonovsky Bridge in Kherson overnight, as they target a key supply link over the Dnieper River in a bid to wrest the southern region out of Russian hands.
- Air defense systems from Britain, antiaircraft weapons from Germany and ammunition from the United States have arrived in Ukraine.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Blinken’s announcement Wednesday about a prisoner-swap proposal furthered speculation that it may involve Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence in Illinois for conspiring to kill U.S. nationals and selling weapons to terrorists.
- Russia is sustaining its offensive in eastern Ukraine but may otherwise be “unable to sustain a similar offensive operational tempo” elsewhere, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
- Ukraine’s effort to recapture Kherson, in the south, is gathering momentum, according to the U.K. defense ministry. Ukraine bombed a key bridge early Wednesday for the third time in 10 days to stymie Russia there, ISW said, and the bridge is probably unusable. Ukraine’s defense ministry said the strikes on the bridge “create an impossible dilemma for Russian occupiers” there. “Retreat or be annihilated,” it said.
More live updates here.
- Blinken’s announcement Wednesday about a prisoner-swap proposal furthered speculation that it may involve Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence in Illinois for conspiring to kill U.S. nationals and selling weapons to terrorists.
- Russia is sustaining its offensive in eastern Ukraine but may otherwise be “unable to sustain a similar offensive operational tempo” elsewhere, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
- Ukraine’s effort to recapture Kherson, in the south, is gathering momentum, according to the U.K. defense ministry. Ukraine bombed a key bridge early Wednesday for the third time in 10 days to stymie Russia there, ISW said, and the bridge is probably unusable. Ukraine’s defense ministry said the strikes on the bridge “create an impossible dilemma for Russian occupiers” there. “Retreat or be annihilated,” it said.
More live updates here.
Russia: No deal yet on releasing Americans Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan
Russia said Thursday that no concrete agreement had been reached in U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange negotiations, a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a “substantial proposal” had been made to Moscow to free jailed U.S. nationals WNBA star Brittney Griner and security consultant Paul Whelan.
“There are no agreements yet which are finalized,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
On Wednesday Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the proposal had been made to the Kremlin “weeks ago” for the release of Griner and Wheelan, although he did not specify its terms or if there had been any response. "Our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal,” he added.
Read the full story here.
Russia said Thursday that no concrete agreement had been reached in U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange negotiations, a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a “substantial proposal” had been made to Moscow to free jailed U.S. nationals WNBA star Brittney Griner and security consultant Paul Whelan.
“There are no agreements yet which are finalized,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
On Wednesday Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the proposal had been made to the Kremlin “weeks ago” for the release of Griner and Wheelan, although he did not specify its terms or if there had been any response. "Our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal,” he added.
Read the full story here.