As they wait for weapons, Ukrainians hold the line with Soviet artillery
ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, Ukraine — Ali Pirbudagov’s weapons are parked under the cover of trees and camouflage nets. They’re all older than he is, dating back to a time when Ukraine and Russia fought together in the Red Army. Now, Pirbudagov has to use them against Russian troops attacking with more-modern equipment.
“This particular one is from 1987,” said the 34-year-old Pirbudagov as he rubbed the hood of a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer. “There are older ones. This is actually one of the ‘newer’ pieces.”
While Western countries have started sending better weapons to Ukraine, they can be slow to arrive, leaving some units, like Pirbudagov’s 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, to fight with Soviet-era leftovers. They require a lot of repair, he said, and parts that aren’t easy to find.
Read the full story here.
ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, Ukraine — Ali Pirbudagov’s weapons are parked under the cover of trees and camouflage nets. They’re all older than he is, dating back to a time when Ukraine and Russia fought together in the Red Army. Now, Pirbudagov has to use them against Russian troops attacking with more-modern equipment.
“This particular one is from 1987,” said the 34-year-old Pirbudagov as he rubbed the hood of a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer. “There are older ones. This is actually one of the ‘newer’ pieces.”
While Western countries have started sending better weapons to Ukraine, they can be slow to arrive, leaving some units, like Pirbudagov’s 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, to fight with Soviet-era leftovers. They require a lot of repair, he said, and parts that aren’t easy to find.
Read the full story here.
Ukraine could be turning the tide of war again as Russian advances stall
Russian advances in Ukraine have slowed almost to a standstill as newly delivered Western weapons help Ukrainian forces reclaim much of the advantage they had lost in recent months, opening a window of opportunity to turn the tide of the war in their favor again.
Russian troops have made no significant territorial gains since the Ukrainian retreat on July 2 from the eastern city of Lysychansk under withering artillery fire. The retreat gave Russia full control over Luhansk, one of the two oblasts, or regions, that make up the broader eastern Donbas area, and it marked Russia’s only meaningful strategic success since its retreat from territory around Kyiv in April.
The lack of progress may be explained at least in part by the “operational pause” declared by Russia’s Defense Ministry after the seizure of Lysychansk.
Read the full story here.
Russian advances in Ukraine have slowed almost to a standstill as newly delivered Western weapons help Ukrainian forces reclaim much of the advantage they had lost in recent months, opening a window of opportunity to turn the tide of the war in their favor again.
Russian troops have made no significant territorial gains since the Ukrainian retreat on July 2 from the eastern city of Lysychansk under withering artillery fire. The retreat gave Russia full control over Luhansk, one of the two oblasts, or regions, that make up the broader eastern Donbas area, and it marked Russia’s only meaningful strategic success since its retreat from territory around Kyiv in April.
The lack of progress may be explained at least in part by the “operational pause” declared by Russia’s Defense Ministry after the seizure of Lysychansk.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- Russia’s interests must be taken into account in prisoner exchange negotiations, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday, adding that “a concrete result has not yet been achieved.”
- Russia is continuing attacks in eastern Ukraine but may be “unable to sustain a similar offensive operational tempo” elsewhere in the country, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank.
- Russia struck an area north of Kyiv early Thursday, according to Oleksiy Kuleba, the regional governor.
- Ukraine’s second-largest power plant has been captured, in one of Moscow’s first significant gains in weeks.
- Ukrainian forces’ efforts to recapture Kherson, in the south, are gathering momentum, according to the British Defense Ministry.
More live updates here.
- Russia’s interests must be taken into account in prisoner exchange negotiations, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday, adding that “a concrete result has not yet been achieved.”
- Russia is continuing attacks in eastern Ukraine but may be “unable to sustain a similar offensive operational tempo” elsewhere in the country, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank.
- Russia struck an area north of Kyiv early Thursday, according to Oleksiy Kuleba, the regional governor.
- Ukraine’s second-largest power plant has been captured, in one of Moscow’s first significant gains in weeks.
- Ukrainian forces’ efforts to recapture Kherson, in the south, are gathering momentum, according to the British Defense Ministry.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- The first grain shipments from Ukraine’s ports could take place as early as Friday following a landmark deal between Kyiv and Moscow.
- Russia is likely using mercenaries from the Wagner Group on the front line like normal army units, due to major shortages of combat infantry, Britain’s defense ministry said in its Friday update.
- The family of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout have expressed hopes he will be released in a possible prisoner swap. There is intense speculation that Bout, currently serving a 25-year sentence in Illinois, could be part of a prisoner swap with WNBA star Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
- Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv was hit by Russian shelling overnight, local officials reported. City mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a post on social media that a two-story building and a university had been hit.
More live updates here.
- The first grain shipments from Ukraine’s ports could take place as early as Friday following a landmark deal between Kyiv and Moscow.
- Russia is likely using mercenaries from the Wagner Group on the front line like normal army units, due to major shortages of combat infantry, Britain’s defense ministry said in its Friday update.
- The family of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout have expressed hopes he will be released in a possible prisoner swap. There is intense speculation that Bout, currently serving a 25-year sentence in Illinois, could be part of a prisoner swap with WNBA star Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
- Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv was hit by Russian shelling overnight, local officials reported. City mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a post on social media that a two-story building and a university had been hit.
More live updates here.
Ukraine and Russia trade blame for strike reportedly killing Mariupol prisoners
Ukraine and Russia traded accusations on Friday over the shelling of a prison in the eastern Donetsk region that allegedly killed and wounded Ukrainian prisoners of war, including those captured after the fall of the port city of Mariupol in May.
A spokesman for the Russian-backed breakaway Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) said a Ukrainian strike using U.S.-supplied HIMARS — High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems — had hit a prison in the town of Olenivka, killing at least 53 Ukrainian troops and wounding about 75.
Ukrainian authorities, however, denied any involvement and in turn accused Russian forces of carrying out the attack, which they described as a war crime.
In posts on Telegram, DPR spokesman Daniil Bezsonov referred to the casualties as “prisoners of Azovstal” — the steel plant in Mariupol that finally fell to Russian forces after a long drawn-out siege.
Read the full story here.
Ukraine and Russia traded accusations on Friday over the shelling of a prison in the eastern Donetsk region that allegedly killed and wounded Ukrainian prisoners of war, including those captured after the fall of the port city of Mariupol in May.
A spokesman for the Russian-backed breakaway Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) said a Ukrainian strike using U.S.-supplied HIMARS — High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems — had hit a prison in the town of Olenivka, killing at least 53 Ukrainian troops and wounding about 75.
Ukrainian authorities, however, denied any involvement and in turn accused Russian forces of carrying out the attack, which they described as a war crime.
In posts on Telegram, DPR spokesman Daniil Bezsonov referred to the casualties as “prisoners of Azovstal” — the steel plant in Mariupol that finally fell to Russian forces after a long drawn-out siege.
Read the full story here.
After Russian port strike, Ukraine grain deal hangs in the balance
ODESSA, Ukraine — Dmytro Podrezov’s booming logistics company once sent tens of thousands of tons of grain by ship each year from the port city of Odessa to customers around the world, but the war changed everything.
With the port now cut off by a Russian naval blockade, the commodity that accounted for at least a third of his company’s revenue is crammed into scarce rail cars and sent by lumbering trucks to meet an insatiable global demand.
Friday’s announcement of a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey to export grain trapped in Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea offered Podrezov a moment of hope.
But less than 24 hours after the deal was finalized, two Russian missiles struck the port in Odessa.
“It’s as if the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing,” said Podrezov, who runs the logistics company Celeste Marine. “The Russians took the U.N. agreement and pissed on it.”
Read the full story here.
ODESSA, Ukraine — Dmytro Podrezov’s booming logistics company once sent tens of thousands of tons of grain by ship each year from the port city of Odessa to customers around the world, but the war changed everything.
With the port now cut off by a Russian naval blockade, the commodity that accounted for at least a third of his company’s revenue is crammed into scarce rail cars and sent by lumbering trucks to meet an insatiable global demand.
Friday’s announcement of a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey to export grain trapped in Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea offered Podrezov a moment of hope.
But less than 24 hours after the deal was finalized, two Russian missiles struck the port in Odessa.
“It’s as if the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing,” said Podrezov, who runs the logistics company Celeste Marine. “The Russians took the U.N. agreement and pissed on it.”
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said a call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is being arranged and that it would “be interesting to listen to Blinken’s proposals on a prisoner swap.”
- The first grain shipments from Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea are expected to begin by the end of the week following confirmation from the United Nations, Ukrainian authorities announced Friday.
- Ukraine and pro-Russian forces are accusing each other of killing Ukrainian prisoners of war in an occupied area of the eastern Donetsk region.
- Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, was hit by Russian shelling overnight, local officials reported.
- A district in the southern city of Mykolaiv has been shelled with cluster munitions, Mayor Oleksandr Syenkevych said in a post on Telegram on Friday.
- A missile attack on a flight academy in the central city of Kropyvnytskyi killed five people and wounded 26, city officials said in a Friday update.
More live updates here.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said a call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is being arranged and that it would “be interesting to listen to Blinken’s proposals on a prisoner swap.”
- The first grain shipments from Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea are expected to begin by the end of the week following confirmation from the United Nations, Ukrainian authorities announced Friday.
- Ukraine and pro-Russian forces are accusing each other of killing Ukrainian prisoners of war in an occupied area of the eastern Donetsk region.
- Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, was hit by Russian shelling overnight, local officials reported.
- A district in the southern city of Mykolaiv has been shelled with cluster munitions, Mayor Oleksandr Syenkevych said in a post on Telegram on Friday.
- A missile attack on a flight academy in the central city of Kropyvnytskyi killed five people and wounded 26, city officials said in a Friday update.
More live updates here.
Blinken, Lavrov discussed potential prisoner exchange for Griner, others
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by telephone about a U.S. proposal to secure the release of two American prisoners, but neither side reported progress in what Blinken called “a frank and direct conversation.”
The top U.S. diplomat also said he warned the Kremlin during the conversation not to proceed with its plans to annex additional territory in Ukraine.
“I’m not going to characterize [Lavrov’s] response” to what the Biden administration has called a “substantial offer” in exchange for the release of basketball star Brittney Griner and security consultant Paul Whelan from a Russian prison, Blinken said at a news conference with his visiting Japanese counterpart. “And I can’t give you an assessment of whether I think things are any more or less likely.”
Read the full story here.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by telephone about a U.S. proposal to secure the release of two American prisoners, but neither side reported progress in what Blinken called “a frank and direct conversation.”
The top U.S. diplomat also said he warned the Kremlin during the conversation not to proceed with its plans to annex additional territory in Ukraine.
“I’m not going to characterize [Lavrov’s] response” to what the Biden administration has called a “substantial offer” in exchange for the release of basketball star Brittney Griner and security consultant Paul Whelan from a Russian prison, Blinken said at a news conference with his visiting Japanese counterpart. “And I can’t give you an assessment of whether I think things are any more or less likely.”
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of the “mass murder” of Ukrainian prisoners of war in an occupied area of the eastern Donetsk region. Zelensky said his diplomats have sent data about the attack on a prison in Olenivka to the U.N. and reiterated calls for Russia to be recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism.
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to accept a U.S. proposal for the return of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan in a call on Friday. There is speculation that the U.S. is seeking to swap Whelan and Griner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence in Illinois.
- Grain shipments from Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea could restart very soon. Ukraine says it is ready to resume exporting grain as part of a U.N.-brokered deal. More than 20 million tons of grain have been stuck in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February.
More live updates here.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of the “mass murder” of Ukrainian prisoners of war in an occupied area of the eastern Donetsk region. Zelensky said his diplomats have sent data about the attack on a prison in Olenivka to the U.N. and reiterated calls for Russia to be recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism.
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to accept a U.S. proposal for the return of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan in a call on Friday. There is speculation that the U.S. is seeking to swap Whelan and Griner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence in Illinois.
- Grain shipments from Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea could restart very soon. Ukraine says it is ready to resume exporting grain as part of a U.N.-brokered deal. More than 20 million tons of grain have been stuck in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February.
More live updates here.
Analysis: Africa is being pushed to take sides in the Ukraine war
When French President Emmanuel Macron visited Cameroon this week, he called out an entire continent for “hypocrisy.” Europe had decisively identified Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a war, he said during a news conference with Cameroonian President Paul Biya on Tuesday, but much of Africa had not.
“I have seen too much hypocrisy, particularly on the African continent,” Macron continued, “and — I’m saying this very calmly — with some not calling it a war when it is one and saying they don’t know who started it because they have diplomatic pressures.”
The French leader’s remarks, which came on the second day of a three-nation tour of Africa, showed a sharp contrast with those from another current visitor to the continent: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Read the full story here.
When French President Emmanuel Macron visited Cameroon this week, he called out an entire continent for “hypocrisy.” Europe had decisively identified Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a war, he said during a news conference with Cameroonian President Paul Biya on Tuesday, but much of Africa had not.
“I have seen too much hypocrisy, particularly on the African continent,” Macron continued, “and — I’m saying this very calmly — with some not calling it a war when it is one and saying they don’t know who started it because they have diplomatic pressures.”
The French leader’s remarks, which came on the second day of a three-nation tour of Africa, showed a sharp contrast with those from another current visitor to the continent: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Read the full story here.
Russia wants Viktor Bout back, badly. The question is: Why?
At the U.S. penitentiary in Marion, Ill., in a special unit so restrictive that it has the nickname “Little Guantánamo,” a broad-chested, mustachioed man nicknamed the “merchant of death,” who speaks at least six languages, is serving a 25-year term after building a gun-smuggling empire that spanned the globe.
His name is Viktor Bout. And his native Russia wants him home, badly. The big question: Why?
Bout, 55, is the most notorious arms dealer of his time, accused of profiting off weapons that fueled conflict in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Read the full story here.
At the U.S. penitentiary in Marion, Ill., in a special unit so restrictive that it has the nickname “Little Guantánamo,” a broad-chested, mustachioed man nicknamed the “merchant of death,” who speaks at least six languages, is serving a 25-year term after building a gun-smuggling empire that spanned the globe.
His name is Viktor Bout. And his native Russia wants him home, badly. The big question: Why?
Bout, 55, is the most notorious arms dealer of his time, accused of profiting off weapons that fueled conflict in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Ukrainian Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk on Saturday called for mandatory evacuation in Donetsk due to a lack of gas supply, according to Ukrainian state-owned broadcaster Ukrinform. In winter, she said, residents in the occupied region would find themselves with no heat due to the damaged gas pipelines.
- The International Committee of the Red Cross said Saturday it had requested access to a prison in eastern Ukraine where more than 50 Ukrainian POWs are reported to have been killed. Moscow and Kyiv accuse each other of attacking the facility in Olenivka, in a Russian occupied sector of the Donetsk region.
- Ukrainian and E.U. officials have condemned Russia after a graphic series of videos appeared on pro-Russian telegram channels. The videos showed a group of men, one whom was seen wearing pro-Russian symbols, castrate and execute a prisoner dressed in military fatigues with Ukrainian military insignia.
More live updates here.
- Ukrainian Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk on Saturday called for mandatory evacuation in Donetsk due to a lack of gas supply, according to Ukrainian state-owned broadcaster Ukrinform. In winter, she said, residents in the occupied region would find themselves with no heat due to the damaged gas pipelines.
- The International Committee of the Red Cross said Saturday it had requested access to a prison in eastern Ukraine where more than 50 Ukrainian POWs are reported to have been killed. Moscow and Kyiv accuse each other of attacking the facility in Olenivka, in a Russian occupied sector of the Donetsk region.
- Ukrainian and E.U. officials have condemned Russia after a graphic series of videos appeared on pro-Russian telegram channels. The videos showed a group of men, one whom was seen wearing pro-Russian symbols, castrate and execute a prisoner dressed in military fatigues with Ukrainian military insignia.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a mandatory evacuation order for civilians still living in the eastern region of Donetsk. “There are hundreds of thousands of people, tens of thousands of children … many people refuse to leave … but it really needs to be done,” he said in his nightly address.
- Russia says it has invited representatives of the United Nations and the Red Cross to investigate the deaths of Ukrainian prisoners of war at a detention center in Olenivka in a Russian-occupied sector of Donetsk. Kyiv insists Russia was behind the deaths while Russian-backed separatists allege more than 50 prisoners of war were killed in a Ukrainian missile attack.
- Satellite images released by Maxar Technologies showed damaged sections of the center. In before and after shots, Maxar said the pictures showed “one part of a building within the prison compound can be seen with extensive damage on today’s imagery.”
More live updates here.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a mandatory evacuation order for civilians still living in the eastern region of Donetsk. “There are hundreds of thousands of people, tens of thousands of children … many people refuse to leave … but it really needs to be done,” he said in his nightly address.
- Russia says it has invited representatives of the United Nations and the Red Cross to investigate the deaths of Ukrainian prisoners of war at a detention center in Olenivka in a Russian-occupied sector of Donetsk. Kyiv insists Russia was behind the deaths while Russian-backed separatists allege more than 50 prisoners of war were killed in a Ukrainian missile attack.
- Satellite images released by Maxar Technologies showed damaged sections of the center. In before and after shots, Maxar said the pictures showed “one part of a building within the prison compound can be seen with extensive damage on today’s imagery.”
More live updates here.
‘Horrific’ video apparently showing castration of Ukrainian fighter condemned
ODESSA — Amnesty International and the European Union have backed Kyiv in calling for an investigation into footage circulating online that appears to show pro-Russian forces castrating and executing a captive Ukrainian fighter.
Ukrainian officials pledged to identify the perpetrators after a series of gruesome videos recently surfaced on pro-Russian Telegram channels showing a group of men, one of them seen wearing pro-Russian symbols, castrating and executing a prisoner dressed in military fatigues with Ukrainian military insignia.
“This horrific assault is yet another apparent example of complete disregard for human life and dignity in Ukraine committed by Russian forces,” Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said Friday.
Read the full story here.
ODESSA — Amnesty International and the European Union have backed Kyiv in calling for an investigation into footage circulating online that appears to show pro-Russian forces castrating and executing a captive Ukrainian fighter.
Ukrainian officials pledged to identify the perpetrators after a series of gruesome videos recently surfaced on pro-Russian Telegram channels showing a group of men, one of them seen wearing pro-Russian symbols, castrating and executing a prisoner dressed in military fatigues with Ukrainian military insignia.
“This horrific assault is yet another apparent example of complete disregard for human life and dignity in Ukraine committed by Russian forces,” Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said Friday.
Read the full story here.
Nuclear threat higher now than in Cold War, British official warns
Britain’s national security adviser has warned that a breakdown in dialogue among rival powers is raising the risk of nuclear war, with fewer safeguards now than during the Cold War.
Western nations had a greater “understanding of the Soviet doctrine and capabilities — and vice versa” at the time because they kept more negotiation channels open, Stephen Lovegrove said at an event in Washington on Wednesday.
“This gave us both a higher level of confidence that we would not miscalculate our way into nuclear war,” he said. “Today, we do not have the same foundations with others who may threaten us in the future — particularly with China.”
As such, he said, Britain strongly supports President Biden’s talking with Beijing.
Read the full story here.
Britain’s national security adviser has warned that a breakdown in dialogue among rival powers is raising the risk of nuclear war, with fewer safeguards now than during the Cold War.
Western nations had a greater “understanding of the Soviet doctrine and capabilities — and vice versa” at the time because they kept more negotiation channels open, Stephen Lovegrove said at an event in Washington on Wednesday.
“This gave us both a higher level of confidence that we would not miscalculate our way into nuclear war,” he said. “Today, we do not have the same foundations with others who may threaten us in the future — particularly with China.”
As such, he said, Britain strongly supports President Biden’s talking with Beijing.
Read the full story here.
His city occupied, a Ukrainian mayor fights to save his community
NOVOMOSKOVSK, Ukraine — Mykola Khanatov is a mayor without a city.
He remembers the last time he saw his hometown of Popasna, in Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region. It was Orthodox Easter and the Russians were at the gates. He was inside his fourth-story apartment when a torrent of shells landed nearby.
The 41-year-old took off down the stairs, squeezing through the bars of a locked security door to reach the basement.
There, he huddled with his neighbors for the better part of an hour. After weeks of intense bombardment, residents had learned the rhythm of the Russian firing teams — a pause in the shelling meant he had a 10-minute head start before the soldiers reloaded.
Read the full story here.
NOVOMOSKOVSK, Ukraine — Mykola Khanatov is a mayor without a city.
He remembers the last time he saw his hometown of Popasna, in Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region. It was Orthodox Easter and the Russians were at the gates. He was inside his fourth-story apartment when a torrent of shells landed nearby.
The 41-year-old took off down the stairs, squeezing through the bars of a locked security door to reach the basement.
There, he huddled with his neighbors for the better part of an hour. After weeks of intense bombardment, residents had learned the rhythm of the Russian firing teams — a pause in the shelling meant he had a 10-minute head start before the soldiers reloaded.
Read the full story here.
Here's the latest from Ukraine:
- Putin said Zircon hypersonic missiles “have no equivalent in the world” and could evade any defense. Russia said earlier this year it had used a type of hypersonic missile — which fly at five times the speed of sound — against Ukraine. The development of the Zircon missile has been underway for years.
- The attack on Russia’s Black Sea fleet headquarters, in the Crimean city of Sevastopol, sent a defiant message on Russia’s Navy Day. The attack forced the cancellation of celebrations of Navy Day in Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014 where the Black Sea Fleet is headquartered.
- One of Ukraine’s richest businessmen and his wife were killed in overnight attacks on the southern city of Mykolaiv, regional governor Vitaliy Kim said. Oleksiy Vadatursky owned the Nibulon agricultural company.
More live updates here.
- Putin said Zircon hypersonic missiles “have no equivalent in the world” and could evade any defense. Russia said earlier this year it had used a type of hypersonic missile — which fly at five times the speed of sound — against Ukraine. The development of the Zircon missile has been underway for years.
- The attack on Russia’s Black Sea fleet headquarters, in the Crimean city of Sevastopol, sent a defiant message on Russia’s Navy Day. The attack forced the cancellation of celebrations of Navy Day in Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014 where the Black Sea Fleet is headquartered.
- One of Ukraine’s richest businessmen and his wife were killed in overnight attacks on the southern city of Mykolaiv, regional governor Vitaliy Kim said. Oleksiy Vadatursky owned the Nibulon agricultural company.
More live updates here.
First ship carrying grain leaves Odessa in deal to ease global food crisis
ODESSA, Ukraine — The first ship carrying grain departed a Ukrainian port under a United Nations-brokered deal to ease a global food crisis sparked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The departure of the cargo vessel loaded with corn from Odessa on Monday came despite fears the deal, inked in late July, would fall apart after a recent Russian attack on the port.
The wail of a Ukrainian tug boat’s horn marked the departure of the Razoni, a Sierra Leonian-flagged bulk carrier that began the journey at 9:30 a.m. local, departing from the port. The ship was destined for Lebanon, according to Turkey’s Defense Ministry.
Read the full story.
ODESSA, Ukraine — The first ship carrying grain departed a Ukrainian port under a United Nations-brokered deal to ease a global food crisis sparked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The departure of the cargo vessel loaded with corn from Odessa on Monday came despite fears the deal, inked in late July, would fall apart after a recent Russian attack on the port.
The wail of a Ukrainian tug boat’s horn marked the departure of the Razoni, a Sierra Leonian-flagged bulk carrier that began the journey at 9:30 a.m. local, departing from the port. The ship was destined for Lebanon, according to Turkey’s Defense Ministry.
Read the full story.
Here's the latest from Ukraine:
- A ship carrying more than 26,000 metric tons of corn left the Ukrainian port of Odessa for the first time since Russia’s invasion under a deal to ease the global food crisis.
- The key Black Sea port of Mykolaiv was hit by “one of the most brutal shellings” since the war began, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, as dozens of Russian rockets destroyed homes, schools and infrastructure.
- Finger-pointing continues over the attack on a detention center in Russian-occupied Donetsk that killed 50 Ukrainian prisoners.
- Russia is making slow progress in Donbas, probably a result of redirecting troops to southern Ukraine, Britain’s Defense Ministry said in its latest intelligence update Monday, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces were “probably adjusting” operations after failing to make a significant breakthrough in recent months.
More live updates here.
- A ship carrying more than 26,000 metric tons of corn left the Ukrainian port of Odessa for the first time since Russia’s invasion under a deal to ease the global food crisis.
- The key Black Sea port of Mykolaiv was hit by “one of the most brutal shellings” since the war began, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, as dozens of Russian rockets destroyed homes, schools and infrastructure.
- Finger-pointing continues over the attack on a detention center in Russian-occupied Donetsk that killed 50 Ukrainian prisoners.
- Russia is making slow progress in Donbas, probably a result of redirecting troops to southern Ukraine, Britain’s Defense Ministry said in its latest intelligence update Monday, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces were “probably adjusting” operations after failing to make a significant breakthrough in recent months.
More live updates here.