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☆ Explainer-What Are the Security Deals Ukraine Is Discussing With Allies?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

We need NATO membership," said Ihor Zhovkva, the Ukrainian president's foreign affairs adviser. In these supplements, we define the concrete scope, concrete things, concrete spheres. France and Germany look on course to agree security commitments with Ukraine soon. President Emmanuel Macron was expected to finalise a bilateral security commitment deal in Ukraine this month, but he postponed the trip for security reasons. Zhovkva said there was no need for Ukraine to rush to agree deals.

Persons: Tom Balmforth, Ihor Zhovkva, Zhovkva, Emmanuel Macron, Ukraine's Zhovkva, Olena Harmash, John Irish, Ros Russell Organizations: Tom Balmforth KYIV, NATO, Seven, Kyiv, WHO, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Vilnius, Ukrainian, London, Britain, Russian, Russia, Netherlands, Romania, Poland, Denmark, France, Germany, Paris, Budapest, United States, Kyiv

☆ Ukraine Says It Uncovers Mass Fraud in Weapons Procurement
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Ukraine's SBU security service said on Saturday it had uncovered a corruption scheme in the purchase of arms by the country's military totalling the equivalent of about $40 million. The announcement of mass procurement fraud, confirmed by Ukraine's Defence Ministry, will have a huge resonance in a country beleaguered by Russia's nearly two-year-old invasion. The fight to root out endemic corruption remains a major issue as Ukraine presses its bid to secure membership in the European Union. "According to the investigation, former and current high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Defence and heads of affiliated companies are involved in the embezzlement." Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov was dismissed last September over various corruption cases despite enjoying a solid reputation in representing Ukraine in its discussions with Western allies.

Persons: Russia's, Oleksii Reznikov, Ron Popeski, Maria Starkova, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Reuters, Ukraine's Defence Ministry, European Union, Ministry of Defence, Lviv Arsenal, . Defence, Western Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian

☆ Plane Crash in Western Russia - What We Know and Don't Know
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

(Reuters) - Russia accused Ukraine on Wednesday of shooting down a military transport plane carrying 65 captured Ukrainian soldiers to a prisoner exchange. The crash took place just northeast of Belgorod in western Russia, close to the border with Ukraine. The aircraft was an Ilyushin Il-76, a large military transport plane designed to carry troops, cargo or weapons. He said a second Il-76 transport plane carrying around 80 more Ukrainian soldiers to the exchange had managed to turn around. Ukraine's defence ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Persons: Here's, Andrei Kartapolov, Kartapolov, Ukraine's, Andriy Yusov, Margarita Simonyan, Mykhailo Podolyak, Mark Trevelyan, Andrew Osborn, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Reuters, Ukraine, WHO, U.S . Patriots, IRIS, Radio Svoboda Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Belgorod, Russian, Ukraine's Kharkiv, Chkalovsky, Moscow, UKRAINE, Ukrainian

☆ Drones Are Hit and Miss for Ukrainian Soldiers
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, have become vital for Ukraine's military since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. "And most of them are because of low-quality parts that are used very often to make the drones even cheaper." AN INTEGRAL PART OF UKRAINE'S WAR EFFORTUkraine's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the soldiers' remarks. Drones range from small UAVs controlled remotely to larger devices that can fly hundreds of kilometres deep into Russian territory. Despite their impact, Sam said drones could not win the war on their own.

Persons: Inna, Sam, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Elaine Monaghan, Timothy Heritage Organizations: Reuters, Russia, Artillery, Russian Locations: DONETSK, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Russia, Russian

☆ Ukraine's ex-president says he was blocked from leaving country
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Gleb Garanich/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Ukraine's ex-President Petro Poroshenko said he had been stopped from leaving the country on Friday morning in what he described as a politically motivated bid to disrupt his work. The Ukrainian parliament's deputy speaker, Oleksandr Korniyenko, later confirmed he had cancelled Poroshenko's permission to leave the country. Poroshenko said he had planned to travel to Poland to help negotiate an end to a truckers' blockade and then to the United States to build support for Ukraine's war effort. "This is an anti-Ukrainian diversion," Poroshenko wrote. "It is not just the hampering of my entire team's diplomatic work, but unfortunately a blow to Ukraine's defence capabilities."

Persons: Petro Poroshenko, Gleb Garanich, Poroshenko, Oleksandr Korniyenko, Korniyenko, Volodymyr Zelenskiy's, Zelenskiy, Reportig, Dan Peleschuk, Max Hunder, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Solidarity, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Poland, Ukrainian, Russian, United States

☆ Russia says it takes Ukrainian village, Ukraine notes increased Russian activity
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

There was no mention of the villages in official Ukrainian accounts of Wednesday's fighting in an area that Ukrainian forces have been trying to secure for weeks. Unofficial accounts and bloggers acknowledged that part of the village was held by Russian forces, but dismissed any notion it was fully under Russian control. Oleksandr Shtupun, a Ukrainian military spokesperson, said Russian front line shelling and air strikes had doubled following an end to several days of rain. Shtupun told national television that Russian troops were sending waves of up to 20 armoured vehicles at a time in attempting to move on Ukrainian lines. Russian forces, he said, were now within 9 km of the town.

Persons: Nuzhnenko, Khromove, Oleksandr Shtupun, Shtupun, Serhiy Zgurets, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS, Russia's Defence Ministry, Russian, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Donetsk region, Radio Free Europe, Donetsk, Kyiv, Bakhmut, Russian, Ukrainian, Zaporizhzhia, Kupiansk

☆ Ukraine Welcomes Western Allies' Air Defence Coalition
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his defence minister welcomed the formation by Ukraine's Western allies on Thursday of a 20-nation "coalition" to boost air defences, seen as a key element in the country's campaign against Russian forces. Zelenskiy said the group, one of several devoted to specific areas of Ukraine's defence, was formed at a virtual meeting of the "Ramstein group" examining Ukraine's military needs. "Not everything can be disclosed publicly at this time, but the Ukrainian air shield is becoming stronger every month." Defence Minister Rustem Umerov also noted other assistance agreed by participants, including a German air defence package announced this week during a visit to Kyiv by Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. Zelenskiy has long pointed to improved air defence as a key element to help keep Ukrainian cities safe from Russian air strikes - including on energy infrastructure - as wintry weather takes hold.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Rustem Umerov, Boris Pistorius, General Valery Zaluzhniy, Ron Popeski, Ludwig Berger, Stephen Coates Organizations: Reuters, Russian, Germany's Defence Ministry, " Defence Locations: Ramstein, Germany, France, Kyiv, Dutch, Russia

File photo: Ukrainian sappers dig up a rocket of multiple launch system in a field, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kherson region, Ukraine November 9, 2023. REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Ukrainian troops have crossed the vast River Dnipro into occupied areas of Kherson region and are operating in small groups, Russia conceded on Wednesday, saying it had dispatched more troops to stop them. A Ukrainian military spokesperson added on Wednesday that Ukrainian troops were trying to push Russian forces back from the eastern bank of the river, which serves as a formidable natural barrier on the battlefield. COUNTEROFFENSIVE 'DEVELOPING'Russia has largely held Kyiv's counteroffensive at bay in the southeast, but an advance in occupied Kherson region could spread their defences thinner and ratchet up pressure. Russian troops seized Kherson region in the early days of their invasion, but retreated a year ago from the city of Kherson and other positions on the western side of the river.

Persons: Viacheslav, Vladimir Saldo, Natalia Humeniuk, Volodymyr Zelenskiy's, Andriy Yermak, Yermak, Tom Balmforth, Olena Harmash, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kherson region, Dnipro, Kherson, Russia, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Russian, Moscow, Krynky, United States

☆ Ukrainian Group Says More Than 30,000 Troops Have Died in Russia's Invasion
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV (Reuters) - A Ukrainian civic group said it has confirmed the deaths of nearly 25,000 Ukrainian soldiers since Russia's February 2022 invasion by using open sources, and puts the total toll at more than 30,000. Writing in the Ukrainian journal Tyzhden, historian Yaroslav Tynchenko and volunteer Herman Shapovalenko said Shapovalenko's Book of Memory project had confirmed 24,500 combat and non-combat deaths using open sources. "That is, the real number of dead (deceased) in combat and non-combat situations is more than 30,000 people." The Book of Memory project, which has tracked Ukraine's war dead since Russia's first invasion in 2014, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russia has also not disclosed the number of its war dead.

Persons: Yaroslav Tynchenko, Herman Shapovalenko, Tynchenko, Dan Peleschuk, Tom Balmforth, Alex Richardson Organizations: New York Times, Reuters, Military History Museum of Locations: Ukrainian, Military History Museum of Ukraine, Ukraine, Russia, Ukraine's

The conflict is also testing the limits of the regional coalition whose members - which include the Syrian government, Hezbollah, Hamas and other militant groups from Iraq to Yemen - have differing priorities and domestic challenges. On Oct. 7, Hamas' military commander Mohammed Deif called on its axis allies to join the struggle. Yet, like its backer Iran, Hezbollah has avoided an all-out confrontation. Iran does not recognise Israel's existence, while Israel has long threatened military action against Iran if diplomacy fails to curb its disputed nuclear activity. "Iran has shown a four-decade commitment to fighting America and Israel without entering into direct conflict.

Persons: Ali Khamenei, Ismail Haniyeh, wouldn't, Yemen's Houthis, Mohanad Hage Ali, Israel, Mohammed Deif, Khaled Meshaal, Dennis Ross, Hamas didn't, didn't, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Joe Biden, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Israel didn't, Karim Sadjadpour, Parisa Hafezi, Laila Bassam, Arshad Mohammed, Tom Perry, Jonathan Saul, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Pravin Organizations: Israel, Reuters, Hezbollah, Carnegie Middle East Center, Hamas, Washington Institute for Near, Iran, AMERICA, United, U.S, Pentagon ., . Defense, NORTH Austin, Carnegie Endowment, International, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Tehran, Israel, Iran, Palestinian, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Beirut, Gaza, Lebanon, Palestine, United States, U.S, East, Iranian, Afghanistan, Seoul, ISRAEL, America, Dubai, Saint Paul, Jerusalem, Washington

☆ Ukraine Orders Investigation Into Russian Attack on Assault Brigade
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Maria StarkovaLVIV, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukraine's defence minister ordered on Saturday an investigation into an alleged Russian ballistic missile attack on Ukrainian assault brigade, after reports that more than 20 soldiers were killed during an awards ceremony. "My condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers from the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade," Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said in a social media statement, adding that he had ordered a "full investigation." In its daily reports on battlefield activities, the Russian Defence Ministry said only that Russian forces "inflicted fire" on a unit of Ukraine's assault brigade in the region, killing up to 30 military personnel. Both Russia and Ukraine have often underestimated their military casualties in the 20-month-long war, while exaggerated the losses they claim to have inflicted upon each other. (Additonal reporting by Elaine Monaghan in Washington,; Writing by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Michael Perry)

Persons: Maria Starkova, Rustem Umerov, Elaine Monaghan, Lidia Kelly, Michael Perry Organizations: Reuters, Transcarpathian Brigade, Ukrainian Defence, Armed Forces, Russian Defence Ministry Locations: Maria Starkova LVIV, Ukraine, Russian, Russia, Zaporizhzhia, Washington, Melbourne

☆ Ukraine orders investigation into Russian attack on assault brigade
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Maria Starkova | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

File Photo: Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov visit an artillery training centre, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at an undisclosed location in Ukraine November 3, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsLVIV, Ukraine, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Ukraine's defence minister ordered on Saturday an investigation into an alleged Russian ballistic missile attack on Ukrainian assault brigade, after reports that more than 20 soldiers were killed during an awards ceremony. "My condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers from the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade," Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said in a social media statement, adding that he had ordered a "full investigation." In its daily reports on battlefield activities, the Russian Defence Ministry said only that Russian forces "inflicted fire" on a unit of Ukraine's assault brigade in the region, killing up to 30 military personnel. Both Russia and Ukraine have often underestimated their military casualties in the 20-month-long war, while exaggerating the losses they claim to have inflicted upon each other.

Persons: Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Rustem Umerov, Elaine Monaghan, Lidia Kelly, Michael Perry Organizations: Ukrainian Armed Forces, Defence, Presidential Press Service, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Transcarpathian Brigade, Ukrainian Defence, Armed Forces, Russian Defence Ministry, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Rights LVIV, Russian, Russia, Zaporizhzhia, Washington, Melbourne

☆ Ukraine plans to ramp up monthly drone output by year-end - minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An FPV (first person view) drone and additional equipment are seen at a training facility for military FPV drone pilots amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at an undisclosed location in Zhytomyr region, Ukraine September 14, 2023. Kyiv has focused on increasing its output, but has relied heavily on foreign-made drone engines. Speaking at a NATO Industry Forum in Stockholm, Oleksandr Kamyshin, the minister who oversees Ukraine's defence industry, did not disclose detailed current drone production figures, but put the number in the thousands per month. Ukrainian officials hope cooperation with Western arms producers can also help revive the domestic arms industry and create an additional boost for the economy. Kamyshin said he had recently seen a "new wave of interest" in his country from Western defense industry companies.

Persons: Max Hunder, Oleksandr Kamyshin, Kamyshin, Yuliia, Tom Balmforth, Helen Popper Our Organizations: REUTERS, NATO Industry Forum, Western, Tuesday, Rheinmetall, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Zhytomyr region, Russia, Kyiv, Stockholm

☆ Britain sends auxiliary ships, spy planes to support Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is deploying two Royal Navy ships and surveillance aircraft to the eastern Mediterranean to support Israel and reinforce regional stability, his Downing Street office said on Thursday. The military package, which includes P8 surveillance planes, other surveillance assets, two auxiliary ships, three Merlin helicopters and a company of Royal Marines, will be on standby in the region to provide "practical support to Israel ... and offer deterrence and assurance," Downing Street said. "Alongside our allies, the deployment of our world class military will support efforts to ensure regional stability and prevent further escalation." Sunak said UK military and diplomatic teams will also support international partners to re-establish security and ensure humanitarian aid reaches the region. UK military teams in Israel, Cyprus and across the region will also be bolstered to support contingency planning.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Abdel Fattah al, Downing, William James, Sachin Ravikumar, Toby Chopra Organizations: British, Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Israel, Joint Expeditionary Force, Russia, Thomson Locations: Israel, Cyprus, Gaza, Sweden

☆ Ukraine's parliament taunts Elon Musk after meme mocking Zelenskiy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer of SpaceX and Tesla and owner of Twitter, gestures as he attends the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre in Paris, France, June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Ukraine's parliament and its speaker taunted billionaire Elon Musk on Monday after he posted a meme on his social media platform mocking President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's pleas for wartime assistance from the West. The speaker of Ukraine's parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, hit out at Musk's jibe with his own post on X. "The case when ...(Elon Musk) tried to conquer space, but something went wrong and in 5 minutes he was up to his eyeballs in shit," an apparent reference to SpaceX's failed rocket launch in April. Ukraine's parliament, on its official page on X, accused Musk of spreading Russian propaganda, posting its own version of the meme with a picture of Musk and the caption: "When it's been 5 minutes and you haven't spread Russian propaganda".

Persons: Elon Musk, Porte, Gonzalo Fuentes, Volodymyr Zelenskiy's, . Musk, Musk, it's, haven't, Ruslan Stefanchuk, Mykhailo Podolyak, Zelenskiy, Max Hunder, Tom Balmforth, Robert Birsel Organizations: SpaceX, Tesla, Viva Technology, Porte de, REUTERS, Rights, ., Kyiv, U.S, Congress, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Kyiv, Russia, Ukrainian, Ukraine's, Ukraine, United States, U.S

☆ Ukraine lures Western weapons makers to transform defence industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Olena Harmash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Ukraine is in such a phase of the defence marathon when it is very important, critical to go forward without retreating. Results from the frontline are needed daily," Zelenskiy told executives representing more than 250 Western weapons producers. Executives from weapons producers from over 30 countries attended the forum. Ukrainian officials see the development of domestic defence production as a boost to the economy, which has shrunk by about a third last year due to the war. Several leading Western producers like Germany's weapon production giant Rheinmetall and Britain-based BAE Systems have already announced plans to team up with Ukrainian producers.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Olena Harmash, William Maclean Organizations: Puma, Rheinmetall, REUTERS, Rights, BAE Systems, Foreign Ministry, U.S, Thomson Locations: Unterluess, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Britain, Czech, Turkish

☆ Romania bolsters defences to stop Ukraine war crossing NATO threshold
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Luiza Ilie | Thomson Reuters | Bucharest-Based General News Reporter Covering A Wide Range Of Romanian Topics Elections | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] A view shows a building of Ukraine's Black Sea Danube shipping company destroyed during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Izmail, Odesa region, Ukraine August 2, 2023. In November last year, a missile hit southern Poland killing two people and prompting a brief security scare, although it was later determined that Ukrainian air defences were to blame. Among the targets were the Ukrainian ports of Izmail and Reni, both of which lie across the Danube from Romanian soil. "They (Russian drones) fly at very low altitudes, sometimes less than 200 metres (above ground) ... they are built in such a way that least reflects radar waves," he said. In July, when the Danube bombing campaign began in earnest, Russians had more targeted success because Ukraine had not set up extensive air defence systems in the area.

Persons: Nina Liashenko, Reni, Tudor Cernega, Jens Stoltenberg, Constantin Spinu, Cernega, Andrew Gray, Mike Collett, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: REUTERS, NATO, Local, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Izmail, Odesa, Romania, Moscow, BUCHAREST, Poland, Ukrainian, Russia, Romanian, Plauru, Ceatalchioi, U.S, ROMANIA, Kyiv, Brussels

☆ Ukraine attacks Russian Black Sea navy HQ in Crimea
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] A satellite image shows smoke billowing from a Russian Black Sea Navy HQ after a missile strike, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Sevastopol, Crimea, September 22, 2023. Ukraine's military confirmed it had attacked the Russian Black Sea fleet's headquarters, but gave few details. "On September 22 close to 12:00 (0900 GMT) Ukraine's defence forces successfully struck the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea fleet command in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol," it said on the Telegram messaging app. Ukraine has intensified attacks in the Black Sea and Crimea, which was seized and annexed by Russia in 2014, as Ukrainian forces press on with a nearly four-month-old counteroffensive to regain Russian-occupied territory. Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's Security Council said there were two options for the future of the Russia's Black Sea fleet - voluntary or forced "self-neutralisation".

Persons: Mikhail Razvozhayev, Razvozhayev, Oleksiy Danilov, Mykhailo Podolyak, Oleg Kryuchkov, Sergei Aksyonov, Philippa Fletcher, Ron Popeski, Grant McCool Organizations: Sea Navy, PBC, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Russian, Security, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Sevastopol, Crimea, Ukrainian, Crimean, Russia, Moscow, Bakhchysarai

☆ Russian attack kills one, causes fire in west Ukrainian city of Lviv - officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Firefighters work at a site of an industrial warehouse damaged by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Lviv, Ukraine September 19, 2023. Lviv governor Maxim Kozitsky said firefighters were tackling the blaze and that a 26-year-old man had been taken to hospital. "I want to emphasise that these are ordinary industrial warehouses. He said Russian forces had launched 18 drones in the attack and that 15 had been shot down, including seven that were directly over the Lviv region. At least seven people were killed in July when a Russian missile slammed into a residential building in Lviv, which is far from front lines.

Persons: Maxim Kozitsky, Andriy Sadovyi, Kozitsky, Lidia Kelly, Anna Pruchnicka, Christopher Cushing, Michael Perry, Timothy Organizations: Press, State Emergency Service of Ukraine, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Lviv, Russian, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Lviv, Russia, Ukrainian, Moscow, Melbourne

☆ Ukraine removes deputy defence ministers after new minister's appointment
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Newly appointed Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov addresses commanders of the Armed Forces during a meeting, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine September 7, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The Ukrainian government dismissed six deputy defence ministers on Monday following the appointment of a new defence minister earlier this month. The government gave no reason for the dismissals, but such moves are common after a new minister's appointment. Rustem Umerov became defence minister less than two weeks ago, replacing Oleksii Reznikov. Maliar, a war crimes lawyer, had served as a deputy defence minister since 2021 and her latest update on the war in Ukraine appeared on Monday morning.

Persons: Rustem Umerov, Hanna Maliar, Oleksii Reznikov, Reznikov, Umerov, Anna Pruchnicka, Timothy Organizations: Ukraine's, Armed Forces, Presidential Press Service, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Ukrainian, Pravda, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia

Ukrainian Antonov An-225 Mriya cargo plane, the world's biggest aircraft, flies during the Independence Day military parade in Kyiv, Ukraine August 24, 2021. Antonov did not respond to requests for comment on the centre and expansion plans in the drone sector. Under Ukroboronprom, Antonov has designed and built drones in the past, including the Horlytsia model, but cargo planes have long been its primary focus. Antonov's expertise in cargo planes could also be applied to long-distance drones, the source added, giving Ukraine's armed forces the capability to strike deeper into Russian territory. LIVE TESTINGKyiv has used aerial drones to attack airfields and Russian troops and aquatic drones against ships and a bridge.

Persons: Gleb Garanich, Antonov, Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukroboronprom, inefficiently, Tom Balmforth, Tim Hepher, Mike Collett, White, Alexander Smith Organizations: world's, Independence Day, REUTERS, Reuters, Washington , D.C, Vehicle, Russia, Strategic Industries, Thomson Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, KYIV, Washington ,, Soviet, Russia

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy, allies call for greater focus on war
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a press conference with Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (not pictured) in front of the presidential palace in Kyiv, Ukraine, September 6, 2023. Ritzau Scanpix/Ida Marie Odgaard via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSept 11 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his allies urged Ukrainians on Monday to keep their focus squarely on the war effort 18 months into Russia's invasion, an indication that authorities in Kyiv were steeling for a long campaign. Zelenskiy has long called for greater focus on the war effort and pledged to intensify a crackdown on corruption as part of Ukraine's bid to join the European Union. The campaign prompted the dismissal of Ukraine's defence minister last week and has also seen the detention of a business magnate who was once Zelenskiy's mentor on fraud charges. But appeals by Zelenskiy and his lieutenants are now more strident as Ukraine's military presses its steady, but relatively slow, counteroffensive in Russian-occupied areas.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Mette Frederiksen, Ritzau Scanpix, Ida Marie Odgaard, Zelenskiy, David Arakhamia, Annalena Baerbock, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Ron Popeski, Pavel Polityuk, Jamie Freed Organizations: Denmark's, REUTERS Acquire, European Union, EU, NATO, Thomson Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Soviet

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy, Allies Call for Greater Focus on War
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

(Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his allies urged Ukrainians on Monday to keep their focus squarely on the war effort 18 months into Russia's invasion, an indication that authorities in Kyiv were steeling for a long campaign. Zelenskiy has long called for greater focus on the war effort and pledged to intensify a crackdown on corruption as part of Ukraine's bid to join the European Union. But appeals by Zelenskiy and his lieutenants are now more strident as Ukraine's military presses its steady, but relatively slow, counteroffensive in Russian-occupied areas. Zelenskiy has made securing EU and NATO membership - both complex processes - the top foreign policy priorities. War will continue for "as long as Russia remains on Ukrainian territory" and Ukraine rejected "frozen conflicts" long in place in other post-Soviet trouble spots, he said.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, David Arakhamia, Annalena Baerbock, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Ron Popeski, Pavel Polityuk, Jamie Freed Organizations: Reuters, European Union, EU, NATO Locations: Kyiv, Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Soviet

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy moves to replace wartime defence minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov attend a meeting with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 7, 2023. Press Service of the Defence Ministry of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday he had decided to dismiss Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov from his post and would ask parliament this week to replace him with Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's main privatisation fund. The announcement, made in his nightly video address to the nation, sets the stage for the biggest shakeup of Ukraine's defence establishment during the war launched by Russia in February 2022. Oleksii Reznikov has been through more than 550 days of full-scale war," Zelenskiy said. The change of defence minister must be approved by parliament, but is likely to be supported by a majority of lawmakers in the Verkhovna Rada.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Oleksii Reznikov, Boris Pistorius, Rustem Umerov, Reznikov, I've, Zelenskiy, Umerov, Tom Balmforth, Anna Pruchnicka, Diane Craft Organizations: Defence, German, Press Service, Defence Ministry of, REUTERS, Rights, Defense, Verkhovna Rada, Property Fund, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Defence Ministry of Ukraine, Handout, Russia, Verkhovna, Crimean

☆ Kremlin warns UK's BAE Systems: Ukraine base could be target for Russian military
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, Sept 1 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Friday it took a negative view of British defence contractor BAE Systems' (BAES.L) decision to establish itself in Ukraine, adding that any facilities producing weapons used against Russia would become targets for Moscow's military. The move would not influence the course of conflict in Ukraine, or contribute to a reduction of hostilities, he said. BAE Systems, Britain's biggest defence company, said on Thursday it had set up a unit in Ukraine and signed deals with the government to boost Kyiv's supplies of weapons and equipment. BAE has made much of the equipment provided to Ukraine by Britain and other governments as it fends off Russia's invasion. Western defence companies have been weighing opportunities to make weapons in Ukraine against the possible security risks, Reuters reported in June.

Persons: Dmitry Peskov, Felix Light, Kevin Liffey, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: BAE Systems, BAE, Reuters, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, Britain

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