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☆ Ukrainian troops battle exhaustion as war drags into second winter
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

"Non-stop fighting, assaults, evacuations, and you know, I managed it," he told a Reuters reporter visiting his position on Thursday. FALTERING OFFENSIVEIstoryk serves in a rifles battalion of the 67th Mechanised Brigade in the Serebryanskyi forest in the Luhansk region. More dramatic advances are still possible; last year Russian forces swiftly retreated from positions in Kherson region in early November. "We're exhausted, they're exhausted. Additional reporting by Ivan Lyubysh-Kirdey; Writing by Mike Collett-White Editing by Gareth JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Alina Smutko, Valery Zaluzhnyi, Zaluzhnyi, Istoryk, Oleksandr Popov, Michael Kofman, Velyka Novosilka, Popov, Ivan Lyubysh, Mike Collett, Gareth Jones Organizations: 67th Mechanised Brigade, Armed Forces, REUTERS, Russian, Reuters, Carnegie Endowment, International, Artillery, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kreminna, Luhansk region, West, KREMINNA, pinewood, Russia, Kyiv's, Kyiv, Luhansk, Russia's Belgorod, Azov, Kherson region, Bakhmut, Orikhiv, Velyka, Lyman, North Korea, Zakhid

☆ The drones fighting cat and mouse battles behind Russian front lines in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/6] Serviceman of the 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, callsign Buryi, 30-years-old, checks a Shark drone before launching, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, October 30, 2023. On this occasion the drone that had found the target for the artillery unit was temporarily incapacitated when Russian electronic jamming systems interrupted the video transmission. Ukraine uses an array of drones from established local manufacturers and startups as well as Western suppliers, both to locate targets and hit them directly. The crew said Ukrainian-made drones were usually easier to repair if damaged, as they could be quickly sent back to the manufacturer. "Artillery has been the god of war for a long time, and artillery reconnaissance is the eyes of the gods," said Soliara, the rumble of cannon fire audible in the distance.

Persons: Alina Smutko, Oleksandr Popov, Max Hunder, Mike Collett, White, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade, Armed Forces of, REUTERS, Artillery Reconnaissance, Reuters, Shark, Star Wars, Artillery, Thomson Locations: Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukraine, Kharkiv region, Ukraine Russia, KHARKIV, Ukrainian, Kharkiv, Russia

☆ Ukraine eyes global peace summit this year, says deputy foreign minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko Acquire Licensing RightsOct 29 (Reuters) - Ukraine aims to hold a global "peace summit" of world leaders this year, Deputy Minister Mykola Tochytskyi said on Sunday after international representatives met in Malta over the weekend to discuss Kyiv's peace formula for its war with Russia. "This aim remains necessary and possible ... it has been demonstrated that there is interest in this," Deputy Minister Mykola Tochytskyi told Reuters by phone shortly after concluding his meetings. The deputy minister said Ukraine's efforts to win over "Global South" countries were not affected by differing positions on the Israel-Hamas conflict, although it could make it more difficult to focus the spotlight on Ukraine. Tochytskyi confirmed China did not attend the Malta meeting despite efforts from Ukraine to get Beijing to send a representative. He said Ukraine was keeping an open-door policy for China or any other country to attend future summits.

Persons: Alexander Ermochenko, Mykola Tochytskyi, Tochytskyi, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy's, Li Hui, Max Hunder, Giles Elgood Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Israel, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Donetsk, Russian, Malta, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Israel, China, Beijing

That fell to 21-22 million tonnes by 2021, and after Russia invaded last year, output hit 6.3 million in 2022. But even with consumption nearly doubling to 2.6 million tonnes between January and September, that is not enough to sustain a sector that used to export four fifths of its output. Zaporizhstal expects to export two thirds of its 2.4-2.5 million tonnes of iron ore and rolled steel production in 2023. Before the invasion, output was 4.2 million tonnes a year. "We can say that blackouts last winter (reduced) steel production by two to three times," Zinchenko said, citing production data for the months when blackouts were most regular.

Persons: Oleksandr Ratushniak, ZAPORIZHZHIA, Roman Slobodianiuk, Ukraine's, Oleksandr Kalenkov, Slobodianiuk, Stanislav Zinchenko, Medkov, Oleksandr Yasunas, Zinchenko, Mike Collett, White, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Steel, REUTERS, Staff, Reuters, GMK, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, Russia, Soviet, Ukrainian, Mariupol, Europe, Odesa, Kyiv, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Russian

☆ 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

☆ Ukraine's Siberian Battalion Recruits Russians to Help Fight Moscow
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Their commander, a Ukrainian who introduced himself by the callsign Batya, said some of the recruits to Ukraine's newly-formed Siberian Battalion, the yellow and blue flag on their sleeves, were now ready for battle. The officer said most are from among the indigenous peoples of Siberia and recruits said they want to fight against what they said was Russian imperialism both inside Ukraine and in their homelands. Without pity for women, children or the elderly," said a 41-year-old from Moscow region with the callsign Gandhi. The Siberian Battalion's own Gandhi now wants to break up what he called Russia's "prison of nations". "I think this will help the empire to collapse, the prison to be destroyed," he added.

Persons: Max Hunder, Gennadiy, Vladimir Putin, Gandhi, Alexander Smith Organizations: Reuters, Siberian Battalion, Military, Free Buryatia, Kremlin, Ukraine, Russia, Gandhi Locations: Max Hunder KYIV, Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Russia, Siberia, Russian, Buryatia, Lake Baikal, Moscow

☆ Zelenskiy discusses Middle East, Ukraine peace formula in call with Turkey's Erdogan- statement
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

KYIV, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy talked with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday, Zelenskiy said, in a call where the two men discussed Ukraine's peace formula, food security, and situation in the Middle East. "We discussed the next round of negotiations on the Peace Formula, which will take place in Malta. Turkey will participate, adding its authoritative voice and position," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram. "We also discussed the situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need to ensure the protection of civilians and respect for humanitarian law," he added. Reporting by Max HunderOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Tayyip Erdogan, Zelenskiy, Max Hunder Organizations: Thomson Locations: Malta, Turkey

☆ Zelenskiy says US bipartisan support encourages Ukrainian nation and troops
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group ahead of a two-day NATO Defense Ministers Council at the alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, October 11, 2023. Olivier Matthys/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Bipartisan support from the United States is "incredibly encouraging" for Ukraine and its troops, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said following a phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden. The U.S. has been the largest single source of assistance to Kyiv since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year. "The unwavering bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States is incredibly encouraging for all of our warriors and for our entire nation," Zelenskiy wrote on Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter. "America’s investment in Ukraine’s defense will ensure long-term security for all of Europe and the world," he said.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Olivier Matthys, Joe Biden, Biden, Zelenskiy, Max Hunder, Timothy Organizations: Ukraine Defense Contact, NATO Defense, Rights, U.S, Kyiv, Ukraine, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Brussels, Belgium, United States, Zelenskiy, Israel, U.S, Kyiv, Russia, Europe

☆ Russia launches overnight missile, drone attacks on Ukraine - Kyiv
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Rescuers work at the site of vegetable oil factory destroyed by Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Poltava region, Ukraine August 28, 2023. Head of Ukraine's Presidential Office Andriy Yermak via Telegram/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Russia launched five missiles and 12 kamikaze drones at Ukraine in an overnight attack, Ukraine's air force said early on Monday, with officials reporting further artillery and air strikes. The governor of the eastern region of Poltava, Filip Pronin, said the region had been attacked by drones and missiles, and that three civilians had been hospitalised as a result. However, missile fragments damaged several private homes," he wrote on the Telegram messaging service. Russia also carried out artillery shelling and air strikes in the Zaporizhzhia region, damaging several residential buildings and infrastructure and injuring one elderly woman, the governor there said.

Persons: Andriy, Filip Pronin, Max Hunder, Lidia Kelly Organizations: Russian, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Poltava region, Russia, Poltava, Zaporizhzhia

☆ Ukraine accuses two men of helping guide missile that killed dozens in Hroza village
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Ukraine's domestic intelligence service on Wednesday accused two villagers who fled to Russia of helping guide a missile strike that killed dozens of people, mostly civilians, at a soldiers' wake in the Ukrainian village of Hroza. The Oct. 5 strike was the deadliest attack in Ukraine this year, and one of the worst since Russia invaded in February 2022. The SBU said the men fled to Russia shortly before Ukraine regained control of the village in September last year. After this, the agency said the men continued to work for Russia by building a network of informants in Ukraine. When Reuters visited the village last Friday, two residents said that SBU officials had visited the village and checked residents' phones after the attack.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Dmitry Peskov, SBU, verity, Max Hunder, Timothy Heritage, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Ukrainian, Security Service of Ukraine, Defence Forces, Thomson Locations: Hroza, Kharkiv, Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Moscow

☆ Ukraine expects 'record' number of drone attacks this winter, air force says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Smoke rises over apartment buildings after a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Lviv, Ukraine September 19, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsZAPORIZHZHIA, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Ukraine's air force expects a record number of Russian drone attacks on its soil this winter, its spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said on Sunday, as Kyiv girds for a second winter of mass bombardment of its energy facilities. Ihnat said that data for September showed the use by Russia of Iranian-designed Shahed kamikaze drones would smash last year's figure. "This autumn and winter ... is already a record in terms of the number of Shahed drones. He contrasted this number with Russia's air strike campaign on Ukraine last winter, when he said about 1,000 Shahed drones were used in six months.

Persons: Stringer, Yuriy Ihnat, Ihnat, Max Hunder, Hugh Lawson Organizations: REUTERS, Kyiv, Thomson Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Lviv, Russia, Iranian

☆ UN rights team to investigate Hroza attack, Kyiv says death toll 52
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Fifty-two people died as a result of this missile attack. One person died in a medical facility," Oleh Synehubov, governor of the Kharkiv region, told Ukrainian television. A three-day mourning period was announced in the wider Kharkiv region as villagers cleared grave sites for their relatives and rescuers continued their work at the scene, looking for body parts among piles of bricks, wood and metal. The Kremlin reiterated on Friday that it does not attack civilian targets, distancing itself from a strike that resulted in one of the biggest civilian death tolls of the more than 19-month-old war. [1/5]People lay flowers paying tribute to the victims at a site of a Russian military strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the village of Hroza, Kharkiv region, Ukraine October 6, 2023.

Persons: Synehubov, Valeriy Kozyr, Valentyna Kozienko, Thomas Peter Acquire, Antonio Guterres, Elizabeth Throssell, Volker Turk, OCHR, Throssell, Dmitry Peskov, Olena Harmash, Timothy Heritage, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Kyiv, Police, REUTERS, United Nations, Human Rights, UN, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Kharkiv region HROZA, Ukraine, Hroza, Kharkiv, Russian, Kharkiv region, Russia, Odesa

☆ 'Half the village is gone': Ukraine hamlet reels after missile strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Valeriy Kozyr, 61, cries as he sits next to graves after losing his daughter and other relatives in a Russian military strike, at a cemetery outside the village of Hroza, Kharkiv region, Ukraine. Moscow denies targeting civilians in its full-scale invasion, a position it repeated on Friday in response to the Hroza strike. "On one side, the neighbours are gone, and on the other side a woman is gone." 'HALF THE VILLAGE GONE'As darkness fell on Thursday, dazed emergency crews carried bodies placed in white bags on to the back of a pickup truck. "Half the village is gone, families are gone," said Kozyr, standing beside his wife as she wept.

Persons: Valeriy Kozyr, Thomas Peter Acquire, Kozyr, Olya, Volodymr Zelenskiy, Serhiy Bolvinov, Valentyna Kozienko, Oleksandr Mukhovatyi, Andriy Kozyr, Valeriy, Andriy, Mike Collett, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Regional, Local, Thomson Locations: Russian, Hroza, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Kharkiv, Ukrainian

☆ 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 set to boycott competitions involving Russia as UEFA lifts U-17 ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

In a statement released late on Tuesday, the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) urged UEFA to reconsider its decision and urged other countries not to play against Russian teams. UEFA decided after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that all Russian teams - national or club sides - would be suspended from participation in its competitions. But UEFA said on Tuesday that "children should not be punished for actions whose responsibility lies exclusively with adults", and that Russian U-17 sides would be readmitted to UEFA competitions "in the course of this season". "UAF strongly condemns today's UEFA decision on the return of U-17 teams from the Russian Federation to international competitions," the UAF said, urging UEFA to stick to its blanket ban on Russian teams. England's Football Association reacted to UEFA's decision on Tuesday by saying its youth teams would not play against Russia.

Persons: Lee Smith, UAF, Max Hunder, Timothy Heritage Organizations: Soccer, UEFA, Ukraine, Hampden, Rights, Russia's, Ukrainian Association of Football, Russian, Russian Federation, Football Association, Russia, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Christian, Thomson Locations: Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, Ukraine, European, Russian, Cyprus, Sweden, Belarus

☆ Ukrainian Heavy Artillery Inflicts 'Hell' on Russian Lines Near Bakhmut
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Buoyed after the capture last week of the key village of Klishchiivka, Ukrainian troops have lauded the 155 millimetre howitzers as key equipment being provided by the United States and its NATO allies. Unit commander Oleksandr said Ukraine's armed forces "very much rely" on heavy artillery, including the Polish-made Krab gun and the U.S.-made M109 self-propelled howitzer. We hear that we keep giving them hell and they keep wondering how much ammunition we have left." Oleksandr, 30, described Klishchiivka - a village on the heights south of the devastated town of Bakhmut - as "one of the places they (the Russians) were clinging to." The gains have been among the most significant in Ukraine's counteroffensive, which began in June and has struggled to break through entrenched Russian lines.

Persons: Anna Voitenko, Oleksandr, Ukraine's, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ronald Popeski, Max Hunder, Mike Harrison Organizations: West, Reuters, NATO Locations: BAKHMUT, Bakhmut, Russia, Klishchiivka, United States, U.S, Klischiivka, West

☆ Ukrainian heavy artillery inflicts 'hell' on Russian lines near Bakhmut
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Anna Voitenko | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ukrainian servicemen fire a RAK-SA-12 small multiple launch rocket system towards Russian troops near the front line town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine July 10, 2023. Buoyed after the capture last week of the key village of Klishchiivka, Ukrainian troops have lauded the 155 millimetre howitzers as key equipment being provided by the United States and its NATO allies. Unit commander Oleksandr said Ukraine's armed forces "very much rely" on heavy artillery, including the Polish-made Krab gun and the U.S.-made M109 self-propelled howitzer. Oleksandr, 30, described Klishchiivka - a village on the heights south of the devastated town of Bakhmut - as "one of the places they (the Russians) were clinging to." The gains have been among the most significant in Ukraine's counteroffensive, which began in June and has struggled to break through entrenched Russian lines.

Persons: Sofiia, Oleksandr, Ukraine's, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Anna Voitenko, Ronald Popeski, Max Hunder, Mike Harrison Organizations: REUTERS, West, Reuters, NATO, Thomson Locations: Bakhmut, Ukraine, Donetsk region, BAKHMUT, Russia, Klishchiivka, United States, U.S, Klischiivka, West

☆ Ukrainian minister vows more drones for strikes on Russian warships
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Mykhailo Fedorov, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine attends a news conference at the Web Summit, Europe's largest technology conference, in Lisbon, Portugal, November 3, 2022. “There will be more drones, more attacks, and fewer Russian ships. That’s for sure,” Digital Transformation minister Mykhailo Fedorov said in an interview on Friday, answering a question about recent attacks near Crimea. This week, Ukraine has made several attacks using sea drones and missiles on Russia’s Black Sea naval fleet in and around the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed from Ukraine by Russia in 2014. Russia has acknowledged a Ukrainian missile attack that damaged a warship and a submarine this week, but says it has repelled all sea drone attacks.

Persons: Mykhailo Fedorov, Pedro Nunes, Fedorov, “, Max Hunder, Mark Potter Organizations: Digital Transformation, Web, REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Lisbon, Portugal, KYIV, Ukrainian, Crimea, Russia

☆ Ukraine says fifth ship leaves Odesa port under temporary corridor
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Cayman Islands-flagged bulk carrier Puma leaves the sea port of Odesa, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Ukraine September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer Acquire Licensing RightsSept 15 (Reuters) - A bulk carrier has left Ukraine's Odesa port, deputy prime minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Friday - the fifth to sail since Russia withdrew from a safe-passage deal for grain ships. Lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko posted photographs of the vessel on its way, saying it had entered the Black Sea, though Reuters could not immediately verify the date or location. In response, Ukraine announced a "humanitarian corridor" hugging the western Black Sea coast near Romania and Bulgaria. Four vessels stuck in Ukrainian ports during the invasion have thus far been able to use the corridor to leave.

Persons: Stringer, Oleksandr Kubrakov, Kubrakov, Oleksiy Honcharenko, Anna Pruchnicka, Max Hunder, Yuliia, Mark Heinrich, Grant McCool Organizations: Puma, REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Cayman, Odesa, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Romania, Bulgaria

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 vetoes asset declaration law containing loophole
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 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/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday vetoed a parliamentary bill that sought to retain closed asset declarations for officials. Lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said on Telegram the parliament would vote on the bill again around Sept. 20. A public petition asking Zelenskiy to veto the amended measure had rapidly gained tens of thousands of signatures, far above the required 25,000 needed for presidential consideration. Fighting graft is also a requirement for Ukrainian accession to the European Union, and Ukraine's government has declared it a priority alongside repelling Russia's invasion.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Mette Frederiksen, Ritzau Scanpix, Ida Marie Odgaard, Zelenskiy, Yaroslav Zheleznyak, Max Hunder, Anna Pruchnicka, Timothy Organizations: Denmark's, REUTERS, Rights, Monetary Fund, European Union, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine

☆ Rakuten CEO touts Viber's ability to counter Russian 'fake news'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hiroshi Mikitani, CEO of Rakuten, attends the annual Allen and Co. Sun Valley media conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, U.S., July 10, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Hiroshi Mikitani, the founder and chief executive of Rakuten Group (4755.T), on Saturday touted the ability of his company's Viber messaging platform to counter Russian propaganda. "Unlike other social media, we've made it crystal clear we're going to block all these fake news and propaganda of Russia," Mikitani told Reuters in a Zoom interview during a visit to Kyiv. Viber, which launched in 2010 and was acquired by Rakuten in 2014, has a 98% market penetration rate in Ukraine. Asked if the app had faced attempts to breach it by Russia, he said there had not been any breaches.

Persons: Hiroshi Mikitani, Brendan McDermid, we've, Mikitani, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Viber, Rakuten, Max Hunder, Mike Harrison Organizations: Allen, Co, Sun, REUTERS, Rights, Rakuten, Saturday, Reuters, Access, Thomson Locations: Sun Valley , Idaho, U.S, Russia, Kyiv, Ukraine

☆ Ukraine says G20 summit declaration 'nothing to be proud of'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears on a screen as he attends "Session II: One Family" at the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, September 9, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The Ukrainian foreign ministry said on Saturday the G20's joint declaration was "nothing to be proud of" and criticised it for not mentioning Russia. "It is clear that the participation of the Ukrainian side (in the G20 meeting) would have allowed the participants to better understand the situation," he wrote on Facebook. Despite his disappointment with the overall G20 text, Nikolenko thanked Ukraine's allies for doing their part to advance Ukraine's position in the declaration. "Ukraine is grateful to the partners who tried to include strong formulations in the text."

Persons: Narendra Modi, Evelyn Hockstein, Oleg Nikolenko, Nikolenko, Ukraine's, Max Hunder, Mark Heinrich, Alexander Smith Organizations: Indian, REUTERS, Rights, Facebook, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Ukrainian, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Ukraine primes air defences for new Russian winter assault on power grid
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Ukraine expects more air attacks on power grid this winterRussia struck energy facilities across Ukraine last winterKyiv has bolstered its air defences in preparationZHYTOMYR REGION, Ukraine, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Ukrainian air defence crews are banking on newer and better weapons systems to help prevent their country being plunged into darkness once again in a second winter of Russian missile and drone strikes. Nearly half of Ukraine's energy system was damaged by Russian attacks last winter, when Moscow pummelled power plants and transformers with cruise missiles and Iranian-made Shahed drones. The threat of attacks on the power grid remains acute following reports that Moscow has set up its own facilities to manufacture assault drones based on the Shahed-136. Skybytskyi said Russian attacks on energy infrastructure could begin in late September or early October. COST-EFFECTIVEThe Shaheds are estimated by military analysts to cost about $20,000 each, but the Western-supplied air defence missiles Kyiv used last winter cost many times more.

Persons: Vadym, Skybytskyi, Serhiy Naiev, Naiev, Anton, Timothy Heritage, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Joint Forces of, Armed Forces, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, ZHYTOMYR, Moscow, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, U.S

☆ Ukraine mourns ace fighter pilot 'Juice' killed in collision
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The death of Andriy Pilshchykov, 30, a poster boy for Ukraine's air force who lobbied Western governments for supplies of F-16 fighter jets, was a bitter blow for Ukraine's military as it battles Russia. The air force spokesperson described him as a "mega-talent". Standing beside her were his mother and a young man in an air force pilot's jumpsuit who held up a photo of him, his head bowed. [1/6]Ukrainian servicemen attend a wake ceremony of Ukrainian military pilot Andriy Pilshchykov, who was killed on Friday when two L-39 combat training aircraft collided over a region west of Kyiv, in Kyiv, Ukraine, August 29, 2023. Since Russia's 2022 invasion, he had travelled to the U.S. in a delegation seeking supplies of F-16 fighter jets.

Persons: Andriy Pilshchykov, Natalia Menesheva, Young, ashen, Pilshchykov, Gleb Garanich, JETS Pilshchykov, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, …, Yulia Reshitko, Pilshchykov's, Militarnyi, Ivan Lyubysh, Sergiy, Tom Balmforth, Timothy Heritage, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Catholic, REUTERS, JETS, U.S, Reuters, MiG, NATO, Thomson Locations: Western, Russia, Kyiv's, Kyiv, Ukraine, California

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