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☆ Ukraine warns of floating mines and disease after Kakhovka dam collapse
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Local residents stand in water on a flooded street, after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kherson, Ukraine June 6, 2023. REUTERS/Alina SmutkoSummary Kakhovka dam on Dnipro river was destroyed on TuesdayUkrainian deputy prime minister visits flooded KhersonHe warns of floating mines, disease and chemicalsKHERSON, Ukraine, June 7 (Reuters) - A senior Ukrainian official warned of the danger posed by floating mines unearthed by flooding and the spread of disease and hazardous chemicals on Wednesday as he inspected damage caused by the collapse of the Kakhovka dam. Russia said Ukraine sabotaged the dam to distract attention from a new counteroffensive it said was "faltering". "Water is disturbing mines that were laid earlier, causing them to explode," Kubrakov, dressed casually in a grey t-shirt, told reporters. EVACUATIONUkrainian authorities have evacuated people from 24 flooded settlements and at least 20 settlements are flooded on territory occupied by Russian forces, he said.

Persons: Alina Smutko, Oleksandr Kubrakov, Kubrakov, Oleksandr Prokudin, Max Hunder, Timothy Organizations: REUTERS, Ukrainian, Regional, United Nations, International Committee, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kherson, Dnipro, KHERSON, Russia, Moscow, Kyiv, Russian, Mykolaiv

☆ Who are the Freedom of Russia Legion and Russian Volunteer Corps?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, June 5 (Reuters) - Two armed groups, the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) and Freedom of Russia Legion, say they have carried out attacks in Russia's western Belgorod region in recent weeks. RUSSIAN VOLUNTEER CORPSThe RVC was founded by a far-right Russian national last August and comprises Russians who have been fighting in and for Ukraine against their own country. [1/2] Members of Russian Volunteer Corps stand next to an armoured vehicle in this undated handout picture obtained by Reuters on May 23, 2023. "I have my set of views, it's a patriotic set of views, it's a traditionalist set of views, it's a right-wing set of views," he said. FREEDOM OF RUSSIA LEGIONThe Freedom of Russia Legion says it was formed in spring 2022 "out of the wish of Russians to fight in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine against Putin's armed gang".

Persons: REUTERS Denis Kapustin, it's, you'll, Tom Balmforth, Max Hunder, Timothy Organizations: Russian Volunteer Corps, of Russia Legion, Kyiv, Russian, Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Legion, Foreign, Reuters, REUTERS, Defamation, Nazi, RUSSIA, Russia Legion, Armed Forces of, Belgorod, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Russia's, Belgorod, Ukrainian, Russia, Ukraine, U.S, Russian, Germany, Armed Forces of Ukraine

☆ Ukraine has enough weapons to begin counter-offensive, says foreign minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Summary Ukraine has 'unlocked all weapons' from allies -foreign ministerNATO membership is last major aim - Foreign Minister KulebaKyiv confident allies to keep supplying arms until Ukraine achieves goalsSuccessful counter-offensive could be key to NATO membershipKYIV, June 5 (Reuters) - Ukraine has enough weapons to begin its counter-offensive against Russia, and the operation will give the country the victory it needs to join NATO, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told Reuters on Monday. "NATO membership cannot stop this war, but NATO membership will stop further wars. [1/3] Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba speaks during an interview with Reuters, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine June 5, 2023. REUTERS/Alina SmutkoKuleba said that while Ukraine now had enough arms to begin its counter-offensive, it would still need continued deliveries from its allies to sustain the effort. "It is crucial for partners to ramp up production of weapons, not only for Ukraine but for themselves.

Persons: Kuleba, Dmytro Kuleba, Hanna Maliar, Alina Smutko Kuleba, Saudi Arabia's, haven't, Max Hunder, Andrew Heavens, Hugh Lawson Organizations: NATO, KYIV, Russia, Foreign, Reuters, Kyiv, Deputy, Ukrainian Foreign, REUTERS, Saudi, Kremlin Russian, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kuleba Kyiv, Kyiv, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine’s Donetsk, Bakhmut, Russian, Belgorod

☆ Ukrainian drone sparks fire at Russian refinery - governor
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

MOSCOW/KYIV, May 31 (Reuters) - A Ukrainian drone sparked a fire at an oil refinery in southern Russia and shelling hit a Russian town close to the border for the third time in a week, damaging buildings and setting vehicles ablaze, Russian officials said on Wednesday. The Afipsky refinery is not far from the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk, near another refinery that has been attacked several times this month. There was no immediate information on who launched the drone but Moscow has accused Kyiv of increased attacks inside Russia in recent weeks, while Russia has repeatedly pounded Ukrainian cities with drones and missiles. Russian drone attacks killed one person and wounded four in Kyiv on Tuesday, according to Ukrainian officials. Civilian targets in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities have since the earliest days of the war been struck repeatedly by Russian drones and missiles.

Persons: Veniamin Kondratyev, Vyacheslav Gladkov, Mykhailo Podolyak, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Karine Jean, Pierre, Rafael Grossi, Grossi, David Ljunggren, Guy Faulconbridge, Max Hunder, Olena Harmash, Pavel Polityuk, Valentyn Ogirenko, Gleb Garanich, Lidia Kelly, Trevor Hunnicutt, Steve Holland, Stephen Coates, Robert Birsel Organizations: Kyiv, Residents, Civilian, Washington, Russian, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, . Security, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, KYIV, Ukrainian, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Russia's Krasnodar, Novorossiisk, Russian, Kyiv, Shebekino, Ukraine's Kharkiv, Ukraine's, Washington, United States, Zaporizhzhia

[1/5] A view shows an apartment building damaged during a massive Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 30, 2023. One person died and four were injured when debris from a destroyed Russian projectile hit a high-rise apartment building sparking a fire, Ukrainian officials said. Russian state-owned news agency RIA cited the defence ministry as saying more than one air base had been hit. Moscow said it invaded Ukraine to "denazify" its neighbour and protect Russian speakers. Russia said on Monday the grain deal would no longer be operational unless a U.N. agreement with Moscow to overcome obstacles to Russian grain and fertiliser exports was fulfilled.

☆ Ukraine peace plan is only way to end Russia's war, says Zelenskiy aide
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

He pushed back on a flurry of peace initiatives from China, Brazil, the Vatican and South Africa in recent months. "There cannot be a Brazilian peace plan, a Chinese peace plan, a South African peace plan when you are talking about the war in Ukraine," Zhovkva said in an interview late on Friday. Zelenskiy made a major push to court the Global South this month in response to peace moves from some of its members. Moscow has bolstered ties with Global South powers during the war in Ukraine, including by selling more of its energy to India and China. 'PEACE SUMMIT'Zhovkva said the reaction to Ukraine's 10-point peace plan had been extremely positive at the G7 summit.

Summary Ukraine says Russia has stepped up air attacksOne person wounded in central district - mayorAll inbound missiles shot down - city officialsKYIV, May 29 (Reuters) - Explosions rang out across Kyiv on Monday as Russia launched its 16th air attack on the Ukrainian capital this month, hours after unleashing dozens of missiles and drones overnight. All the Russian missiles were shot down, but one person in the central Podil district was taken to hospital, authorities said. Ukraine shot down 11 cruise and ballistic missiles fired in the second of Monday's attacks on Kyiv, said Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Firefighters work at a site of a private building damaged during a massive Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv region, Ukraine May 29, 2023. Russia has increased the frequency of air attacks as Ukraine prepares to launch a counteroffensive.

☆ Ukrainian lawmakers back tax breaks for domestic drone producers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, May 29 (Reuters) - Ukraine's parliament voted on Monday to exempt domestic drone producers from customs duties and value added tax, a senior lawmaker said, in a move intended to help a sector that Kyiv sees as vital for its war effort. The exemptions laid out in two bills that were backed by lawmakers cover imports of equipment and other parts for the production and repair of drones, lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak wrote on the Telegram messenger. Ukraine sees drones as a low-cost way to narrow its huge armament gap with Russia, a nuclear power whose long-range conventional capabilities enable it to conduct air strikes on targets across Ukraine. The Ukrainian defence ministry has said it is working with more than 80 drone manufacturers. In previous conversations with Reuters, Ukrainian drone manufacturers and non-governmental organisations have cited customs regulations as a big challenge to increasing production volumes.

☆ Ukraine aide proposes post-war demilitarised zone in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, May 29 (Reuters) - A Ukrainian presidential aide said on Monday a demilitarised zone of 100-120 km (62-75 miles) should be established inside Russia along the border with Ukraine as part of a post-war settlement. The zone would be necessary to protect Ukrainian regions from Russian attacks, presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Twitter. Moscow says Ukraine has stepped up drone and sabotage attacks against targets inside Russia as it prepares for the offensive. Kyiv has denied firing at targets inside Russia, saying it is fighting a defensive war on its own territory. The reference to the Russian regions as republics appeared to be a nod towards Moscow backing separatist entities calling themselves "people's republics" in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions which border Russia.

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy introduces Iran sanctions bill
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, May 28 (Reuters) - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has put forward a bill that would see Ukraine impose sanctions on Russian ally Iran for 50 years, Zelenskiy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on Sunday, a response to what Kyiv says is Tehran's weapons supplies to Moscow. Kyiv and its allies say Iran has been supplying Russia with arms, including hundreds of drones, since Moscow invaded Ukraine last year. If passed by Ukraine's parliament, the bill would stop Iranian goods transitting through Ukraine and use of its airspace, as well as imposing trade, financial and technology sanctions against Iran and its citizens. Kyiv said on Sunday that Moscow had staged the largest drone strike to date on Ukraine overnight, using 54 Iran-made drones. Reporting by Max Hunder Editing by Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

"And the Russians are dying," Graham said, according to a video supplied by the Ukrainian presidential press service. In the next part of the video edit, Graham says with a smile: "It's the best money we've ever spent." The exact chronology of Graham's remarks was unclear from the video supplied by the Ukrainian presidential press service. "The old fool Senator Lindsey Graham said that the United States has never spent money so successfully as on the murder of Russians," said Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev. It has been a good investment by the United States to help liberate Ukraine from Russian war criminals."

☆ Ukrainian troops gird for counteroffensive they hope will end war
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Members of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade practiced setting up and packing away their mortars as the sun beat down on them in fields in the southern region of Dnipropetrovsk. "We are getting ready for the counteroffensive, so that we can finally end this war," said a 28-year-old serviceman who goes the call sign Dykyi, or 'wild' in Ukrainian. But we are nevertheless constantly perfecting our craft," said Roman Khomych, the 45-year-old commander of the unit training with mortars. The 128th Mountain Assault Brigade is an elite force that has been involved in combat with Russian or Russian-backed forces since 2014, when fighting began in eastern Ukraine. The 128th Brigade are training with Soviet-calibre mortars, but Khomych said a bigger necessity than new mortars was Western-supplied armoured vehicles to protect troops better.

☆ Ukraine's Smart Holding aims to recover assets seized from ex-owner
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, May 5 (Reuters) - Ukrainian industrial and investment group Smart Holding told Reuters on Friday it will try to recover assets seized by the state from former owner Vadym Novynskyi, saying it owns the assets that were seized rather than the billionaire. Ukraine's domestic security service said on Thursday it had seized assets worth more than $280 million from Novynskyi after accusing him of aiding Russia, an allegation he denies. It also seized assets from him worth around $96 million in April. Smart Holding said the assets no longer belonged to Novynskyi as he had fully divested himself of ownership of the company before Ukraine imposed sanctions on him late last year. "It is therefore misleading and incorrect to suggest that Mr Novynskyi owns these assets," Smart Holding said in a written statement to Reuters, adding that the company would pursue the assets in court.

☆ At least one drone downed in new air attack on Kyiv
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] An explosion of a drone is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 4, 2023. REUTERS/Gleb GaranichMay 4 (Reuters) - Drones attacked Kyiv on Thursday evening, subjecting residents to spasms of gunfire and explosions in the fourth attack on the capital in as many days. "During the last air alert, an unmanned aerial vehicle was spotted over Kyiv. The object was shot down by air defence forces," Kyiv city military administration head Serhiy Popko said on Telegram. Residents who had gone to air raid shelters said the drones had arrived more quickly than usual after the alerts were declared.

The Ukrainian president cited prior examples of battlefield successes that were followed by Ukraine being granted new types of military aid. I would rather it was the other way round, as it would be easier for us, but it is like it is, and we are grateful for everything," the Ukrainian president said. "But we like your aircraft, just so you know Mr President," Zelenskiy quipped. "We need security guarantees today, while we are not in NATO," Zelenskiy said. A spokesperson for Zelenskiy in a statement said the Ukrainian government expected the summit to result in a joint statement.

☆ Ukraine says grain import restrictions are 'unacceptable'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine's foreign ministry said on Saturday it had sent notes to the Polish Embassy and EU representative office in Kyiv on Friday expressing dissapointment with the situation and saying restrictions on its grain exports via the European trade bloc were "categorically unacceptable". The European Commission said on Friday afternoon it had reached a deal in principle to allow the transit of Ukrainian grain to resume through five EU countries that had imposed restrictions. Asked if the announcement had changed the ministry's position, he said: "There must be (unhindered) export for all Ukrainian goods". In imposing restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports, those five countries have cited concerns that grain from Ukraine meant to be exported to other countries have ended up in their local markets, pushing down prices for local farmers. A Polish foreign ministry spokesman said he had not yet seen the note.

☆ Ukraine passes protest notes to Poland, EU over grain import ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

KYIV, April 29 (Reuters) - Ukraine's foreign ministry said on Saturday it passed notes to Polish and European Union representatives in Ukraine on Friday describing the limiting of Ukrainian grain imports into EU countries as "categorically unacceptable". "Such restrictions, whatever the justification for them, do not comply with the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU and the principles and norms of the EU Single Market," the ministry said. "There are full legal grounds for the immediate resumption of exports of Ukrainian agricultural goods to Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria, as well as the continuation of unhindered exports to other EU member states," it continued. Reporting by Max Hunder Editing by Alexandra HudsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ukraine servicemen accused of treason over unauthorised mission
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, April 20 (Reuters) - A number of Ukrainian servicemen have been accused of treason for giving away information during an unauthorised mission that enabled Russia to attack a military airfield, Ukraine's SBU security agency said on Thursday. The SBU said in a statement that the servicemen had attempted, "without coordination with the relevant state authorities", to seize a Russian plane last July after its pilot said he would defect. The SBU did not say how many service personnel were involved, or identify them, but said they were accused of treason and abuse of their position. "These actions of individual servicemen, which led to serious consequences, death and injury of Ukraine's defenders and harmed the country's defence capabilities, require an appropriate legal assessment." Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February last year, did not comment on the SBU statement.

☆ Ukraine says Black Sea grain deal ship inspections are resuming
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, April 19 (Reuters) - Inspections of ships are resuming under a U.N.-brokered agreement on the safe export of grain from Ukrainian Black Sea ports, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Wednesday. He wrote on Facebook that "ship inspections are being resumed, despite the RF's (Russian Federation's) attempts to disrupt the agreement." Kubrakov is in Turkey to discuss the status of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which was agreed by Russia and Ukraine last July to help alleviate a global food crisis. Kyiv says Russian inspectors stopped letting through vessels supposed to ship grain from Ukraine. RIA quoted the Russian foreign ministry as on Wednesday as saying Ukraine and the United Nations were causing difficulties with the ship inspections.

☆ Moldova summons Russian envoy to expel member of embassy staff
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

CHISINAU, April 19 (Reuters) - Moldova summoned the Russian ambassador on Wednesday to declare a member of the Russian embassy staff persona non grata, a government spokesperson said. Government press secretary Daniel Voda told reporters the decision was connected to the actions of embassy staff towards Moldovan border guards who denied entry to a regional Russian politician at Chisinau airport this week. The embassy staffer was not named. (This story has been refiled to fix the spokesperson's surname)Reporting by Alexander Tanas, writing by Max Hunder, Editing by Timothy HeritageOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ukraine bans its national teams from competing with Russians and Belarusians
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 14 (Reuters) - Ukraine has banned its national sports teams from competing in Olympic, non-Olympic and Paralympic events that include competitors from Russia and Belarus, the sports ministry said in a decree published on Friday. The decision, criticised by some Ukrainian athletes, comes after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) angered Kyiv by paving the way for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine had previously warned its sports federations that it would strip them of their status as governing bodies if their athletes competed on the international stage with Russians and Belarusians. Some Ukrainian athletes, including Olympian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych, criticised the ban saying it would lead to the destruction of Ukrainian sports. The IOC sanctioned Russia and Belarus but in late March it recommended allowing their athletes to compete as neutrals in international competition.

☆ Ukraine says it seized assets of billionaire accused of aiding Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has accused Novynskyi of "aiding" Russia, which invaded Ukraine last year. The representative, who did not want to be named, on Friday said the billionaire denies the charge. The SBU said it had seized assets including ownership deeds to 40 Ukrainian enterprises and 30 natural gas wells. "The property of pro-Russian oligarch Vadym Novynskyi, who is involved in aiding the aggressor country, was seized," the SBU said in a statement. The details of the accusations against him for aiding Russia have not been spelled out by the SBU.

☆ Kyiv compares Russia to Islamic State after beheading video
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

KYIV, April 12 (Reuters) - Ukraine compared Russia on Wednesday to Islamic State and called on the International Criminal Court to investigate after a video emerged online showing apparent Russian soldiers filming themselves beheading a Ukrainian captive with a knife. "There is something that no one in the world can ignore: how easily these beasts kill," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video message. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba said on Twitter: "A horrific video of Russian troops decapitating a Ukrainian prisoner of war is circulating online. Ukraine's domestic security agency said it had started an investigation into a suspected war crime over the video. As well as the purported execution, another video shows mutilated bodies of apparent Ukrainian prisoners of war, it said.

☆ Ukraine alters counter-offensive plans after document leak - CNN
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, April 10 (Reuters) - Ukraine has been forced to amend some of its military plans ahead of a much-vaunted counter-offensive due to a leak of classified U.S. documents, CNN reported on Monday citing a source close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Ukrainian officials told Reuters on Friday the allegedly leaked documents contained fictitious information and looked like a Russian disinformation campaign. Asked about the CNN report, presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said Ukraine's strategic plans remained unchanged but that more specific tactical plans were always subject to change. "Right now its impossible to reassess plans, because they are only being worked out (now)," he added. Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, told Reuters: "We are working on our own plans...

☆ Ukraine says coveted F-16s 'four or five times' better than its Soviet jets
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, April 6 (Reuters) - A top Ukrainian air commander said Ukraine was in dire need of F-16 fighter jets, which he described on Thursday as "four or five times" more effective than the Soviet-era planes currently used by Ukraine. Serhiy Holubtsov, one of the most senior commanders in the Air Force, said that while donations of Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets by allies were an "important step," the planes did not fully meet Ukraine's battlefield requirements. NATO members Poland and Slovakia recently began to hand over MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, as Kyiv prepares for a much-vaunted counter-offensive to retake territory occupied by Russia. Washington has ruled out sending F-16 jets to Ukraine for now, and U.S. officials have estimated the most expeditious time needed for training and delivery at 18 months. Holubtsov said there was a possibility of having foreign pilots fly Ukrainian jets, but that they would only be useful when flying aircraft which they have already been trained on.

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