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☆ Ukraine says three major regions can avoid power cuts after attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 11 (Reuters) - Three big Ukrainian regions and the capital Kyiv will be able to avoid electricity cuts on Sunday, leading producer DTEK said on Saturday as authorities worked to repair power grids damaged by a major Russian strike. Russia's defence ministry earlier said its forces had carried out a "massive strike" on critically important energy facilities of Ukraine's military-industrial complex on Friday. DTEK said in a statement that grid operator Ukrenergo had not imposed any additional restrictions on consumption on Sunday, which meant there should be no power cuts in Kyiv and the surrounding region as well as the Odesa and Dnipro regions. Ukraine's energy minister, German Galushchenko, said Russia had hit power facilities in six regions with missiles and drones, causing blackouts across most of the country. Ukraine's armed forces said Russian forces had fired more than 100 missiles and mounted 12 air and 20 shelling attacks on Friday.

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy sacks top official, says clean-up drive continues
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 11 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday issued a decree sacking a senior security figure and said separately that his drive to clean up the government would continue. Authorities have dismissed dozens of officials in recent weeks and opened probes as part of a widespread drive against wrongdoing. Zelenskiy dismissed Ruslan Dziuba as deputy commander of the National Guard, according to a brief decree issued by the presidential office. Zelenskiy - who has stressed the need for the defence ministry in particular to be cleaned up - did not specifically mention Dziuba in his daily video address. Reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ -Bank of Canada rate hike reflected labor tightness, stronger-than-expected growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

On Jan 25 the Bank of Canada hiked its key interest rate to 4.5%, the highest level in 15 years, and became the first major central bank to say it would likely hold off on further increases for now. On Tuesday, Governor Tiff Macklem said no further rate hikes would be needed if, as expected, the economy stalled and inflation fell. "Council wanted to convey that the bar for additional rate increases was now higher" and to "give a clear sense that they would need an accumulation of evidence to determine whether further rate increases would be required" to return inflation to target. The Bank of Canada had stood out from its peers, including the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank, in not providing some form of record of their meetings. (Reporting by Steve Scherer, editing by David Ljunggren)((Reuters Ottawa bureau; david.ljunggren@tr.com))Keywords: CANADA CENBANK/UPDATE 1Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

OTTAWA, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said on Tuesday that no further rate hikes will be needed if, as expected, the economy stalls and inflation comes down. The central bank has over the last 11 months lifted rates at a record pace to 4.5% to tame inflation, which was 6.3% in December, still well above the bank's 2% target. On Monday, a median of market participants surveyed by the central bank forecast borrowing costs would come down by half-a-percentage-point by the end of this year, and would fall further next year. "We need to pause rate hikes before we slow the economy and inflation too much. "The considerable tightening we've done will continue to work its way through the economy, and this will rebalance demand and supply and slow inflation."

☆ Ukraine's situation at the front is getting tougher, Zelenskiy says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Nick Starkov | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LVIV, Ukraine Feb 4 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that the situation on the front lines in the east of the country was getting tougher and Russia was throwing more and more troops into battle. "I've often had to say the situation at the front is tough, and is getting tougher, and it's that time again. "It is very difficult now in Bakhmut, Vuhledar, Lyman and other directions," he continued. Lyman, which lies just to the north of Bakhmut, was liberated by Ukrainian forces in October. On Friday, Zelenskiy vowed that his forces will fight for Bakhmut "for as long as we can," but the situation there is becoming increasingly dire for Ukrainian forces.

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy says situation at the front getting tougher
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 4 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that the situation on the front lines in the east of the country was getting tougher and Russia was throwing more and more troops into battle. "I've often had to say the situation at the front is tough, and is getting tougher, and it's that time again. The invader is putting more and more of his forces into breaking down our defences," Zelenskiy said in a video address. "It is very difficult now in Bakhmut, Vuhledar, Lyman and other directions," he continued. Lyman, which lies just to the north of Bakhmut, was liberated by Ukrainian forces last October.

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy strips citizenship of several former politicians
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Nick Starkov | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends an International Human Rights forum, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine December 9, 2022. LVIV, Ukraine, Feb 5 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy revoked the citizenship of several former influential politicians on Saturday in the latest of steps to "cleanse" the country from pro-Russian influences. Zelenskiy would not list the names, but said they had dual Russian citizenship. According to Ukrainian state media, the list includes several top politicians from the office of Viktor Yanukovych, who served as Ukraine's pro-Russian president from 2010 until he was removed from office in 2014. Reporting by Nick Starkov, David Ljunggren and Lidia Kelly; Writing by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Longer-range rockets included in $2 bln U.S. pledge for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

USAI stands for Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). Friday's aid pledge opens the door to many more deliveries of the Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB). When the new rockets arrive, it will mark the first time Ukraine has seen its rocket range grow exponentially since U.S. furnished HIMARS in late-June 2022. HIMARS have a 77 km (48 mile) range and were instrumental in Ukraine's counter offensive against Russian forces, which invaded on Feb. 24, 2022. Reuters was first to report on a Boeing Co (BA.N) proposal to field GLSDB for Ukraine in November.

☆ Zelenskiy says situation on front in eastern Ukraine is getting tougher
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 1 (Reuters) - The situation on the front lines in eastern Ukraine has become tougher as Russian forces step up an offensive, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday in another gloomy military assessment from Kyiv. The situation has become tougher," Zelenskiy said in a evening video address. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar earlier said fierce fighting continued in eastern Ukraine, where Russian troops are trying to gain ground near the strategic logistics hub of Lyman. Russian forces were driven out of Lyman in October. "Despite heavy losses, the Russian invaders are also continuing their offensive in the Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Novopavlivka sectors," she said.

☆ Russian rocket destroys Kramatorsk apartment building; 2 dead, governor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] People remove debris at a site of a residential building destroyed by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kramatorsk, Ukraine February 1, 2023. Head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration Pavlo Kyrylenko/Handout via REUTERSFeb 1 (Reuters) - A Russian rocket destroyed an apartment building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk late on Wednesday and at least two people were killed and seven injured, regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote on Telegram. "Rescuers, law enforcement and public utilities are working at the scene to go through the rubble of the destroyed building. At least 44 people were killed last month when a Russian missile hit an apartment building in the eastern city of Dnipro. Last April, Ukraine said 57 people died when a Russian missile hit the train station in Kramatorsk.

☆ Jailed ex-Georgian leader appears in court by video link, seeking urgent medical treatment
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Irakli GedenidzeTBILISI, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Mikheil Saakashvili, the jailed former president of Georgia, appeared in court via video link on Wednesday to show how much weight he had lost while incarcerated, as associates renewed calls for him to be freed for urgent medical treatment. Citing medical records, Saakashvili's team says his weight has dropped from 115 kg (254 pounds) when he was jailed in October 2021 to 68 kg (150 pounds) at a check-up this week. Georgian authorities say he is feigning the gravity of his condition in order to secure early release. Zelenskiy decried Saakashvili's condition, saying Georgian authorities were trying to kill him. Saakashvili's supporters accuse the current Georgian government of adopting a pro-Kremlin position and of refusing to sufficiently back Ukraine.

☆ Ukraine security forces smash prostitution ring run by migration officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 1 (Reuters) - Ukraine's SBU security service said on Wednesday it had broken up a prostitution ring run by immigration officials, part of a drive to crush corrupt practices and meet Western standards on eliminating graft. The SBU said the ring had been headed by officials of the Migration Department of the national police, normally responsible for safeguarding the interests of displaced people. "These senior officials oversaw a broad 'protection' scheme for prostitution in Kyiv and in other regions," the SBU statement said. In a nightly video address, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked the security services for their "quick reaction to these shameful developments". Russia's invasion prompted more than 7 million people to leave Ukraine, according to U.N. figures, though nearly half subsequently returned home.

☆ Ukrainian police rescue six-year-old girl from besieged Bakhmut
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Ivan Lyubysh-Kirdey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] A mother Halyna, 24, hugs her daughter Arina, 6, after her evacuation from front line city of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sloviansk, Donetsk region, Ukraine January 31, 2023. REUTERS/Oleksandr RatushniakBAKHMUT, Ukraine, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Ukrainian police staged a risky rescue mission in the besieged eastern city of Bakhmut this week to evacuate a six-year-old girl who had become separated from her pregnant mother. Young Arina was found living with her grandparents in a run-down apartment building in Bakhmut, which has been pummelled by Russian forces in heavy fighting. Arina, clutching a large white teddy bear, told her mother after they hugged. He had to gently coax Arina into leaving Bakhmut, calmly explaining the dangers of remaining.

☆ Ukraine on mission to ban Russia from Olympics, IOC says sanctions stand
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Olena Harmash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Vadym Huttsait, 51, a former Olympic fencing champion, told Reuters the idea of allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals was unacceptable. Moscow said on Tuesday it would welcome any IOC moves to allow its athletes to compete in the Olympics. But hours later the IOC said it was standing by sanctions imposed against the countries over Russia's invasion. There has been little public support yet from other nations for an outright ban on Russians at Paris. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier'LIVES MORE IMPORTANT THAN MEDALS'The IOC's initial recommendation to ban Russians and Belarusians has been applied by many sports federations.

☆ Ukraine denies report it intends to get 24 jets from allies
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A pair of Ukrainian Su-25 jet fighters fly low, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the town of Kramatorsk, in Donetsk region, Ukraine June 24, 2022. REUTERS/Marko Djurica/File PhotoJan 28 (Reuters) - Ukraine's air force on Saturday denied a newspaper report saying it intended to get 24 fighter jets from allies, saying talks about potential deliveries were still continuing, a domestic media outlet said. Spain's El Pais newspaper, citing air force spokesperson Yuri Ihnat, said Ukraine initially wanted two squadrons of 12 planes each, preferably Boeing F-16 jets. Later in the day, he told Ukrainian national television that allied nations did not like public speculation about jets, Interfax Ukraine news agency said. Germany's defence minister this week ruled out the idea of sending jets to Ukraine.

Ukraine has won promises of Western battle tanks and is seeking fighter jets to push back against Russian and pro-Moscow forces, which are slowly advancing along part of the front line. Zelenskiy, speaking separately, said Ukraine wanted to preempt Russian attacks on Ukrainian urban areas and civilians. Earlier in the day, the Ukrainian air force denied a newspaper report that it intended to get 24 fighter jets from allies, saying talks were continuing, Ukraine's Babel online outlet said. He also told Ukrainian national television that allied nations did not like public speculation about jets, Interfax Ukraine news agency said. Germany's defence minister this week ruled out the idea of sending jets to Ukraine.

☆ Ukraine to summon Hungarian envoy over 'unacceptable' remarks by Orban
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 27 (Reuters) - The Ukrainian foreign ministry will summon Hungary's ambassador to complain about "completely unacceptable" remarks Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban made about Ukraine, Kyiv said on Friday. Hungary has repeatedly criticised European Union sanctions on Russia, saying they failed to weaken Moscow meaningfully, while they risk destroying the European economy. Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko, writing on Facebook, said Orban had told reporters that Ukraine was a no man's land and compared it to Afghanistan. "The Hungarian ambassador will be summoned to the Ukrainian foreign ministry for a frank discussion. Orban earlier said on Friday that Hungary would veto any EU sanctions against Russia affecting nuclear energy.

☆ Zelenskiy calls situation on Ukrainian front 'extremely acute'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (not pictured) via phone line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 25, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS/File PhotoJan 27 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday said the situation at the front remained "extremely acute", particularly in the eastern Donetsk region where Russia is stepping up an offensive. Zelenskiy reported major battles for Vuhledar, to the southwest of Donetsk, and Bakhmut, to the northeast. The town has symbolic importance for both Russia and Ukraine, though Western military analysts say it has little strategic significance. Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Mark Porter and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Blasts near Ukraine nuclear plant, says UN watchdog; Russia calls it provocation
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 26 (Reuters) - The U.N.'s nuclear watchdog on Thursday reported powerful explosions near Ukraine's Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station and renewed calls for a security zone around the plant. Russian forces seized the plant in early March, soon after invading neighbouring Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of firing around it near the front lines, prompting the IAEA to place experts at all of Ukraine's five nuclear stations. Grossi, who visited Ukraine last week, said IAEA monitors routinely reported explosions near the plant. On the other, they are again sowing doubt in Western public opinion that somehow Russia cannot cope with upholding nuclear safety."

☆ Exclusive: -Bank of Canada's Macklem says he is 'not even thinking' of cutting rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OTTAWA, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem on Wednesday said he was focused on whether interest rates would need to go higher and is not even considering cutting them as part of the fight against inflation. Macklem made his remarks in an interview with Reuters after earlier announcing a rate hike and saying the central bank would pause to see how the economy was reacting to tightening. "As things start to get more back to normal, at some point, yes, we probably will be thinking about some modest cuts in interest rates," Macklem said. We're not even thinking about cuts ... the question really we're asking ourselves is, 'Have we done enough?' (Reporting by Steve Scherer and David Ljunggren)((Reuters Ottawa bureau, +1 647 480 7921; david.ljunggren@tr.com))Keywords: CANADA CENBANK/MACKLEM RATESOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Bank of Canada says growth to stall through the middle of 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OTTAWA, Jan 25 (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada on Wednesday said growth would stall through the middle of this year and predicted that while inflation would come down faster than previously forecast, it would not return to the bank's 2% target until next year. Inflation is seen on average at 3.6% this year, compared with the previous forecast of 4.1%. Stalling growth during the first half means "the likelihood of a couple of quarters with slightly negative growth is roughly the same as that of a couple of quarters with slightly positive growth," it said. In 2022, the economy likely expanded by 3.6%, compared with a previous forecast of 3.3%, and expanding 1.8% next year, lower than the 2% previously forecast. The bank separately increased its overnight policy rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 4.5% and indicated it would likely pause there to monitor the impact of previous rate hikes.

[1/2] A Canadian dollar coin, commonly known as the "Loonie", is pictured in this illustration picture taken in Toronto January 23, 2015. "We are turning the corner on inflation," Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem told reporters. If the economy evolves as forecast, the bank "expects to hold the policy rate at its current level while it assesses the impact of the cumulative interest rate increases," the statement announcing the rate hike said. "Governing Council is prepared to increase the policy rate further if needed to return inflation to the 2% target," the statement said. "The Bank of Canada is back to using forward guidance," said Royce Mendes, director and head of macro strategy at Desjardins.

☆ Bank of Canada raises rates, says it is likely to pause for now
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OTTAWA, Jan 25 (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada on Wednesday hiked its benchmark overnight interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.5%, its highest level in 15 years, and said it would likely pause to measure the cumulative effect of previous increases. Inflation will fall to about 3% around the middle of this year, and reach target next year. If the economy evolves as forecast, "Governing Council expects to hold the policy rate at its current level while it assesses the impact of the cumulative interest rate increases," according to a statement. "Governing Council is prepared to increase the policy rate further if needed to return inflation to the 2% target." (Reporting by Steve Scherer and David Ljunggren)((Reuters Ottawa bureau, +1 647 480 7921; david.ljunggren@tr.com))Keywords: CANADA CENBANK/RATESOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ukraine defence minister says forces will train on German tanks in Poland - VOA
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius meets with his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov to discuss how to help Ukraine defend itself, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, January 20, 2023. REUTERS/Wolfgang RattayJan 20 (Reuters) - Ukrainian forces will train on Leopard-2 battle tanks in Poland, Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov was quoted as saying on Friday, even though allies failed to reach an agreement to supply the German-made vehicles to Kyiv. Reznikov, echoing earlier comments by Ukrainian officials, said he hoped Germany will reach a decision on the tanks. Earlier Reznikov had tweeted his gratitude to the German government and people for their military aid and hospitality. Next to a photograph of himself with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, he wrote, "We had a frank discussion on Leopards 2.

☆ Pro-Kremlin channel Russia Today says France operation closing
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Late last February, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, the European Union said it would ban Russia Today on the grounds it had been spreading disinformation about the war. RT (Russia Today) France appealed the ban but lost. "The funds of RT France are frozen at the request of the general directorate of the Treasury ... our channel can no longer continue its activity," she said. In March, the European Union's Court of Justice on Wednesday rejected a RT France bid for a temporary reprieve. It accused the French authorities of censorship and said RT France had never been condemned or sanctioned for any reason.

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