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☆ Ukraine shelling attack injures two top pro-Russia officials in Donetsk - agencies
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov/PoolDec 21 (Reuters) - A former Russian deputy prime minister and a pro-Moscow official were injured when Ukrainian forces shelled the eastern city of Donetsk on Wednesday, Russian news agencies said. Donetsk, controlled by pro-Moscow troops, is in the industrial Donbas region, epicentre of recent bitter fighting between Russia and Ukraine. Also hurt was Vitaly Khotsenko, the head of government of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, his press secretary told Russian news agencies. The two men were injured when a hotel on the outskirts of Donetsk came under fire from high-precision weapons, aides told Russian agencies. Rogozin used to head Russia's space agency but was replaced in July.

☆ Zelenskiy says U.S. Patriot system will be crucial part of Ukraine's defenses
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 21 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday said a U.S. promise to provide the Patriot surface-to-air missile defense system was an important step in creating an effective air shield. The Patriot system is "a defensive system, it's not escalatory, it's defensive" Biden told reporters. U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hold a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., December 21, 2022. Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken had earlier said the United States would provide $1.85 billion in additional military assistance for Ukraine, including a transfer of the Patriot Air Defense System. The Patriot is considered to be one of the most advanced U.S. air defense systems and offers protection against aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles.

☆ Kremlin: U.S. Patriot systems in Ukraine would be legitimate target
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 14 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Wednesday that U.S. Patriot missile defence systems would be a legitimate target for Russian strikes against Ukraine, should the United States authorise them to be delivered to support Kyiv. Washington is finalising plans to send the Patriot missile defence system to Ukraine, a decision that could be announced as soon as this week, three U.S. officials told Reuters on Tuesday. The Patriot is considered to be one of the most advanced U.S. air defence systems, including against aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. "It is the United States that is responsible for the prolongation and escalation of the Ukrainian conflict." For the United States, this has included NASAMS air defence systems that the Pentagon says have flawlessly intercepted Russian missiles in Ukraine.

☆ Russia drones smash power network in Odesa
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Serhii SmolientsevDec 10 (Reuters) - All non-critical infrastructure in the Ukrainian port of Odesa was without power after Russia used Iranian-made drones to hit two energy facilities, officials said on Saturday, adding it could take months to repair the damage. The regional administration said people who relied solely on electricity to power their homes should consider leaving. "According to preliminary forecasts, it will take much more time to restore energy facilities in the Odesa region than after previous attacks," the administration said. Odesa, Ukraine's largest port city, had a population of over 1 million before Russia's Feb. 24 invasion. Ukraine's prosecutor general's office said two power facilities in Odesa region were hit by Shahed-136 drones.

☆ Ukrainian security service accuses Orthodox cleric of supporting Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Ukraine's SBU security service accused a senior Orthodox Christian cleric on Friday of engaging in anti-Ukrainian activity by supporting Russian policies in social media posts. The announcement followed a series of raids of property used by a Ukrainian branch of the Orthodox Church that is historically tied to Russia and has come under increasing pressure since Russia's invasion. The Orthodox Church in Russia has backed Moscow's invasion, and Kyiv says some clerics in Ukraine could be taking orders from Moscow. Orthodox Church officials in Ukraine did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Since the collapse of Soviet rule, tensions have been high between the Moscow-subordinated church and an independent Ukrainian church.

OTTAWA, Dec 8 (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada will study the most recent economic data to gauge whether to raise interest rates further, a deputy governor said on Thursday, adding it would still move forcefully if necessary. "We expect our decisions will be more data-dependent," Deputy Governor Sharon Kozicki said in a speech in Montreal, adding the bank was still prepared to be "forceful" with rates if necessary. "We are moving from how much to raise interest rates to whether to raise interest rates." Asked to clarify if being prepared to be "forceful" meant the bank was still prepared to make oversized rate moves, Kozicki said it was a hypothetical. Deliberations ahead of Wednesday's rate hike centered on how supply challenges are resolving, how higher rates are slowing demand, and how inflation and inflation expectations are evolving, Kozicki said.

OTTAWA, Dec 8 (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada will study the latest economic data to gauge whether or not to raise interest rates further, a deputy governor said on Thursday, adding it would still move forcefully if necessary. "We are moving from how much to raise interest rates to whether to raise interest rates." But three-month rates of core inflation have declined to about 3.5%, Kozicki said, an indication "that momentum in inflation is easing". Deliberations ahead of Wednesday's rate hike centered on how supply challenges are resolving, how higher rates are slowing demand, and how inflation and inflation expectations are evolving, Kozicki said. Kozicki reiterated that starting next year, the bank will release a "summary of deliberations" in an effort to provide more transparency.

The bank cited still-strong growth and tight labor markets as the reason for the latest increase. But it eliminated the forward guidance it has used since it began cranking rates higher in March, dropping language that said they would have to rise further. Money markets had bet on a 25-basis-point increase, but a slim majority of economists in a Reuters poll expected a 50-bps move. Overall, however, the central bank said that data supported its October forecast that growth would stall through the middle of next year. Additional reporting by Fergal Smith in Toronto, Editing by Sandra Maler, Kirsten Donovan and Deepa BabingtonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Bank of Canada increases rates by 50 bps, says hikes may be over
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OTTAWA, Dec 7 (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada on Wednesday hiked its benchmark overnight interest rate by 50 basis points to 4.25%, the highest level in almost 15 years, and signalled the tightening campaign was near an end. The central bank, which has raised rates at a record pace of 400 basis points in nine months, cited still-strong growth and tight labor markets as the reason for the latest increase. But it eliminated the forward guidance it has used since the start of the tightening cycle, dropping language that said rates would have to rise further. Gross domestic product growth in the third quarter, which grew at an annualized 2.9%, was stronger than expected and there is still "excess demand" in the economy, while labor markets remained tight, it said. (Reporting by Steve Scherer, editing by David Ljunggren)((Reuters Ottawa bureau, +1 647 480 7921; david.ljunggren@tr.com))Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ukraine slaps sanctions on senior clerics in pro-Moscow church
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 3 (Reuters) - Ukraine is slapping sanctions on 10 senior clerics linked to a pro-Moscow church on the grounds they agreed to work with Russian occupation authorities or justified Moscow's invasion, the security service said on Saturday. The announcement is the latest in a series of steps against a Ukrainian branch of the Orthodox Church linked historically to Moscow. The Orthodox Church in Russia itself backs the war. The Ukrainian branch formally severed ties with the Russian Orthodox Church last May, but is still mistrusted by many Ukrainians and accused of secret co-operation with Russia. Since the collapse of Soviet rule, competition has been fierce between the Moscow-linked church and an independent Ukrainian church proclaimed soon after independence.

☆ Ukraine says ship with wheat for Ethiopia arrives, part of anti-famine push
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Dec 3 (Reuters) - A ship with Ukrainian wheat destined for Ethiopia arrived in port on Saturday, the first vessel to sail as part of a push to send food to countries most vulnerable to famine and drought, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. Last Saturday, Ukraine and allied nations launched an initiative to export $150 million worth of grain to Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Congo, Kenya, and Yemen. "We ship food. We ship hope," Zelenskiy said in a tweet accompanying a short clip of a vessel carrying 25,000 tonnes of wheat for Ethiopia that he said had arrived in the port of Doraleh, in neighboring Djibouti. Zelenskiy said on Friday that by early next year, a total of around 60 ships would have delivered cargoes.

☆ Putin takes war to new level of 'barbarism,' U.S. diplomat says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Tom Balmforth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is not sincere about peace talks with Ukraine while he is taking the war to a new level of "barbarism" by trying to turn off the lights of civilians, a top U.S. diplomat said on Saturday. "And it's very clear, whether it's the energy attacks, whether it's the rhetoric out of the Kremlin and the general attitude, that Putin is not sincere or ready for that." U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday he was prepared to speak to Putin if the Russian leader was interested in ending the war. "Putin has taken this war to a new level of barbarism, taking it into every single Ukrainian home as he tries to turn off the lights and the water and achieve what he couldn't on the battlefield," Nuland said. "Ukraine's victory, which we are sure of, will be our joint victory," Zelenskiy's office quoted him as telling Nuland.

☆ Putin not sincere about peace talks now, says top U.S. diplomat
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is not sincere about peace talks with Ukraine at this time, a top U.S. diplomat said on Saturday after meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other senior Ukrainian officials in Kyiv. U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday he was prepared to speak to Putin if the Russian leader was interested in ending the war. This reaction from Russia, Nuland said, showed "how not serious they are". Nuland also met Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelenskiy's office, who expressed thanks for the billions of dollars worth of aid Washington has committed to Ukraine. "Ukraine's victory, which we are sure of, will be our joint victory," Zelenskiy's office quoted him as telling Nuland.

☆ Ukraine has lost between 10,000 and 13,000 soldiers in war - official
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 1 (Reuters) - Ukraine's armed forces have lost somewhere between 10,000 and 13,000 soldiers so far in the war against Russia, presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told a Ukrainian television network on Thursday. The remarks appeared to be the first estimate of dead since late August, when the head of the armed forces said nearly 9,000 military personnel had been killed. "We have official figures from the general staff, we have official figures from the top command, and they amount to (between) 10,000 and 12,500 to 13,000 killed," Podolyak told the Kanal 24 channel. "We are open in talking about the number of dead," he added, saying more soldiers had been wounded than had died. Last month America's top general estimated that Russia's military had seen more than 100,000 of its soldiers killed and wounded in Ukraine, and added Kyiv's armed forces "probably" suffered a similar level of casualties.

OTTAWA, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Canada launched a new Indo-Pacific strategy on Sunday, vowing more resources to deal with a "disruptive" China while working with the world's second-biggest economy on climate change and trade issues. But the focus is on China, at a time when bilateral ties are frosty. "China is an increasingly disruptive global power," said the strategy. Canada belongs to the Group of Seven major industrialized nations, which wants significant measures in response to North Korean missile launches. Official data for September show bilateral trade with China accounted for under 7% of the total, compared to 68% for the United States.

☆ Ukraine wants lower cap on Russian oil, at $30-$40 per barrel
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 26 (Reuters) - The price for Russian seaborne oil should be capped at between $30 and $40 per barrel, lower than the level that Group of Seven nations have proposed, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday. European Union governments, seeking to curb Moscow's ability to fund the Ukraine war without causing an oil supply shock, are split over a G7 push that the cap be set at $65 to $70 per barrel. The idea of the cap is to prohibit shipping, insurance and re-insurance companies from handling cargoes of Russian crude around the globe, unless it is sold for less than the price set by the G7 and its allies. Poland, Estonia and Lithuania are pushing for a much lower cap than $65-70 per barrel while Greece, Cyprus and Malta want a higher cap. Reporting by Dan Peleschuk; Writing by David Ljunggren; Editing by Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Russian shelling has killed 32 in Kherson region since liberation - police
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 26 (Reuters) - At least 32 people in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson have been killed by Russian shelling since pro-Moscow forces pulled out two weeks ago, the head of Ukraine's police said on Saturday. Russian forces completed their withdrawal from the city of Kherson on Nov. 11 after an almost nine-month occupation. They are now positioned on the eastern bank of the Dnipro, from where they have been shelling the city regularly. "Daily Russian shelling is destroying the city and killing peaceful local residents. In all, Russia has killed 32 civilians in the Kherson region since the deoccupation," National Police chief Ihor Klymenko said in a Facebook post.

☆ In rare public spat, Zelenskiy criticises Kyiv mayor over emergency centres
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 25 (Reuters) - In a rare public spat involving Ukrainian leaders, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday criticised the mayor of Kyiv for doing what he said was a poor job setting up emergency shelters to help those without power and heat after Russian attacks. In an evening address, Zelenskiy indicated that Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and his officials had not done enough to help. In particular, there are a lot of complaints in Kyiv ... To put it mildly, more work is needed," he said, saying the level of services available in many Kyiv centres was not good enough. Zelenskiy also criticised those who he said had lied in their official reports, but did not give details. Klitschko, a 51-year-old former professional boxer, was elected mayor of Kyiv in 2014.

☆ Zelenskiy appeals to UN Security Council over Russian strikes on infrastructure
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Simon Lewis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Juan Medina/File PhotoNov 23 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appealed to the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday to take action to stop Russian air strikes targeting vital infrastructure that have once again plunged Ukrainian cities into darkness and cold as winter sets in. That's the Russian formula of terror," Zelenskiy said via video link to the council chamber in New York, adding that hospitals, schools, transport infrastructure and residential areas had all been hit. Ukraine is waiting to see "a very firm reaction" to Wednesday's air strikes from the world, he added. The council is unlikely to take any action in response to the appeal since Russia is a member with veto power. The Russian president "will try to freeze the country into submission," she added.

☆ Most Moldovan power supplies restored after Russian strikes on Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CHISINAU, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Power was restored to most parts of Moldova on Wednesday, hours after Russian missile strikes on neighbouring Ukraine caused blackouts across half of the small impoverished country, officials said. Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spinu, who had earlier reported a "massive blackout", said in a statement that all power had been restored to the north of Moldova. Premier Energy, a Moldovan company that serves the centre and the south, said 90% of the electricity supply was back on line. It shares a border with Ukraine, a fellow ex-Soviet state, and is connected to its power grid. Spinu said the situation was a repeat of Nov. 15, when Moldova also suffered blackouts after Russian missile strikes.

☆ Morning Bid: On the fence
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Steve Scherer | David Ljunggren | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The market has been looking, almost clamouring, for signs of slowdown in the pace of interest rate hikes. And so, the dollar remains on guard, Asian equities mostly tracked Wall Street gains and gold stayed flat . The tentativeness among investors is in stark contrast with the soccer world, which remains in shock after Saudi Arabia came from behind to beat Lionel Messi's Argentina in the World Cup. The central bank warned the economy might have to spend an entire year in recession to bring inflation under control. The first bankruptcy hearing for FTX showed that the collapsed crypto exchange has been the subject of cyberattacks and had "substantial" assets missing.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was up 0.3%, after U.S. stocks ended the previous session with gains. Australian shares (.AXJO) were up 0.7%, with most gains coming from mining and resources giants as a result of higher oil prices. Case numbers in Beijing and Shanghai are steadily rising, prompting authorities to close some facilities. "The biggest story for investors in Asia is still the China reopening," said Suresh Tantia, Credit Suisse's senior investment strategist in Singapore. While the FTX exchange collapse continues to roil cryptocurrency markets, Bitcoin was 0.33% higher in Asian trading hours to $16,184.

The Bank of Canada raised rates by 50 basis points last month to fight high inflation, lifting the policy rate to 3.75%, the highest since the 4% level seen in January 2008. Rogers said the bank was monitoring how a combination of high home prices and high household debt - both longstanding economic vulnerabilities in Canada - could affect the stability of the financial system. After a blowout job gain report for October, Canada's annual inflation rate held steady that same month at 6.9%, matching analyst forecasts, while core inflation measures were mixed, data showed last week. Once fixed-rate mortgages hit the trigger point, lenders can ask them to pay more. Some 50% of those who have variable-rate mortgages, or about 13% of all Canadian mortgages, have already seen their payments reach the trigger point, the paper said.

☆ 'Close call' in shelling near nuclear reactor on Ukraine's frontline
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Pavel Polityuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

While there was no direct impact on nuclear safety and security systems, "the shelling came dangerously close", Grossi said. A view shows Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant from the town of Nikopol, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine November 7, 2022. The Zaporizhzhia plant itself and territory south of it fell to Russia in March. The Zaporizhzhia plant provided about a fifth of Ukraine's electricity before Russia's invasion, and has been forced to operate on back-up generators a number of times. Although there were fewer attacks today due to worsening weather, the amount of Russian shelling unfortunately remains extremely high," Zelenskiy said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said more than a dozen blasts shook the nuclear plant late on Saturday and on Sunday. The team plans to conduct an assessment on Monday, Grossi said, but Russian nuclear power operator Rosenergoatom said there would be curbs on what the team could inspect. EAST UNDER RUSSIAN FIREIn eastern Ukraine, Russian forces battered Ukrainian front-line positions with artillery fire, with the heaviest attacks in the Donetsk region, Zelenskiy said in a video address. "The fiercest battles, as before, are in the Donetsk region. Although there were fewer attacks today due to worsening weather, the amount of Russian shelling unfortunately remains extremely high," Zelenskiy said.

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