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[1/3] Polish trucks are parked as they block crossings at the Ukrainian border near the village of Hrebenne, Poland November 19, 2023. The Polish hauliers' central demand is to stop Ukrainian truckers having permit-free access to the EU, something that Kyiv and Brussels say is impossible. Jan Buczek, head of Poland's main trucker business association, said Kyiv was showing no readiness to compromise and was creating obstacles for EU truckers operating in Ukraine. POLISH POLITICAL TRANSITIONThe Polish truckers say they will continue protesting until their demands are met and want more engagement from politicians from Poland's main political parties. The Federation of Employers of Ukraine, an industry lobby group, has estimated direct losses to the economy at around 400 million euros ($437 million).

Persons: Yan, hauliers, Taras Kachka, Kachka, it's, Vitaliy Vavryshchuk, Taras Vysotskiy, Serhiy Derkach, Derkach, Jan Buczek, Donald Tusk, Kromberg, Schubert, Olena Makarchuk, Karol Badohal, Alan Charlish, Mike Collett Organizations: REUTERS, Union, Reuters, EU, Justice, Federation, Employers of, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Hrebenne, Poland, Ukraine, KYIV, Kyiv, Brussels, Goods, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine's Zhytomyr, Employers of Ukraine, Warsaw

☆ Kremlin says report on Zelenskiy's alleged ignorance of Nord Stream attack is 'alarming'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

FILE PHOTO: Gas bubbles from the Nord Stream 2 leak reaching surface of the Baltic Sea in the area shows disturbance of well over one kilometre diameter near Bornholm, Denmark, September 27, 2022. A spokesperson for Ukraine's military told Reuters on Sunday he had "no information" about the report. Russia has repeatedly said, without providing evidence, that the West was behind the Nord Stream blasts - particularly the United States and Britain, which both deny involvement. The New York Times and The Washington Post have reported that Ukraine - which has repeatedly denied involvement, was behind the attack. In a blog post, entitled "How America Took Out The Nord Stream Pipeline", Hersh said the plan was hatched in 2021 at the highest levels in the United States.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Chervinsky, Valery Zaluzhnyi, Dmitry Peskov, Zelenskiy, Peskov, Vladimir Putin, Seymour Hersh, Hersh, Dmitry Antonov, Vladimir Soldatkin, Guy Faulconbridge, Andrew Osborn Organizations: Danish Defence Command, REUTERS, Rights, Washington Post, Reuters, Sunday, U.S, New York Times, Thomson Locations: Baltic, Bornholm, Denmark, Ukrainian, Russia's, Europe, Ukraine, Germany, Russia, United States, Britain, Washington

☆ Senior Ukrainian officer coordinated Nord Stream attack: Washington Post
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pipes for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea, which are not used, are seen in the harbour of Mukran, Germany, on September 30, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Nov 12 (Reuters) - A Ukrainian military officer coordinated last year's attack on the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline, the Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing anonymous sources in Ukraine and Europe. Washington and NATO called it an act of sabotage, while Moscow said it was an act of international terrorism. Roman Chervinsky, a former intelligence official who served in the Ukrainian military's special forces, managed a six-person team but did not plan the attack, the Post reported. Germany, Denmark and Sweden have launched investigations into the Nord Stream explosions, which sent plumes of methane into the atmosphere in a leak that lasted several days.

Persons: Pipes, Fabian Bimmer, Roman, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Chervinsky, Viktor Hanushchak, Germany's Der, Dan Peleschuk, Tom Balmforth, William Maclean Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Washington Post, Reuters, Germany's Der Spiegel, Thomson Locations: Baltic, Mukran, Germany, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Europe, Bornholm, Washington, NATO, Moscow, Denmark, Sweden, Russian

☆ Ukraine special forces colonel played a key role in sabotaging the Nord Stream gas pipelines, a report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Nord Stream gas pipelines were damaged in an act of sabotage last year. AdvertisementAdvertisementA senior Ukrainian military official played a key role in sabotaging the Nord Stream gas pipelines last year, according to an investigation by two international newspapers. AdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, The Post reported that Zelenskyy would not have known about the Nord Stream operation and that those involved reported to Zaluzhny. Chervinsky denied his role in the attacks in a statement to the papers through his lawyer: "All speculations about my involvement in the attack on Nord Stream are being spread by Russian propaganda without any basis." AdvertisementAdvertisementThe blasts in September last year damaged three of the four pipelines that make up Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2.

Persons: Zelenskyy, —, Der Spiegel, Valery Zaluzhny, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Jack Teixeira, Chervinsky Organizations: Service, Washington Post, Post, Pentagon, Nord, Kyiv, European Union Locations: Ukrainian, Russia, Germany, Ukraine, Western, Nord, Kyiv, Russian

Russian missiles struck a group of Ukrainian soldiers at an award ceremony in southern Ukraine, killing some and leaving others wounded, two senior Ukrainian military officials said Sunday. The soldiers were there to mark Artillery Day, one of a series of days marked in Ukraine to honor branches of the military. It was not possible to independently confirm the number of casualties or the nature of the strike. Viktor Mykyta, the head of the military administration in Zakarpattia, a western region from which many members of the brigade came, confirmed the strike and deaths, and called for three days of mourning. “I recommend visiting the churches and praying for our defenders,” he said on the Telegram messaging app.

Persons: ”, Viktor Mykyta, “ Organizations: Ukrainian, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, Artillery, Facebook Locations: Ukraine, Zarichne, Zaporizhzhia, Russia, ”, Zakarpattia

☆ Kremlin’s Onetime Pick to Be Ukraine’s Puppet Leader Is Shot in Crimea
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Marc Santora | More About Marc Santora | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A Ukrainian former lawmaker whom the Kremlin had handpicked to lead a puppet administration in Kyiv, Ukraine, was shot and wounded in occupied Crimea in an apparent assassination attempt, Ukrainian and Russian officials said on Saturday. The former lawmaker, Oleg Tsaryov, 53, a pro-Russian business executive, who participated in Moscow’s invasion, was shot as part of a “special operation” carried out this week by Ukraine’s domestic security agency, according to a senior Ukrainian intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. According to Western intelligence agencies, had the Russian invasion succeeded, the Kremlin would have installed Mr. Tsaryov as Ukraine’s leader. The targeting of prominent Russian and pro-Russian figures has long been part of the broader Ukrainian war effort and has continued apace even as fierce battles rage across a vast front line that has moved little in the past year.

Persons: Oleg Tsaryov, ”, Tsaryov Organizations: Kremlin Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Crimea, Russian, Ukrainian

☆ Ukraine says election of new U.S. House speaker won't affect future aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, speaks with Reuters during an interview, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 8, 2022. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 26 (Reuters) - A senior Ukrainian official said on Thursday the election of Mike Johnson, a U.S. Republican who has been an opponent to Ukraine aid, as speaker of the House of Representatives would not affect Washington's vital assistance for Kyiv. Johnson, who was named House speaker on Wednesday, told reporters he supported further aid to Ukraine "with conditions", with accountability and clear objectives from the White House. Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, said Johnson's election was good for Ukraine because it ended a three-week leadership vacuum in the House. U.S. President Joe Biden asked Congress last week to pass a $106 billion funding package which included billions of dollars in assistance for Ukraine.

Persons: Oleksiy Danilov, Valentyn, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Danilov, Joe Biden, Yuliia, Tom Balmforth, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: National Security, Defence Council, Reuters, REUTERS, Republican, Kyiv, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukrainian, U.S, United States

☆ Ukraine is turning to makeshift FrankenSAM-style air defenses to survive another winter of Russian barrages: official
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Jake Epstein | Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US has outfitted Ukraine with AIM-9 missiles that it says are to be used for "air defense." A Ukrainian official said the Sidewinder missiles will be used in an improvised air-defense system. AdvertisementAdvertisementWith winter on the horizon, Kyiv is turning to its improvised air-defense systems to help get the country through an anticipated onslaught of Russian missile and drone barrages. A senior Ukrainian official said this involves tinkering with the primary job description of an American-made missile. The US official said that one system to come from the FrankenSAM program will be capable of launching the AIM-9 missiles.

Persons: —, Lloyd Austin Organizations: US, AIM, Pentagon, Service, Russian, Financial Times, Kyiv, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, American, Russia, Moscow, Washington, Kyiv

☆ US-supplied ATACMS enter the Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine had repeatedly asked the U.S. for ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems), which Kyiv has pledged not to use inside Russia's territory. The Biden administration may soon begin shipping to Ukraine several variants of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), a long-range missile system that often carries varying amounts of cluster bomblets. There were about 1,650 made with several hundred used in conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to Army documents. There were 610 produced with about 74 used in Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to Army documents. There were about 513 made, with about 33 used in conflicts such as Operation Enduring Freedom, according to Army Documents.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Biden, Vladimir Putin, Mike Stone, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Korean, Army Tactical Missile, United States Army, REUTERS, Rights, ATACMS, Army Tactical Missile Systems, Kyiv, Senior, U.S, Army, Desert, Pentagon, GPS, Thomson Locations: United States, South Korea, Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Iraqi, Washington

☆ A 'decoy arms race' is playing out in Ukraine, where deception is getting harder and troops have to treat fakes like they're real to fool the enemy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ukraine and Russia have used fake tanks and weapons to deter or draw fire. AdvertisementAdvertisementBoth Ukraine and Russia are fielding decoys on the battlefield, hoping to draw fire, waste enemy ammunition, and possibly expose enemy positions, but it's getting tougher. A "decoy arms race" is underway, a war expert told Insider, as technology pushes both sides to make their fakes appear as real as possible to fool the enemy. Decoy Ukrainian radar reflectors made from cut-up oil barrels, too, have drawn Russian fire. Earlier this year, Ukraine reported sightings of Russian inflatable tanks deployed near Zaporizhzhia, but it noted some seemed deflated.

Persons: —, George Barros, DJI, SERGEI SUPINSKY, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Barros Organizations: Service, Institute for, Ukraine's 116th Mechanized Brigade, Ukrainian, Army, Drones, Getty, Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Washington Post, Anadolu Agency, Wall Street Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Ukraine's, Kyiv, AFP, Russian, Ukrainian, Zaporizhzhia, Soviet, Klishchiivka, Donetsk Oblast, Kosovo, Serbian

☆ Kyiv official urges more cost effective weapons for countering Russia drones
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Roman Petushkov/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 2 (Reuters) - A senior Ukrainian official called on Monday for a reassessment of Western anti-aircraft systems being supplied to Ukraine, saying simpler and cheaper weapons could be more cost-efficient in countering Russia's Iranian-made Shahed drones. "Thus, it leads to depletion of allied stockpiles and long-term weakening," Podolyak wrote. "The solution is obvious: in addition to mobile large-caliber machine guns, there are plenty of simpler and cheaper anti-aircraft systems available today that have proven themselves to be effective against Shaheds. Such scaling-down, Podolyak wrote, "will minimise the effect of Russian 'raids' and ensure long-term stability of Ukrainian skies and our neighbouring NATO countries". Zelenskiy and other officials have stressed in recent weeks the importance of developing Ukraine's own arms industry and in jointly developing weapons with Western companies.

Persons: Mykhailo Podolyak, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Shaheds, Podolyak, Gepard, Ron Popeski, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, Shaheds, NATO, Thomson Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Germany, The U.S

☆ One of Ukraine's strongest allies says it will no longer supply Kyiv with weapons
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Kacper Pempel | ReutersPoland has said it will no longer supply its neighbor Ukraine with weapons, as a rift over agricultural exports deepens. Jonathan Ernst | ReutersWarsaw has been one of Kyiv's staunchest allies since mutual foe Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Poland has donated a wide range of weaponry to Kyiv, from modern Leopard 2 tanks to Soviet-era fighter jets, as well as delivering military training to Ukraine's armed forces. A Polish farmer during an April 12, 2022 protest against Ukrainian grain imports, which have lowered prices for crops in Poland. In happier times: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki embrace during a joint news briefing on a day of the first anniversary of Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 24, 2023.

Persons: Kacper Pempel, Mateusz Morawiecki, Morawiecki, Kamala Harris, Jonathan Ernst, Kyiv's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Pawel Jablonski, Attila Husejnow, Yulia Svyridenko, Svyridenko, Volodymyr Zelensky, Viacheslav Ratynskyi Organizations: NATO, Reuters, Google, Polska Agencja, Poland's, U.S, White, Washington , D.C, World Trade Organization, United Nations, General Assembly, Kyiv, UN, Assembly, CNBC, EU, Solidarity, European Commission, Slovakia —, WTO, Warsaw, Polish Locations: Europe, France, U.S, Poland, Piskie, Orzysz, Reuters Poland, Ukraine, Kyiv, Warsaw, Washington ,, Reuters Warsaw, Russia, Soviet, Moscow, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Polish, Bratislava, Budapest, Ukrainian

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Ukraine's Zelenskyy set for awkward encounter with Russians at UN; China urged to pressure Moscow
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine intends to sue Poland, Hungary and Slovakia over their restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural imports, officials said. Ukrainian Trade Representative Taras Kachka told Politico in an interview it was "important to prove that these actions are legally wrong," and that an appeal would be made through the World Trade Organization. Poland, Hungary and Slovakia on Friday announced import curbs after European Commission-led restrictions on Ukrainian imports into the countries — as well as Romania and Bulgaria — expired. The EU deal allowed products to transit via the countries but required them to be sold elsewhere. Ukraine has agreed to introduce measures intended to prevent a "surge" in EU imports, however the details have not been specified.

Persons: Taras Kachka, Viktor Orban, Saturday, Ľudovít Ódor, — Jenni Reid Organizations: Ukrainian, Politico, World Trade Organization, Reuters, Friday, Commission, EU, Slovakia's Locations: Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukrainian, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Africa

☆ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet with senators at the U.S. Capitol
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Julie Tsirkin | Summer Concepcion | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit the Capitol and meet with senators on Thursday, a Senate leadership aide told NBC News. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will host an all-senators meeting with Zelenskyy on Thursday at 10 a.m. More from NBC News:Zelenskyy is also expected to meet with President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday, a person familiar with the plans previously told NBC News. "I hope we finally have put to bed the notion about whether or not Ukraine is welcome in NATO. It is an investment in global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way," he told U.S. lawmakers.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Zelenskyy, Kevin McCarthy's, Joe Biden, Biden, Antony Blinken, Blinken Organizations: Capitol, NBC News, NBC, White, United Nations General Assembly, Zelenskyy, NATO, State Department, U.S Locations: Ky, New York City, U.S, Ukrainian, Vilnius, Lithuania, Ukraine, Kyiv, United States

☆ Two ships headed to Ukraine's Black Sea ports to load grain
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Two cargo vessels were headed to Ukrainian ports on Saturday, the first to use a temporary corridor to sail into Black Sea ports and load grain for African and Asian markets, a senior Ukrainian government official told Reuters. Five vessels have so far left the port of Odesa, using the corridor which hugs the western Black Sea coast near Romania and Bulgaria. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said that two bulk carriers "Resilient Africa" and "Aroyat" ships were already on their way in the Black Sea to the Ukrainian ports to load almost 20,000 tons of wheat for Africa and Asia. Shipping data showed both vessels on routes in the northern Black Sea. Moscow has launched frequent drone and missile attacks on the Ukrainian grain export infrastructure.

Persons: Oleksandr Kubrakov, Pavel Polityuk, Ros Russell Organizations: Reuters, Shipping, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Black, Ukraine, Russia, Odesa, Romania, Bulgaria, Africa, Asia, Moscow

☆ Russian-installed Crimea authorities to sell Ukrainian properties
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Crimea's parliamentary speaker Vladimir Konstantinov celebrates switching to Moscow time in the Crimean city of Simferopol March 30, 2014. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 16 (Reuters) - Russian-installed authorities in Crimea said on Saturday they planned to sell about 100 Ukrainian properties, including one belonging to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Vladimir Konstantinov, speaker of the Crimean parliament, said the nationalised properties would be sold "soon" and the authorities had held the first eight auctions for the properties of Ukrainian business figures. The sale contracts amounted to more than 815 million roubles ($8.51 million), Konstantinov said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. Russian-installed authorities in Crimea said in February that they had nationalised around 500 properties in Crimea including some belonging to senior Ukrainian politicians and business figures.

Persons: Vladimir Konstantinov, Shamil Zhumatov, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Konstantinov, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Crimean, Simferopol, Crimea, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Russia

☆ Russian-Installed Crimea Authorities to Sell Ukrainian Properties
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Russian-installed authorities in Crimea said on Saturday they planned to sell about 100 Ukrainian properties, including one belonging to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Vladimir Konstantinov, speaker of the Crimean parliament, said the nationalised properties would be sold "soon" and the authorities had held the first eight auctions for the properties of Ukrainian business figures. The sale contracts amounted to more than 815 million roubles ($8.51 million), Konstantinov said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. Russian-installed authorities in Crimea said in February that they had nationalised around 500 properties in Crimea including some belonging to senior Ukrainian politicians and business figures. Crimea, internationally recognised as part of Ukraine, has been controlled by Moscow since 2014, when Russia annexed the Black Sea peninsula, eight years before its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Vladimir Konstantinov, Konstantinov, William Mallard Organizations: Reuters Locations: Crimea, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Moscow, Russia

☆ Two Ships Headed to Ukraine's Black Sea Ports to Load Grain
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV (Reuters) - Two cargo vessels were headed to Ukrainian ports on Saturday, the first to use a temporary corridor to sail into Black Sea ports and load grain for African and Asian markets, a senior Ukrainian government official told Reuters. Five vessels have so far left the port of Odesa, using the corridor which hugs the western Black Sea coast near Romania and Bulgaria. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said that two bulk carriers "Resilient Africa" and "Aroyat" ships were already on their way in the Black Sea to the Ukrainian ports to load almost 20,000 tons of wheat for Africa and Asia. Shipping data showed both vessels on routes in the northern Black Sea. Moscow has launched frequent drone and missile attacks on the Ukrainian grain export infrastructure.

Persons: Oleksandr Kubrakov, Pavel Polityuk, Ros Russell Organizations: Reuters, Shipping Locations: Ukrainian, Black, Ukraine, Russia, Odesa, Romania, Bulgaria, Africa, Asia, Moscow

☆ Opinion: Ukraine is fighting Russia and making progress. Don’t give up on Kyiv.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Hilary Krieger | Opinion Sébastien Roblin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

It’s true that the Ukrainian counteroffensive debuted with conspicuous setbacks and hasn’t advanced as much as hoped. Moreover, land seized by Russia earlier has been used to strike ever deeper into Ukraine, making restoring defensible borders an existential concern. But Kyiv got the ammunition needed to sustain the counteroffensive longer while awaiting expanded factory production of conventional shells in 2024. Putin miscalculated disastrously when he invaded in Ukraine, so he’s now hoping to outlast Western support for Ukraine to rescue what spoils he can. But failing to do so now could entail the US, Europe and Ukraine paying a much higher price later.

Persons: Sébastien Roblin, CNN —, Ukraine’s, Sebastien Roblin, wail, Vladimir Putin, hasn’t, Ukraine didn’t, Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov, Biden, Bradley, Abrams, Putin miscalculated, he’s, Donald Trump, George McClellan, McClellan Organizations: Georgetown University, Peace Corps, CNN, Kremlin, GOP, Ukrainian, Engineers, British Royal United Services Institute, Defense, US, Lincoln Locations: China, Ukraine, Washington, Russia, Kherson, Ukrainian, Crimea, India, Robotyne, Verbove, Tokmak, Melitopol, NATO, British, Europe, Appomattox

☆ Ukraine appears to be hunting Russia's formidable S-400 air defense systems in Crimea with modified Neptune anti-ship missiles
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine modified an anti-ship cruise missile for land-attack missions. The Neptune missile, which was used to sink the Russian ship Moskva, is now hunting down air defense systems. The R-360 Neptune is a subsonic cruise missile that was initially built by Ukraine to counter adversary naval assets. The Ukrainians have long sought the US military's Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), but Washington's been reluctant to send these weapons. Smoke rises from the shipyard that was reportedly hit by Ukrainian missile attack in Sevastopol, Crimea, in this still image from video taken September 13, 2023.

Persons: Slava, Oleksiy Danilov, Washington's, Ben Hodges Organizations: Service, Sea Fleet, Ukrainian, National Security and Defense, Neptune Missile, General Staff of, Armed Forces, EG, US military's Army Tactical Missile, Russian, NATO, SA, REUTERS, US Army, Staff, Russian General Staff Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Moskva, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Crimea, Olenivka, Yevpatoriya, France, Ukrainian, Sevastopol, Moscow, US Army Europe

☆ 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

CNN —One of Ukraine’s most powerful oligarchs has been arrested in a fraud investigation, state media in the country are reporting. A Kyiv court on Saturday ordered Ihor Kolomoisky, a key supporter of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s 2019 presidential campaign, to 60 days in pre-trial detention while authorities investigate fraud charges against him, reported Ukrinform. Kolomoisky’s media and banking businesses have made him one of the richest men in Ukraine. Video and photos showed Kolomoisky being led away from the district court in Kyiv. Earlier this year Zelensky fired a slew of senior Ukrainian officials over a corruption scandal linked to the procurement of war-time supplies.

Persons: Ihor Kolomoisky, Volodymyr Zelensky’s, Kolomoisky, Ukrinform, –, ”, Vasyl Maliuk, Zelensky, Arsen Avakov, Avakov Organizations: CNN, US State Department, State Department, Security Service of Ukraine, of Economic Security, General’s, Kolomoisky, “ Locations: Ukraine, Shevchenkivskyi, Kyiv, Europe, Russia

☆ Ukraine war: Kyiv's burgeoning weapons industry is enabling it to project power far beyond the front lines
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —In the early hours of August 29th, swarms of Ukrainian drones flew across seven Russian regions. One Russian blogger complained that the Pskov strike indicated that Russian air defenses had not adapted to defend against repeated Ukrainian drone strikes. The damage being done is not going to break the back of the Russian air force, but it has become a serious irritant. Open-source reporting suggests there are at least several Pantsir-2 air defense batteries around Moscow. Such weapons put Russian forces on notice that they are vulnerable far from the front lines.

Persons: Volodymr Zelensky, Russia –, Volodymyr Zelensky, Oleksiy Reznikov, Mykhailo Podolyak, Vitalii, Danilov, ” Zelensky, Podolyak, Kyrylo Budanov, gamesmanship –, Mick Ryan, Budanov, Yuriy Inhat, Putin, ” Organizations: CNN, Defense, “, Getty Senior, National Security and Defense, Ukraine’s, of Strategic Industries, Strategic Communication, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, SIG, The, Ukrainian Air Force Locations: Pskov, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Russian, Crimea, Russia, Moscow, “ Ukraine, Kyiv, Kerch, Novosibirsk, Australian, Crimean, Kherson, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Berdiansk, Donetsk

☆ Ukraine Has Made ‘Notable Progress’ in the Last 72 Hours, the U.S. Said.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ukrainian forces notched victories this week against two lines of Russian defense, according to a White House spokesman, who called the advances “notable progress” in Kyiv’s counteroffensive. The spokesman, John Kirby, declined to discuss war plans for Ukraine but said the U.S. expected Ukrainian forces to continue to push farther south, which will require “tough fighting ahead.”Ukraine celebrated a tactical victory this week when its forces retook the southern village of Robotyne. A senior Ukrainian military official said today that Ukrainian units had successfully pushed about three and a half miles farther south of Robotyne toward Melitopol, a primary target of the counteroffensive. The White House comments came a day after Ukraine’s foreign minister sharply derided criticism of the counteroffensive as slow. “I would recommend all critics to shut up, come to Ukraine and try to liberate one square centimeter by themselves,” he said.

Persons: John Kirby, ” Locations: Ukraine, U.S, Robotyne, Ukrainian, Melitopol

CNN —Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of Russian mercenary group Wagner, was on the passenger list of a plane that crashed northwest of Moscow, killing all 10 on board, according to Russian state media. The bodies of eight people have been found at the crash site, state media outlet Russia 24 reported. Earlier, TASS reported the plane “burned up” on impact after being in the air for about half an hour. One of two Wagner planesVideo published by Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti showed a plane falling out of the sky with one wing missing. A separate video, also released by RIA Novosti, purports to show plane engine debris at the crash site.

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Prigozhin, “, Vladimir Putin’s, Reuters Wagner, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, Joe Biden, Putin, ” Biden, I’m, FlightRadar24, Don –, Biden, Bill Burns, Antony Blinken, Burns, ” Burns, ” Blinken Organizations: CNN, Embraer, Federal Air Transport Agency, Russian Ministry of Emergency Services, TASS, Russian Investigative Committee, Wagner, Ostorozhno, Reuters, Nazi, Novosti, RIA Novosti, Wagner Group, Biden, Kremlin, CIA, NATO Locations: Moscow, Tver, Kuzhenkino, Russia, Belarus, Russia's Tver, Ostorozhno Novosti, Soledar, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Kursk, Soviet, Nazi Germany, Rostov, –, St, Petersburg, United States

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