Closing summary
The Ukrainian foreign ministry responded to the compromised joint declaration by G20 leaders, describing the sections relating to the Russian invasion of Ukraine as “nothing to be proud of”. Foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko called out the declaration for not outright naming Russia. “It is clear that the participation of the Ukrainian side would have allowed the participants to better understand the situation,” Nikolenko wrote on Facebook.
Meanwhile, an adviser to the head of the office of Volodymyr Zelenskiy, warned about the consequences of lifting sanctions against Russia as Russia pushed for a grain deal in the joint G20 declaration that would lift the ban on some Russian banks from the international Swiftbank payments system. “Even the slightest lifting of sanctions on Russia or any discussions suggesting such an option have consequences,” Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter.
G20 adopted a consensus declaration on issues facing the bloc after some disagreement over the wording on the war in Ukraine. Western countries had pushed for strong condemnation of Russia while Russia blocked a compromise that was “acceptable otherwise for everyone else”, an EU diplomat told Reuters.
The wording on the Ukraine portion of the declaration noted the “different views and assessments” on Russia’s war on the country, but underscored that all states must act in a manner “consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN charter in its entirety”. It called for the “timely and effective” implementation to ensure “immediate and unimpeded” deliveries of grain, food stuff and fertilisers from Ukraine and Russia. In July, Russia quit the Black Sea grain deal, which brokered by the UN and Turkey to ensure the safe transport of products from and to Ukraine, and has since repeatedly bombed Ukrainian ports and grain stores.
New fragments of a drone similar to those used by the Russian military were found on Romanian soil, the president and defence ministry said Saturday – the second discovery of its kind in Romanian territory this week.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is warning of a potential threat to nuclear safety following a surge in fighting near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The IAEA, the United Nations atomic watchdog, said its experts deployed at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant reported hearing numerous explosions over the past week.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday he had agreed to begin bilateral talks with Japan over security guarantees at a meeting with Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in Kyiv,
Fragments of possible Russian drone found on Romanian soil
New fragments of a drone similar to those used by the Russian military were found on Romanian soil, the president and defence ministry said Saturday.
President Klaus Iohannis said this indicated a violation of Romania’s sovereign air space had occurred, a threat to Romanian civilians in the area.
During the phone call 📞 I had today with @NATO Secretary General @jensstoltenberg, we discussed about the identification, by the Romanian 🇷🇴 authorities, on our soil of new drone parts, similar to those belonging to drones used by the Russian military.
— Klaus Iohannis (@KlausIohannis) September 9, 2023
I strongly condemned this violation of our sovereign air space, which is a threat to 🇷🇴 citizens in the area. @NATO SecGen expressed full solidarity of the Alliance & of the Allies with Romania, which is fully protected & benefits from the highest security guarantees in history.
— Klaus Iohannis (@KlausIohannis) September 9, 2023
Iohannis said he had informed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg about the pieces of drone - the second to crash in Romanian territory this week - and that Stoltenberg reiterated the alliance’s “full solidarity” with Romania.
A Russian military unit in Russian-occupied Crimea caught fire today, said Oleg Kryuchkov, an adviser to the head of Crimea.
He dismissed claims that Ukrainian forces were behind the fire in Simferopol, calling it an ordinary domestic fire. “Ukrainian propaganda seeks to turn any fire in Simferopol into ‘victory,’” he wrote on Telegram. “Will not work.”
Zelenskiy adviser: "There can be no talk of lifting sanctions" against Russia
With the G20 summit under way in Delhi, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the office of Volodymyr Zelenskiy, reiterated that there can be “no talk of lifting sanctions” against Russia.
“Even the slightest lifting of sanctions on Russia or any discussions suggesting such an option have consequences,” Podolyak said on Twitter. “This directly incentivises Russia to continue active combat operations, prolong the conflict, drag it out, and even escalate the war. It provokes even more extensive use of genocidal and terrorist practices, such as intensifying missile attacks on civilian populations. It is a direct abandonment of a return to international law.”
Podolyak tweeted this as Russia pushed for the lifting of some sanctions in G20 talks around grain exports. The joint declaration called for the “timely and effective” implementation to ensure “immediate and unimpeded” deliveries of grain, food stuff and fertilisers from Ukraine and Russia.
Today, Russia said it was sticking to its conditions for a return to the Black Sea grain deal – in particular a state agricultural bank, not a subsidiary of the bank that was proposed by the UN, to be reconnected to the international SWIFT bank payments system.
One of the 2022 sanctions imposed by the European Union and other western countries was to ban some Russian banks from the international Swiftbank payments system.
In July, Russia quit the Black Sea grain deal, which was brokered by the UN and Turkey to ensure the safe transport of products from and to Ukraine (Ukraine is an agricultural hub known as the breadbasket of Europe).
Since quitting the grain deal, Russia has repeatedly bombed Ukrainian ports and grain stores.
One thing must be understood: even the slightest lifting of sanctions on #Russia or any discussions suggesting such an option have consequences. This directly incentivizes Russia to continue active combat operations, prolong the conflict, drag it out, and even escalate the war.…
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) September 9, 2023
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Ukraine's foreign ministry criticises G20 declaration
The Ukrainian foreign ministry said the compromised joint declaration by G20 leaders relating to the Russian invasion of Ukraine was “nothing to be proud of”.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko called out the declaration for not outright naming Russia when alluding to states acting in a manner not “consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN charter in its entirety” and states refraining from “threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state”.
“It is clear that the participation of the Ukrainian side would have allowed the participants to better understand the situation,” Nikolenko wrote on Facebook.
Nikolenko said he was grateful to the western countries who pushed for strong condemnation of Russia. Ultimately, Russia objected to much of the wording around Ukraine and blocked a compromise that was “acceptable otherwise for everyone else,”, an EU diplomat told Reuters.
Updated
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is warning of a potential threat to nuclear safety following a surge in fighting near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
The IAEA, the United Nations atomic watchdog, said its experts deployed at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant reported hearing numerous explosions over the past week.
There were no damages to the plant.
“I remain deeply concerned about the possible dangers facing the plant at this time of heightened military tension in the region,” IAEA director general Rafael Mariano Grossi warned in a statement issued late Friday. “Whatever happens in a conflict zone wherever it may be, everybody would stand to lose from a nuclear accident, and I urge that all necessary precautions must be taken to avoid it happening.”
Updated
One person was killed and another injured in the Ukrainian shelling of the city of Donetsk, said Alexey Kulemzin, the Russia-installed mayor.
A 48-year-old man was killed in the Russian shelling of the Kherson oblast, said regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
“The shelling continues,” he wrote on Telegram. “Stay in safe places.”
Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday he had agreed to begin bilateral talks with Japan over security guarantees at a meeting with Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in Kyiv, Reuters reports.
Hayashi was in Kyiv meeting the foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, and the Ukrainian prime minister, Denys Shmyhal. He had said that Japan was interested in investing in Ukraine’s infrastructure earlier on Saturday.
The G7 group of countries, of which Japan is a member, said in July that its members would begin bilateral security guarantees talks with Ukraine.
Updated
Here are some of the latest images of Ukraine coming in from agencies:
Updated
Electricity to the Russian village of Terebreno has been cut off following an attack from Ukrainian forces, said regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
This follows a day of attacks from Ukrainian forces, Gladkov said. Ukrainian forces fired 13 artillery shells at Petrovka, three more at the village of Ustinka and the Nekhoteevka vehicle checkpoint and four more at the villages of Zhuravlevka and Krasny Khutor. There were no casualties or damages, Gladkov said on Telegram.
Nine private households, two outbuildings, a car and a window at a school sustained damage after Ukrainian forces attacked with artillery fire and air defence shot down a drone over the city of Valuiki.
Ukrainian forces fired 10 mortar shells on the outskirts of the village of Dronovka, nine mortar shells on the outskirts of the village of Spodaryushino, and four mortar shells on the outskirts of the Bayrak village – but there were no casualties or damage.
Meanwhile, in the Shebekinsky urban district, the village of Sereda came under mortar fire while 11 mortar and three artillery shells were fired at the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka. There were no casualties but the facade of one private household was damaged and one outbuilding was destroyed.
Summary of the day so far
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the G20 has adopted a consensus declaration on issues facing the bloc – issues including the war in Ukraine. Earlier, there was disagreement over the wording on the war in Ukraine, with western countries pushing for strong condemnation of Russia and Russia blocking a compromise that was “acceptable otherwise for everyone else”, an EU diplomat told Reuters.
The wording on the Ukraine portion of the declaration noted the “different views and assessments” on Russia’s war on the country, but underscored that all states must act in a manner “consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN charter in its entirety”. It called for the “timely and effective” implementation to ensure “immediate and unimpeded” deliveries of grain, food stuff and fertilisers from Ukraine and Russia. In July, Russia quit the Black Sea grain deal, which brokered by the UN and Turkey to ensure the safe transport of products from and to Ukraine, and has since repeatedly bombed Ukrainian ports and grain stores.
Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan’s minister of foreign affairs, made a visit to Kyiv to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, and Ukrainian prime minister, Denys Shmyhal. He and representatives of leading Japanese companies stated that Japanese businesses were interested in investing in Ukrainian infrastructure, medicine and communications. Currently, Japan plans to send 24 cranes for humanitarian demining to Ukraine.
Boris Johnson, a former UK prime minister, has also made a visit to Ukraine, meeting with the mayor of Lviv, a city in western Ukraine located about 543km (337 miles) from the capital, Kyiv. Andriy Sadovyi, the mayor of Lviv, called Johnson “a great friend of Ukraine”.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with Michael McFaul, the former US ambassador to Russia who is currently heading the international working group on sanctions against Russia. “It is important to strengthen sanctions against the energy, financial and banking sectors of Russian terrorists,” Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram today. “It is also necessary to block the supply to Russia of any components and spare parts used for the production of missiles and drones.”
Russia’s redeployment of frontline forces to bolster its “degraded” units in Ukraine’s south-east is probably hampering Moscow’s ability to carry out offensive operations in other frontline areas, the UK Ministry of Defence said in its latest intelligence briefing. The ministry said Ukrainian troops had advanced into the “multi-layered” main Russian defensive line east of the town of Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The United Russia political party’s headquarters in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Polohy were destroyed in an attack on Friday, according to the mayor of Melitopol. Ivan Fedorov said on the Telegram messaging app that local residents described Russians as “burned out” of the headquarters during the “hellish pseudo-elections” in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia oblast.
A “staggering” 851 educational facilities have been damaged or destroyed in the Russian war on Ukraine, the UN human rights office said today.
A civilian injured in yesterday’s Russian rocket attack on the Sumy oblast has died, the Sumy oblast military administration said on Telegram. Russian forces shelled seven communities on the oblast border yesterday, resulting in 61 explosions. Overnight and into the morning, Russian forces shelled three communities on the border five times, resulting in 37 explosions.
A young man was killed in a Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih yesterday, Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of the Kryvyi Rih’s defence council, said on Telegram. Vilkul said 74 people were injured in the attack, with 34 in the hospital and three in serious condition.
The general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces is estimating that Russian forces lost 600 personnel yesterday – bringing the total of Russian personnel lost since February 2022 to 268,140.
Updated
G20 declaration: 'Different views and assessments of the situation in Ukraine'
The G20 leaders’ declaration on Ukraine noted the “different views and assessments” on Russia’s war on the country, but underscored that all states must act in a manner “consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN charter in its entirety”, Reuters is reporting.
All states must refrain from threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state, the declaration states.
Russia has asserted from the beginning of the invasion that Ukraine, a recognised separate nation, is actually Russia. Ukraine has also already begun a widespread war crimes investigation into Russia’s actions in the country, some of which include the execution of civilians, rape and looting.
The declaration also states that G20 is not the platform to resolve geopolitical and security issues. However, it called for the “timely and effective” implementation to ensure “immediate and unimpeded” deliveries of grain, food stuff and fertilisers from Ukraine and Russia.
In July, Russia quit the Black Sea grain deal, which brokered by the UN and Turkey to ensure the safe transport of products from and to Ukraine – Ukraine is an agricultural hub known as the breadbasket of Europe.
The deal included an agreement to facilitate Russia’s own exports of food and fertiliser, but Moscow said this had not been fulfilled. Since quitting the grain deal, Russia has repeatedly bombed Ukrainian ports and grain stores.
Today, Russia said it was sticking to its conditions for a return to the Black Sea grain deal – in particular a state agricultural bank, not a subsidiary of the bank that was proposed by the UN, to be reconnected to the international SWIFT bank payments system.
“All our conditions are perfectly well known. They do not need interpretation, they are absolutely concrete and all this is absolutely achievable,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Updated
G20 reaches consensus on leaders' declarations on issues including Ukraine
Reuters is reporting that the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, has announced that the G20 has adopted a consensus declaration on issues facing the bloc – issues including the war in Ukraine.
“On the back of the hard work of all the teams, we have received consensus on the G20 leaders summit declaration. I announce the adoption of this declaration,” Modi told the G20 leaders in New Delhi.
Earlier, there was disagreement over the wording on the war in Ukraine. Western countries pushing for strong condemnation of Russia had agreed upon the wording, but Russia had blocked a compromise that was “acceptable otherwise for everyone else,” an EU diplomat told Reuters.
The “geopolitical situation” paragraph was left blank in an earlier 38-page draft of the final statement reviewed by Reuters – with agreement on 75 other paragraphs covering issues ranging from global debt and cryptocurrencies to climate change.
Modi gave no details on what wording leaders had reached in going forth with this version of the consensus declaration, but the wording could be similar to language in the declaration issued at the 2022 summit in Indonesia that noted that while most nations condemned Russia for the invasion, there were also divergent views.
Updated
Japanese businesses are interested in investing in Ukrainian infrastructure, medicine and communications, the Ukrainian prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, said.
This was one of the topics of discussion during a visit from Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan’s minister of foreign affairs. Representatives of leading Japanese companies also attended this meeting.
“We highly appreciate Japan’s pro-Ukrainian position in UN structures,” Shmyhal said. “This gives us hope that we will work together, we will restore our state, we will develop our joint businesses, trade, economy, production.”
During the meeting, Hayashi reiterated Japan’s support of Ukraine, promising to strengthen anti-Russian sanctions and help Ukraine survive the winter. Japan plans to send 24 cranes for humanitarian demining to Ukraine.
Met with @MofaJapan_en Yoshimasa Hayashi & representatives of 🇯🇵 companies in Kyiv. Talked about cooperation in reconstruction, support for SMEs, humanitarian demining & cyber security. Japanese companies are interested in investing in 🇺🇦. We appreciate Japan's efforts to support… pic.twitter.com/4kjj716Kqb
— Denys Shmyhal (@Denys_Shmyhal) September 9, 2023
Updated
Ukrainians flew a Ukrainian flag over the Russian-occupied Donetsk oblast today to celebrate the city day of Avdiivka.
In Avdiivka, Donetsk region, a large Ukrainian flag on balloons was raised in the sky for the City Day. This year the city celebrates its 245th anniversary. The Ukrainian flag has already been seen in Donetsk - residents of the temporarily occupied city shared footage of the flag… pic.twitter.com/aUMvFTpVYk
— Dénes Törteli 🇪🇺🇭🇺🇺🇦 (@DenesTorteli) September 9, 2023
Boris Johnson makes a visit to Lviv
Boris Johnson, the former UK prime minister, has made a visit to Lviv, a city in western Ukraine located about 543km (337 miles) from the capital, Kyiv.
Andriy Sadovyi, the mayor of Lviv, called Johnson “a great friend of Ukraine”.
Welcome the great friend of Ukraine @BorisJohnson to Lviv ;) https://t.co/MI2QKFBfC7 pic.twitter.com/62PpMgRC7Q
— Андрій Садовий (@AndriySadovyi) September 9, 2023
Updated
A “staggering” 851 educational facilities have been damaged or destroyed in the Russian war on Ukraine, the UN human rights office said today.
"Like hundreds of other teachers, in a blink of an eye I lost the opportunity to work within the walls dear to my heart. When I look at the pictures of another destroyed school, I don't see destroyed walls, I see shattered dreams," said Yana, an English teacher from Mariupol. pic.twitter.com/1P7TSVtzBD
— UNHumanRightsUkraine (@UNHumanRightsUA) September 9, 2023
Russian media is reporting reporting that because of sanctions, mobile operators in Russia are facing a shortage of base stations needed to expand and maintain their networks, said Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the minister of internal affairs in Ukraine.
Operators such as MTS, Megafon, Vimpelcom and Tele2 had only about 20,000 to 30,000 stations by the end of the year. Normal operation requires at least 80,000 stations, said Alexander Sivolobov, deputy head of the NTI Competence Center for wireless and Internet of Things technologies said.
Finland’s Nokia, Sweden’s Ericsson and China’s Huawei have all suspended their official deliveries to Russia, forcing operators to test equipment from “third echelon” manufacturers from China.
Alexey Boyko, an analyst of the specialized telegram channel Abloud62, warned that a transition to this equipment may lead to failures in communication networks and increased costs for equipment repair.
Russian media are reporting that mobile operators in Russia are facing a shortage of base stations needed to expand and maintain their networks due to sanctions.
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) September 9, 2023
The largest operators on the market such as MTS, Megafon, Vimpelcom and Tele2 were left with 20-30 thousand stations… pic.twitter.com/8ans0gub6h
Updated
Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with Michael McFaul, the former US ambassador to Russia who is currently heading the international working group on sanctions against Russia.
”It is important to strengthen sanctions against the energy, financial and banking sectors of Russian terrorists,” Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram today. “It is also necessary to block the supply to Russia of any components and spare parts used for the production of missiles and drones.”
Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Russian ally Belarus, congratulated Kim Jong-un of North Korea on the country’s founding anniversary.
#Belarus Lukashenka congratulated North Korea on the country's founding anniversary. He mentioned that contacts with North Korea are strengthening, "bringing the transition to a multipolar order closer."
— Hanna Liubakova (@HannaLiubakova) September 9, 2023
Lukashenka sees North Korea as a contributor to a multipolar order. Right. pic.twitter.com/GfnoEOBDHu
Updated
One killed in Russian attack on Sumy oblast
A civilian injured in yesterday’s Russian rocket attack on the Sumy oblast has died, the Sumy oblast military administration said on Telegram.
Russian forces shelled seven communities on the oblast border yesterday, resulting in 61 explosions. Overnight and into the morning, Russian forces shelled three communities on the border five times, resulting in 37 explosions.
One killed in Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih
A young man was killed in a Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih yesterday, Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of the Kryvyi Rih’s defence council, said on Telegram.
Vilkul said 74 people were injured in the attack, with 34 in the hospital and three in serious condition.
Here are some of the latest images of Ukraine coming in from the agencies:
The general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces is estimating that Russian forces lost 600 personnel yesterday – bringing the total of Russian personnel lost since February 2022 to 268,140.
— Генеральний штаб ЗСУ (@GeneralStaffUA) September 9, 2023
Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, in Kyiv on Saturday, the Japanese foreign ministry said.
In his talks with Kuleba, Hayashi will reiterate Japan’s firm support of Ukraine and address Tokyo’s involvement in the international community to end Russia’s invasion as soon as possible, Reuters reports the ministry said in a statement.
Hayashi will be accompanied by executives of Japanese firms, the ministry said.
Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, made a surprise visit to Kyiv to meet Volodomyr Zelenskiy in March.
Updated
Russia's redeployments from frontlines hampering its offensive ability, says UK MoD
Russia’s redeployment of frontline forces to bolster its “degraded” units in Ukraine’s south-east is probably hampering Moscow’s ability to carry out offensive operations in other frontline areas, the UK Ministry of Defence says.
It its latest intelligence update, the ministry said Ukrainian troops had advanced into the “multi-layered” main Russian defensive line east of the town of Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Ukrainian dismounted infantry forces are continuing to make gradual tactical advances against Russian positions and attrite Russian forces in the area.
Ukrainian forces had also maintained pressure on Russian positions to the south of Bakhmut, making gradual gains between Klishchiivka and Adriivka, the ministry said in its update, posted on X/Twitter.
It is highly likely that Russia has redeployed forces from other areas of the front line to replace degraded units around Robotyne. These redeployments are likely limiting Russia’s ability to carry out offensive operations of its own along other areas of the front line.
The redeployments are also highly likely an indication of pressure on their defensive lines, particularly around Robotyne.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 09 September 2023.
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) September 9, 2023
Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/1MTC91GtCL
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/TxYidLP9Ta
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United Russia party HQ in Ukraine destroyed, says mayor
The United Russia political party’s headquarters in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Polohy was destroyed in an attack on Friday, according to the mayor of Melitopol, the Kyiv Independent reports.
Ivan Fedorov said on the Telegram messaging app that local residents described Russians as “burned out” of the headquarters during the “hellish pseudo-elections” in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia oblast.
No details were given about how the building was destroyed or any casualties among the Russian authorities. But Fedorov alluded to casualties, saying:
Some went to the hospital, and some went straight to the morgue.
Zaporizhzhia is among four Ukrainian regions that Moscow has illegally annexed but does not fully control where it is staging regional elections. Ukraine and the US have denounced the polls as a sham.
United Russia is the conservative party of President Vladimir Putin.
Updated
Welcome back to our live coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This is Adam Fulton and here’s a rundown on the latest.
The United Russia political party’s headquarters in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Polohy was destroyed in an attack on Friday, the mayor of Melitopol was reported as saying.
Ivan Fedorov said local residents described Russians as “burned out” of the headquarters in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia oblast. He did not give details of how the attack occurred but alluded to casualties.
More on that story shortly. In other news:
A Russian missile hit a police building in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih on Friday, killing a policeman and injuring at least 73 people including nine police, Ukrainian officials said. The administrative building was destroyed and rescue workers pulled several people out of the rubble after the attack on Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s home town, interior minister Ihor Klymenko said on Telegram.
A Russian airstrike killed three people and injured four others in the village of Odradokamianka in Kherson, southern Ukraine, on Friday, Klymenko said.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Russian ruler Vladimir Putin is responsible for the death of mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. The Ukrainian president, who provided no evidence to back up his assertion over Prigozhin’s death in a plane crash with his top lieutenants last month, said at a conference in Kyiv on Friday: “The fact that he [Putin] killed Prigozhin – at least that’s the information we all have, not any other kind – that also speaks to his rationality, and about the fact that he is weak.”
British military and security services will monitor the Black Sea in a bid to deter Russia from striking cargo ships that are transporting grain from Ukraine to developing countries, the UK government has announced.
The first 10 Leopard 1 tanks donated by Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands have arrived in Ukraine and more are on their way, Denmark’s armed forces said on Friday.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry condemned “sham elections” being staged by Russia in occupied Ukrainian territories on Friday, saying they were “worthless” and would have no legal standing. The Russian regional elections include four Ukrainian regions Moscow does not fully control – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, also described the voting in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine as “sham elections” and said they were “illegitimate”.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy said “slower” arms shipments from western countries were threatening his counteroffensive and called for more powerful and long-range weapons. The Ukrainian president also said his country’s allies had eased up on sanctions imposed on Russia and called for a renewed drive to impose further punitive measures on Moscow.
Ukrainian air defences shot down 16 of the 20 drones fired by Russia during Thursday night, Ukrainian officials said. Fourteen 14 drones had been brought down over the Odesa region and two more over the southern region of Mykolaiv, the southern military command said on Friday.
Russia “must stop” its blockade of Ukrainian seaports after pulling out of the UN and Turkey-mediated deal to ensure grain shipments, the European Council president, Charles Michel, said on Friday.
Cuban authorities have arrested 17 people in connection with what they described as a network to recruit Cuban nationals to fight for Russia in Ukraine. The head of criminal investigations for Cuba’s interior ministry, César Rodríguez, told state media that at least three of the 17 people arrested were part of recruitment efforts inside the island country.
Ukraine’s former defence minister has said Vladimir Putin remains determined to destroy Ukraine entirely and to “assimilate” its citizens into the Russian Federation. Oleksii Reznikov warned his western counterparts that negotiations with Moscow would not bring peace.
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