UKRAINE WRAP | Russian defence minister tells Putin Ukraine's Luhansk region has been 'liberated'

July 03 2022 — 13:27

Rebuilding plan; battling food disinformation

Ukraine plans to unveil a blueprint for rebuilding the country that could mobilise hundreds of billions of euros as the nation continues to grapple with Russia’s invasion. European officials worry that Russian disinformation on the source of food shortages is gaining traction in Africa.  

Russian forces are making an all-out attempt to capture Lysychansk, Kyiv’s last major foothold in the eastern province of Luhansk. 

Global oil prices could reach a “stratospheric” $380 a barrel if US and European penalties prompt Russia to inflict retaliatory crude-output cuts, JPMorgan Chase analysts warned. Russia has reduced gas exports to Italy by 15% from normal levels, an Italian official said.   

July 03 2022 — 12:07

Russian defence minister tells Putin Ukraine's Luhansk region has been 'liberated'

Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu informed President Vladimir Putin that all of Ukraine's Luhansk region had been “liberated” by Russian and separatist forces, the defence ministry said on Sunday.

After being beaten back in its initial attempt to capture the capital Kyiv, Russia has focused its efforts on driving Ukrainian forces out of Luhansk and Donetsk regions in the east of the country, where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Kyiv since Russia's first military intervention in Ukraine in 2014. 

Reuters 

July 03 2022 — 11:02

Russia says its troops have encircled Ukrainian city of Lysychansk — TASS

Russian troops have encircled the eastern Ukrainian city of Lysychansk, Ukraine's last major stronghold in the Luhansk region, TASS news agency cited the Russian defence ministry as saying on Sunday.

Russia is focused on driving Ukrainian forces out of Luhansk and Donetsk provinces in the Donbas, where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Kyiv since Russia's first military intervention in Ukraine in 2014. 

Reuters 

July 03 2022 — 10:22

Russian ice hockey player detained over military service charge, RIA reports 

A Russian ice hockey player under contract with a US-based National Hockey League (NHL) team has been detained in Russia over charges he evaded military service and has since been taken to a military hospital after falling ill, his lawyer told a Russian state news agency.

Ivan Fedotov, a goaltender on the Russian team that won silver at the Beijing Winter Olympics this year, signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers in May.

His detention comes after Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. Moscow calls its actions a “special military operation”.

The Fontanka.ru news website said on Friday the 25-year-old had been detained by St Petersburg police at the request of the military prosecutor's office and was taken to an enlistment office.

His lawyer, Alexei Ponomaryev, told state news agency RIA on Saturday that Fedotov was taken to an enlistment office on Friday and then a military hospital after falling ill.

“As I understand it, due to stress, he had gastritis,” Ponomaryev said. “Ivan feels bad. He says that he is not being provided with full medical assistance.”

Ponomaryev denied accusations that his client had evaded military service.

The St Petersburg police service did not reply to a request for comment. Fedotov did not respond to a request for comment sent to his Instagram account on Friday.

Reuters could not immediately reach his lawyer, Ponomaryev, for comment.Fedotov, who was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2015 Entry Draft, led CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) to the Gagarin Cup, the league's championship title, last season.

A spokesperson for CSKA Moscow told Reuters on Friday it was awaiting official information from relevant bodies. “At the moment Ivan Fedotov is not bound by contractual obligations with our club,” the spokesperson added.

The NHL has severed business ties with Russia but has not banned the more than 50 players on its teams.

The league is not allowing the Stanley Cup, its championship trophy, to travel to Russia for a home celebration for Valery Nichushkin of the Colorado Avalanche. 

Reuters 

July 03 2022 — 08:36

Ukraine hits Russian base in occupied Melitopol, exiled mayor says

Ukrainian forces hit a Russian base with over 30 strikes in the Russian-occupied southern city of Melitopol, the city's exiled Ukrainian mayor said on Sunday.

Russia's RIA news agency reported Ukraine had hit the area of Melitopol where the city's airport is located, but did not specify what had been hit.

Reuters was not able to verify the reports. 

Reuters 

July 03 2022 — 08:02

Zelensky adviser concedes last eastern Ukraine bastion could fall

Fighting intensified for Lysychansk, Ukraine's last big bastion in the strategic eastern province of Luhansk, as an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky conceded the city could fall. 

Blasts also rocked the Russian city of Belgorod, near the border with Ukraine, the regional governor said early on Sunday.

The explosions set a residential building on fire and three wounded people were taken to a hospital, Vyacheslav Gladkov posted on the Telegram messaging app.

Russia is seeking to drive Ukrainian forces out of Luhansk and Donetsk provinces in the Donbas, where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Kyiv since Russia's first military intervention in Ukraine in 2014.

July 03 2022 — 06:30

At least 3 killed in blasts in Russia's Belgorod near Ukraine — governor

 At least three people were killed and dozens of residential buildings damaged in the Russian city of Belgorod near the Ukraine border, the regional governor said, after reports of several blasts in the city.

At least 11 apartment buildings and 39 private houses were damaged, including five that were destroyed, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov posted on the Telegram messaging app.

Gladkov said earlier the “incident” was being investigated, adding, “Presumably, the air defence system worked.”

At least four people were injured and two hospitalised, including a 10-year-old boy, Gladkov said.

Reuters could not independently verify the reports. There was no immediate reaction from Ukraine to the reports.

Belgorod, a city of nearly 400,000 some 40km (25 miles) north of the border with Ukraine, is the administrative centre of the Belgorod region.

Since Russia launched it invasion on Feb. 24, there have been numerous reports of attacks on Belgorod and other regions bordering Ukraine, with Moscow accusing Kyiv of carrying out the strikes.

Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for previous attacks but has described the incidents as payback and “karma” for Russia's invasion.

Moscow calls its actions a “special military operation” to disarm Ukraine and protect it from fascists. Ukraine and its allies in the West say the fascist allegation is baseless and the war is an unprovoked act of aggression.

Reuters 

July 03 2022 — 06:15

Blasts in Russia's Belgorod near Ukraine border — local governor

Blasts in the Russian city of Belgorod, near the border with Ukraine, resulted in a fire in a residential building, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Belgorod region, said in a post on the Telegram messaging app early on Sunday.

Three wounded people were taken to a hospital, he said.

“Reasons for the incident are being investigated,” Gladkov said. “Presumably, the air defence system worked.”

Reuters 

July 03 2022 — 06:00

Ukraine requests Turkey detain Russian-flagged ship

Ukraine has requested Turkey detain and arrest the Russian-flagged cargo ship Zhibek Zholy carrying a cargo of Ukrainian grain taken from the Russian-occupied port of Berdyansk, according to a Ukrainian official and document seen by @Reuters