UKRAINE WRAP | Russia 'struck Ukraine warship, Harpoon missiles depot' in Odesa

July 24 2022 — 13:20

Odesa strike shows it will not be easy to export grain via ports - Ukraine

Ukraine could export 60-million tonnes of grain in eight to nine months if its ports were not blockaded, but Russia's strike on the port of Odesa showed it will definitely not be that easy, an economic adviser to the Ukrainian president said on Sunday.

Ukraine could earn $10bn by selling 20-million tonnes of grain in silos and 40-million tonnes from its new harvest, adviser Oleh Ustenko said. The harvest totals 60-million tonnes, of which 20-million are for domestic consumption, he said.

"If the ports were unblocked now and we say we need to move 60-million tonnes of grain... then we would transport 60 million tonnes of grain within eight-nine months," he said. "But with the way they are opening now and what Russia is doing in the Black Sea, yesterday's strike shows that it definitely won't work that way."

Russian missiles hit the port of Odesa a day after Russia and Ukraine, with mediation by the United Nations and Turkey, signed a deal to reopen Black Sea ports and resume grain exports. Moscow says it hit military infrastructure.

The deal is expected to ease global food shortages caused by the war.Ukraine will need 20 to 24 months to export those volumes if its ports are not functioning properly, he said. 

– Reuters

July 24 2022 — 13:17

Russia 'struck Ukraine warship, Harpoon missiles depot' in Odesa: agencies

Russian forces have destroyed a Ukrainian warship and US-supplied Harpoon anti-ship missiles in the Ukrainian port of Odesa, Russian news agencies quoted the defence ministry as saying on Sunday.

"A docked Ukrainian warship and a warehouse with US-supplied Harpoon anti-ship missiles were destroyed by long-range precision-guided naval missiles in Odesa seaport on the territory of a ship repair plant."

The Ukrainian military had said Russian missiles hit the southern port on Saturday, threatening a deal signed just one day earlier to unblock grain exports from Black Sea ports and ease global food shortages caused by the war.

– Reuters

July 24 2022 — 11:18

Russia struck military boat in Odesa with cruise missiles: foreign ministry

Russia said on Sunday that its cruise missiles had struck military infrastructure of Ukraine's Odesa port, destroying a military boat a day after Moscow reached a grain deal with the UN, Turkey and Ukraine.

"Kalibr missiles destroyed Odesa port's military infrastructure, sending a Ukrainian military boat to the Kiev regime's favourite address in a precision strike," foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Telegram.

The "favourite address" is an ironic reference to the exhortations of Ukrainian forces on Snake Island in the Black Sea, who reportedly told a Russian ship to "go fuck" itself before a Russian strike in February.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the strikes on Odesa as blatant "barbarism" that showed Moscow could not be trusted to implement Friday's deal, mediated by Turkey and the UN. The Ukrainian military had said Russian missiles hit the southern port on Saturday. 

– Reuters

July 24 2022 — 08:05

Outraged by strike on Odesa, Ukraine still prepares to resume grain export

Ukraine was pressing ahead on Sunday with efforts to restart grain exports from Odesa and other Black Sea ports after a missile attack that cast doubt over whether Russia would honour a deal aimed at easing global food shortages caused by the war.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the strikes on Odesa as blatant "barbarism" that showed Moscow could not be trusted to implement Friday's deal, mediated by Turkey and the United Nations.

However, a government minister said preparations to resume grain shipments were ongoing, and public broadcaster Suspilne quoted the Ukrainian military as saying the missiles had not significantly damaged the port.

July 24 2022 — 07:22

Top US delegation visits Kyiv, vows to ensure continuing support

A senior US congressional delegation met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Saturday and promised to try to ensure continued support in the war against Russia. The delegation, which included representative Adam Smith, chair of the house armed services committee, is the latest in a series of high-profile American visitors to Ukraine.

"The United States, along with allies and partners around the world, have stood with Ukraine by providing economic, military, and humanitarian assistance," the delegation said in a statement. "We will continue to seek ways to support President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people as effectively as possible as they continue their brave stand."

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday that Washington would send four more high-mobility artillery rocket systems (Himars) to Ukraine, bringing the total provided so far to 16. The statement from the delegation on Saturday made no specific reference to weapons transfers. Separately, Smith was quoted as telling the US-backed Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that Washington and its allies were ready to hand over more multiple launch rocket systems. 

– Reuters

July 24 2022 — 06:25

Blinken says US strongly condemns Russian missile attack against Odesa

US secretary of state Antony Blinken said the US strongly condemns the Russian missile attack on Saturday against Ukaine's port of Odesa and said Russia bears responsibility for deepening the world's food crisis. The attack "undermines work of the UN, Turkey and Ukraine to get critical food to world markets" Blinken said in a statement. – Reuters

July 24 2022 — 06:25

Two Americans recently died in Ukraine's Donbas region - CNN

Two US citizens recently died in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, CNN reported on Saturday, citing a US state department spokesperson. The spokesperson, not named in the report, did not provide any details about the individuals or the circumstances of their deaths but said the US administration was in touch with the families and providing "all possible consular assistance," according to CNN.

"Out of respect to the families during this difficult time, we have nothing further to add," the spokesperson was quoted as saying by CNN.

The state department did not respond to e-mailed queries from Reuters on Saturday.

Several Americans have volunteered to fight alongside Ukrainian forces despite warnings not to take up arms. A US citizen was killed in combat in May after he joined thousands of foreign fighters who have volunteered to help Ukraine fend off Russian forces.

– Reuters

July 24 2022 — 06:19

Tell us where Russian troops are living, Ukraine tells citizens in key region

Ukraine's defence ministry on Saturday urged citizens in a key area seized by Russia to reveal where Moscow's troops were living and who among the local population was collaborating with the occupying authorities. The statement by the ministry's defence intelligence directorate was aimed at people in and around the southern city of Enerhodar, which is home to a major nuclear power station.

"Please let us know as a matter of urgency the exact location of the occupying troops' bases and their residential addresses ... and the places of residence of the commanding staff," it said, adding that exact coordinates were desirable.

It also asked for details "of local collaborators who went over to the side of the enemy", including where they lived and worked, as well as information about "people who 'sympathise' with the occupiers".

Russia captured Enerhodar in early March and in May, the Russian-appointed head of the city was injured in an explosion. The Kremlin termed it a "terrorist attack". In June, a pro-Russian official in the southern Kherson region was killed in a blast, RIA news agency said. Earlier that month the head of the region's penal service was taken to hospital after a bomb exploded near his car.

The intelligence directorate's appeal — published on Telegram — also asked for the routes that Russian military equipment was using in Enerhodar. "Together, let's kick the occupants out of our homeland!" it said, adding people could either call in details or provide them via the WhatsApp or Signal instant messaging apps.

Enerhodar had a pre-war population of more than 50,000. Many residents work at the two power plants near the town, one of which is the Zaporizhzhia facility, the largest nuclear power station in Europe.

– Reuters

July 24 2022 — 06:16

Russian missile strike kills three in central Ukraine - governor

Three people were killed when 13 Russian missiles hit a military airfield and railway infrastructure in Ukraine's central region of Kirovohrad on Saturday, the regional governor said.

Two security guards were killed at an electricity substation, governor Andriy Raikovych said on television. One Ukrainian soldier was also killed and nine more were wounded, he said.

The governor said later that 19 people had been wounded in the strike, but did not clarify whether they were soldiers or civilians.

Raikovych said the strikes had disrupted the electricity grid and that one district of the regional capital Kropyvnytskyi had been left without power as a result. 

– Reuters

July 23 2022 — 13:12

US envoy says Russia should be held to account for strike on Odesa

The US ambassador to Kyiv said that Moscow should be held to account for what she said was an "outrageous" Russian strike on the port city of Odesa on Saturday. Russian missiles hit infrastructure in Odesa a day after Russia and Ukraine, with mediation by the UN and Turkey, signed a deal to reopen Black Sea ports and resume grain exports. "The Kremlin continues to weaponise food. Russia must be held to account," US ambassador Bridget Brink wrote on Twitter. – Reuters

July 23 2022 — 12:05

Ukraine urges UN, Turkey to force to Russia comply with grain agreements

Ukraine has called on the UN and Turkey to ensure that Russia fulfils its commitments under the agreement for a safe corridor for grain exports from Ukraine's Black Sea ports, the foreign ministry said on Saturday. Russian missiles hit infrastructure in Ukraine's port of Odesa on Saturday, a day after Russia and Ukraine, with mediation by the UN and Turkey, signed a deal to reopen Black Sea ports to resume such exports. – Reuters

July 23 2022 — 12:03

Russian missiles hit Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa: Ukrainian military

Russian missiles hit infrastructure in Ukraine's port of Odesa on Saturday, a day after Russia and Ukraine signed a deal to reopen Black Sea ports to resume grain exports, the Ukrainian military said. "The enemy attacked the Odesa sea trade port with Kalibr cruise missiles; two missiles were shot down by air defence forces; two hit the infrastructure of the port," the Operational Command South wrote on Telegram. – Reuters

July 23 2022 — 12:02

Hungary's Orban calls for new EU strategy on war, says sanctions failed

The EU needs a new strategy on the war in Ukraine as sanctions against Moscow have not worked, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Saturday. The strategy should aim for peace instead of winning the war, Orban said in a speech in Romania. – Reuters

July 23 2022 — 10:04

Three killed as Russian missiles hit central Ukraine region: governor

Three people were killed as 13 Russian missiles hit a military airfield and railway infrastructure in Ukraine's central Kirovohrad region on Saturday, the local governor said. Speaking on television, governor Andriy Raikovych said two security guards at an electricity substation had been killed. He said one Ukrainian soldier had been killed and nine wounded. The strikes had disrupted the electricity grid and one district of the regional capital Kropyvnytskyi had been left without power as a result. – Reuters

July 23 2022 — 08:53

UK says Ukraine continues offensive against Russia in Kherson

Heavy fighting has been taking place in the last 48 hours as Ukrainian forces continued their offensive against Russia in Kherson province, west of the Dnipro River, British military intelligence said on Saturday. Russian forces are using artillery fire along the Ingulets River, a tributary of the Dnipro, the UK's ministry of defence said.

"Supply lines of the Russian forces west of the river are increasingly at risk," the ministry said in an intelligence update. It added that additional Ukrainian strikes have caused further damage to the key Antonivsky Bridge, though Russia has conducted temporary repairs.

– Reuters

July 23 2022 — 07:06

Germany's Schaeuble calls on Berlin to help fund French nukes – report

Germany should contribute towards the costs of France's nuclear arsenal as the threat of nuclear war with Russia looms over Europe, German political veteran Wolfgang Schaeuble said in an interview published on Saturday.

"Now that Putin's accomplices are threatening a nuclear strike every day, one thing is clear to me: we need nuclear deterrence at the European level as well," Schaeuble, a former finance minister who has served as a member of the German parliament for five decades, told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper. France has such weapons, he said, adding: "In our own interest, we Germans must make a financial contribution to the French nuclear force in return for a joint nuclear deterrent."

The conservative, who has long been a passionate supporter of European integration, became a European household name during the 2012 eurozone debt crisis, when fans hailed him as a guardian of fiscal rectitude even as opponents accused him of imposing damaging austerity on Greece and other indebted countries. Asked whether his proposal would give Berlin a say on using nuclear weapons, the former conservative minister said France and Germany would have to come to an agreement as neighbours and Nato partners.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has triggered the most serious crisis in relations between Moscow and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, when many people feared the world was on the brink of nuclear war. France — one of three Nato members with nuclear weapons, alongside the US and UK — has around 300 nuclear warheads in its arsenal, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

– Reuters

July 23 2022 — 07:03

Japan may refuse Putin’s attendance at Abe state funeral: Sankei

Russian President Vladimir Putin may not be allowed to participate in a planned state funeral for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should he decide he wants to attend, Sankei reported, citing several unnamed officials.

The Japanese government is considering refusing Putin’s participation because his entry to the Asian country has been effectively banned following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the newspaper said in its Saturday edition. It’s unlikely, however, that the Russian leader wants to attend the event, a senior Japanese government official was quoted in the report as saying.

Japan will inform foreign governments of its plan to hold the funeral on September 27 and ask whether they want to take part in it, the report said.Japan has imposed a series of sanctions on Russia, while providing non-lethal military equipment to Ukraine in recent months.

– Bloomberg

July 23 2022 — 06:46

Ukraine and Russia seal grain deal as US pledges more military aid

Russia and Ukraine signed a landmark deal on Friday to unblock grain exports from Black Sea ports and ease an international food crisis while the US pledged more military support five months into the invasion.

The White House announced fresh support of around $270m (R4.55bn) to Kyiv, including $100m (R1.68bn) for drones, and is also doing preliminary work on whether to send fighter aircraft, although it said that would not happen in the near term.

Fighting rages on in Ukraine's east. In a sign of how far away peace remains, Russian and Ukrainian representatives declined to sit at the same table and avoided shaking hands at the grain agreement ceremony in Istanbul.

July 23 2022 — 06:33

US discussing America-made fighter jets for Ukraine

The US is exploring whether it can send US-made fighter jets to Ukraine, a White House spokesperson told reporters on Friday as the conflict with Russia enters its sixth month and fighting rages in eastern Ukraine.

While the Biden administration was making preliminary explorations into the feasibility of potentially providing the jets to Ukraine, the move is not something that would be done immediately, White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters in a briefing. "It's not something that would be executed in the near-term."

Such a move would be a major increase in US support for Ukraine in its battle against Russia. So far the US has provided $8.2bn in security aid for Ukraine.

Kirby also disclosed details of the latest US arms package for Ukraine, which totalled $270m to aid in its defence against Russian aggression, including $100m for drones.

The package, authorised by US President Joe Biden, will allow Kiev to acquire 580 of privately held AEVEX Aerospace LLC's Phoenix Ghost unmanned aerial vehicles, Kirby said. The package includes another tranche of up to around $175m for other defence aid, a separate White House memo said.It would include more high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) and other weapons that Ukrainians are using on the battlefield, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said in a statement.

The additional US funding comes as Ukraine seeks to fend off Moscow as the worst conflict in Europe since World War 2 continued into its sixth month. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week said his forces could inflict major damage on Russia as Kyiv leans on Western weapons in planned efforts to launch a counterattack and recapture territory. 

– Reuters

July 23 2022 — 06:30

Lithuania lifts ban on rail transport of goods into Russian exclave: agencies

The Baltic state of Lithuania has lifted a ban on the rail transport of sanctioned goods into and out of the Russian territory of Kaliningrad, Russia's RIA news agency said on Friday.

The EU last week said the transit ban only affected road, not rail, transit, and Lithuania should therefore allow Russia to ship concrete, wood and alcohol across EU territory to the exclave.

Lithuania had stopped Russia from sending sanctioned goods via rail to Kaliningrad in June, triggering an outcry from Moscow and a promise of swift retaliation.

RIA cited Mantas Dubauskas, spokesperson for the state railway company, as saying it had informed customers they could ship goods once again. "It is possible that some goods will be transported today," RIA quoted him as telling Lithuanian television.

Separately, Tass news agency cited a Kaliningrad government official as saying 60 wagons of cement would soon be shipped into the exclave.

Kaliningrad is sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania and cut off from the rest of Russia. Russian officials said the ban could have affected up to half of all cargo shipments to Kaliningrad, though Lithuania said only around 15% would be hit. 

– Reuters

July 23 2022 — 06:27

Ukraine has around $10bn worth of grain available for sale: Zelenskyy

Ukraine has around $10bn (R168.35bn) worth of grain available for sale in the wake of a deal signed with Russia to unblock supplies and will also have a chance to sell the current harvest, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday.

"This is another demonstration that Ukraine can withstand the war," he said in a late-night address.Russia and Ukraine signed a landmark deal on Friday to reopen Ukrainian Black Sea ports for grain exports, raising hopes that an international food crisis aggravated by the Russian invasion can be eased.

"Approximately 20-million tons of last year's grain harvest will be exported. There will also be a chance to sell this year's harvest ... at the moment we have about $10bn worth of grains available," said Zelenskyy.

The deal, brokered by the UN and Turkey, was a chance to prevent a global food catastrophe that could cause chaos in many countries, he said.

"There may be some provocations on the part of Russia, attempts to discredit Ukrainian and international efforts," said Zelenskyy. "But we trust the United Nations." 

– Reuters