Page 101 - Ukraine

Most Ukrainians left without power after fresh strikes by Russia

A punishing new barrage of Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure on Wednesday caused power outages across large parts of the country as well as neighbouring Moldova further hobbling Ukraine's battered electricity network and adding to civilians' misery as winter begins. Multiple regions reported attacks in quick succession and Ukraine's Energy Ministry said that the vast majority of electricity consumers were cut off. Officials in Kyiv said three people were killed and nine wounded in the capital after a Russian strike hit a two-story building. Russia has been pounding the power grid and other facilities with missiles and exploding drones for weeks and the energy system is being damaged faster than it can be repaired. In the aftermath of the strikes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted that he has instructed Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations to request an urgent meeting of the Security Council. Murder of civilians, ruining of civilian infrastructure ar

With searches, Ukraine focuses suspicions on Orthodox Christian clergymen

An investigation of a centuries-old monastic complex in Ukraine's capital and other religious sites has underscored Ukrainian authorities' suspicions about some Orthodox Christian clergymen they see as loyal to Russia despite Moscow's nine month-old war on the country. The search by security service and police personnel at the Pechersk Lavra monastery, one of the most revered Orthodox sites in Kyiv, was unusual but did not happen in isolation. The Ukrainian counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism service reported Wednesday that its agents searched more than 350 church buildings in all also including sites at another monastery and a diocese in the Rivne region, 240 kilometers west of Kyiv. And the service, known by its Ukrainian initials SBU, accused the bishop of yet another diocese of pro-Moscow activity last week after searching church premises and finding materials that allegedly justified the Russian invasion. The SBU said the effort is part of its systematic work to counte

Russian rocket kills newborn in repeat attack on small town in Ukraine

A Russian rocket struck the maternity wing of a hospital in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, killing a newborn boy and critically injuring a doctor. The overnight explosion left the small-town hospital a crumbled mess of bricks, scattering medical supplies across the small compound. It was the second deadly strike on the small town of Vilniansk in a week, and Mayor Nataliya Usienko said she feared it would not be the last. The attack started and the first S300 rocket hit the road. The second rocket hit this place, the main general hospital, at the maternity wing where people were," she said. "One woman gave birth two days ago. She delivered a boy. Unfortunately this rocket took the life of this child who lived only two days.. Six days ago, she said, 11 people died when a Russian rocket hit an apartment building. It's very dangerous to be here, Usienko said. It's 90% certain to be hit again. Municipal workers worked well after sunset to shore up walls at risk of falling, relying o

US to send Ukraine $400 million in weapons, ammunition as war advances

The U.S. is sending another $400 million in ammunition and generators to Ukraine, the White House announced Wednesday, and is pulling the gear from its own stockpiles to get the support to Kyiv as fast as possible as Russia continues to target Ukraine's energy sources and winter sets in. Including the latest aid, the U.S. has committed more than $19 billion in weapons and other equipment to Ukraine since Russia attacked on Feb. 24. The new package of aid will be provided through presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons from its own stock and quickly ship them to Ukraine. The continued push of weapons to Kyiv is raising questions about how long the U.S. and partner nations can continue to sustain the fight without an impact to military readiness. Many European nations have already expressed that they have pushed forward all the excess they can afford to send. Last week, the Pentagon's top weapons buyer, Bill LaPlante, travelled to Brussels to meet

Pope Francis links plight of Ukrainians today to Stalin's 'genocide'

Pope Francis on Wednesday linked the suffering of Ukrainians now to the 1930s genocide artificially caused by Stalin," when the Soviet leader was blamed for creating a man-made famine in the country believed to have killed more than 3 million people. Francis' linking of the plight of Ukrainian civilians today to those killed by starvation 90 years ago, and his willingness to call it a genocide and squarely blame Josef Stalin, marked a sharp escalation in papal rhetoric against Russia. As of this year, only 17 countries have officially recognised the famine, known as the Holodomor, according to the Holodomor Museum in Kyiv. In comments at the end of his weekly Wednesday general audience, Francis renewed calls for prayers for the terrible suffering for the dear and martyred Ukrainian people. He recalled that Saturday marks the 90th anniversary of the start of the famine, which Ukraine commemorates every fourth Saturday of November with a Day of Memory. Saturday begins the anniversar

Ukraine nuclear power plant shelled; it risks major disaster, says IAEA

More than a dozen blasts shook Europe's biggest N-power plant

Nuclear agency warns of renewed shelling at Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia region

Powerful explosions shook Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region that is the site of Europe's largest nuclear power plant on Sunday morning, the global nuclear watchdog said in a statement, calling for urgent measures to help prevent a nuclear accident in the Russian-occupied facility. Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said two explosions one on Saturday evening and another on Sunday morning near the Zaporizhzhia plant abruptly ended a period of relative calm around the nuclear facility that has been the site of fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces since the start of the war on February 24. Fears of a nuclear catastrophe have been at the forefront since Russian troops occupied the plant during the early days of the invasion of Ukraine. Continued fighting in the area has raised the spectre of a disaster. In what appeared to be renewed shelling both close to and at the site, IAEA experts at the Zaporizhzhia facility reported heari

Ukrainian PM, EU top official discuss Russian war, fresh aid for Kiev

Due to the ongoing energy crisis, Ukraine needs more support from partners, including the supplies of energy equipment and additional financial assistance, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said

10 mn in Ukraine without power after Russia strikes, says Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that some 10 million people across the war-torn country have been left without electricity following a fresh wave of Russian missile strikes

Russia-Ukraine grain deal extended by four months in win for food prices

A wartime agreement that unblocked grain shipments from Ukraine and helped temper rising global food prices will be extended by four months, the United Nations and other parties to the deal said on Thursday, preventing a price shock to some of the world's most vulnerable countries where many are struggling with hunger. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the 120-day extension a "key decision in the global fight against the food crisis". Struck during Russia's war in Ukraine, the initiative established a safe shipping corridor in the Black Sea and inspection procedures to address concerns that cargo vessels might carry weapons or launch attacks. The deal that Ukraine and Russia signed in separate agreements with the UN and Turkey on July 22 was due to expire on Saturday. Russia confirmed the extension but said it expected progress on removing obstacles to the export of Russian food and fertilisers. Ukraine and Russia are key global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil

Wartime agreement allowing Ukrainian grain exports extended for 120 days

A wartime agreement that allowed grain exports from Ukraine to resume and helped temper rising global food prices will be extended by 120 days, the United Nations and other parties to the deal said Thursday. The initiative established a safe shipping corridor in the Black Sea and inspection procedures to address Russian and Ukrainian concerns that cargo vessels travelling off Ukraine's southern coast might carry weapons or launch attacks. The deal that Ukraine and Russia signed in separate agreements with the U.N. and Turkey on July 22 was due to expire Saturday. Russia confirmed the extension but said it expected progress on removing obstacles to the export of Russian food and fertilisers. The news that the deal would continue came amid a new barrage of Russian airstrikes that smashed into Ukraine's energy infrastructure, apartment buildings and an industrial site. At least four people were killed and 11 others wounded in drone and missile strikes around the country, authorities

'Era not of war': G20 declaration uses Modi's words in call for diplomacy

Summit leaders deplore deplored Russia's war in Ukraine 'in the strongest terms'

Russia bears responsibility, says Nato as missile strike kills 2 in Poland

The incident roiled financial markets early in the day amid fears that geopolitical tensions may flare up further

Rupee sheds 21p to dollar as Polish missile strike sparks risk aversion

Wider October trade deficit, contraction in exports drag down rupee

Massive power outages in Moldova after Russian strikes in Ukraine

Moldova reported massive power outages across the country on Tuesday after Russian military strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure downed a key power line that supplies the small nation, an official said. Following Russia's bombardment against the Ukrainian energy system in the last hour, one of the power lines that ensures the transport of electricity for our country has been disconnected, Infrastructure Minister Andrei Spinu said in a statement. This has led to massive power outages across the country. Spinu noted that the downed power lines were not damaged, but were automatically disconnected as a safety measure and added that the supplier, Moldelectrica, is working to restore power. Moldovan citizens would be updated on the matter, he said. Moldova isn't a member of the European Union.

Missiles hit Kyiv after Zelenskyy lays conditions for peace at G20

Power provider DTEK announced emergency blackouts in the capital and authorities announced similar steps elsewhere, too

India to produce 50% energy from renewables by 2030: Modi at G20 meet

Prime Minister says there should be no restrictions on energy supply, seeks 'return to the path of ceasefire and diplomacy in Ukraine'

India abstains on UNGA resolution calling for Russian reparation to Ukraine

India abstained in the UN General Assembly on a draft resolution calling for Russia to be held accountable for violations of international law by its invasion of Ukraine and requiring Moscow to pay reparations to Kyiv for damages, loss and injury resulting from the war. The draft resolution, 'Furtherance of remedy and reparation for aggression against Ukraine', introduced by Ukraine was adopted Monday in the 193-member UN General Assembly by a recorded vote of 94 in favour, 14 against and 73 abstentions, including by India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Israel, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka. Those voting against the resolution were Belarus, China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Russia and Syria. India, in its explanation of vote after the draft was adopted, questioned whether a reparation process would contribute towards efforts at resolving the conflict and cautioned against precedents being set through such resolutions. "We need to objectively consider ...

UNGA approves resolution calling for Russian reparations to Ukraine

The UN General Assembly approved a resolution Monday calling for Russia to be held accountable for violating international law by invading Ukraine including by paying reparations. The vote in the 193-member world body was 94-14 with 73 abstentions. It was the lowest level of support of the five Ukraine-related resolutions adopted by the General Assembly since Russia's February 24 invasion of its smaller neighbour. The resolution recognizes the need to establish an international mechanism for reparation for damage, loss or injury' arising from Russia's wrongful acts against Ukraine. It recommends that the assembly's member nations, in cooperation with Ukraine, create an international register to document claims and information on damage, loss or injury to Ukrainians and the government caused by Russia. Russia's veto power in the 15-member Security Council has blocked the U.N.'s most powerful body from taking any action since President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion. But there a

Ukrainian President calls liberation of Kherson 'beginning of the end'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the Russian withdrawal from Kherson the beginning of the end of the war on Monday as he met with soldiers in the southern city. The liberation of Kherson after a grinding offensive that forced Russian to pull back its forces from the city was one of Ukraine's biggest success so far of the nearly nine-month invasion and a stinging blow for the Kremlin. Zelenskyy said that the country's strong army was persistently reclaiming the territories taken by Russia since its invasion while also acknowledging the difficulties and the heavy human toll. The Ukrainian army has now reclaimed three major areas of the country in its counteroffensives the area north of Kyiv, the northeastern region of Kharkiv and now Kherson and many neighbouring settlements. Zelenskyy has previously appeared unexpectedly in other front-line zones at crucial junctures of the war, to support troops and congratulate them for battlefield exploits. Video footage showed ..