Russia’s war in Ukraine
Russia has criticised the Biden administration’s plan to send arms containing depleted uranium to Ukraine as the Pentagon announced a new security assistance package worth $175m (£140m) for the war-hit country.
Russia’s deputy minister accused Washington of a “criminal act” by adding contentious depleted uranium ammunition that can pierce tanks for Abrams tanks, while Moscow’s embassy in the US said the military aid is an “indicator of inhumanity”.
Russia has, however, deployed hypersonic missiles and thermobaric weapons on civilian targets during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine that has continued for more than 20 months now.
This morning, explosions rocked the Russian city of Rostov near a military base which has played a major role in Russia’s invasion.
Russian officials said multiple drones were downed in southern Rostov, Bryansk in the early hours today.
At least one person was injured as the attack damaged three buildings and several cars. Russian officials claimed its air defences shot down two Ukrainian drones targeting the city, just 100km from the frontline.
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Russia strikes damage port and grain silo in Odesa region
Russian drone strikes have damaged port infrastructure, a grain silo and administrative buildings in the Izmail district of Ukraine‘s Odesa region, governor Oleh Kiper said.
One person was injured in the attack, the fourth on the key Danube river port in the last five days, the governor said on his Telegram channel.
Ukraine’s military reported shooting down 25 of the 33 drones it said were launched by Russia. Most were aimed at the Odesa region, but some also targeted the northern area of Sumy, it added.
Russia has amped up its attacks on Ukraine’s grain export infrastructure as talks on resumption Black Sea grain deal to allow unhindered exports of grain from Ukrainian ports get underway.
Arpan Rai7 September 2023 06:28
Supplying depleted uranium weapons ‘criminal act’, claims Russia
Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said Washington is committing a “criminal act” by supplying depleted Uranium weapons to Ukraine shortly after the Pentagon announced a new batch of military aid for the war-hit country.
The new security assistance package is worth up to $175m and includes depleted uranium ammunition for Abrams tanks, the first time the US is sending the controversial armour-piercing munitions to Kyiv. Depleted uranium is a byproduct of the uranium enrichment process needed to create nuclear weapons.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been continuing for more than 20 months now and has seen Russia deploy hypersonic missiles to thermobaric weapons on civilian targets.
Arpan Rai7 September 2023 06:11
Nato member Romania says drone pieces from Russian attacks found
Romania’s defence minister has said pieces apparently of a drone from Russia’s recent attacks on Ukraine’s port on the Danube River have been found on the territory of his country.
Angel Tilvar, the minister, told local news channel Antena 3 CNN that parts of what was most likely a drone were discovered in the eastern Tulcea county, an area of the Danube that forms a natural border between Romania and war-torn Ukraine.
“I confirm that in this area, pieces that may be of a drone were found,” he said, adding that the pieces didn’t pose a threat.
It’s unclear if Romania has determined when or from where the drone was launched. There has been a series of recent attacks by Russia on Danube ports in Ukraine, which are close to Romania, a Nato member since 2004.
Arpan Rai7 September 2023 04:56
Russian attack on market kills 17 during Blinken’s Kyiv visit
At least 17 people were killed and 32 wounded in a Russian attack on a crowded market in eastern Ukraine’s Kostiantynivka city yesterday. The attack coincided with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said.
Footage widely circulated online by Volodymyr Zelensky and other presidential officials showed people falling to the ground or running for cover after a huge explosion rocked the busy market in front of them, seconds after some look up to the sky when they hear what sounds like a missile approaching.
Mr Zelensky condemned the attack, saying a market, shops and a pharmacy had been struck in the industrial city close to the battlefield.
“This Russian evil must be defeated as soon as possible,” he said. “When someone in the world still attempts to deal with anything Russian, it means turning a blind eye to this reality. The audacity of evil. The brazenness of wickedness. Utter inhumanity.”
He later told a press conference in the capital Kyiv that he believed it had been a deliberate attack on “a peaceful city”.
Arpan Rai7 September 2023 04:29
Russia decries US plan to send arms with depleted uranium to Ukraine
Russia denounced Biden administration’s plan to provide Ukraine with arms containing depleted uranium and said it is an indicator of “inhumanity”.
“The administration’s decision to supply weapons with depleted uranium is an indicator of inhumanity,” Russia’s embassy in Washington said on Telegram.
“Clearly, with its idea of inflicting a ‘strategic defeat’, Washington is prepared to fight not only to the last Ukrainian but also to do away with entire generations.”
The Pentagon announced a new security assistance package worth up to $175m for Ukraine, including depleted uranium ammunition for Abrams tanks.
This is the first time the US is sending the controversial armour-piercing munitions to Kyiv.
Arpan Rai7 September 2023 04:12
Around 11,000 children detained in re-education camps – says MOD
Around 11,000 Ukrainian children being detained at 43 re-education camps across Russia, the British ministry of defence has said.
“Their simple right to life and liberty is being impacted.,” the department said on Twitter on Wednesday morning.
The government also published a map showing the latest territorial gains from either side.
William Mata7 September 2023 04:00
One injured as ‘Ukrainian’ drones downed near Moscow
A Ukrainian drone was downed near Moscow and two over the southern Rostov region in the early hours today, the Russian defence ministry said.
Three buildings were damaged in the city of Rostov-on-Don and one person was injured when one of the drones crashed in the downtown area, Russian news agency TASS reported. The other drone in the Rostov region fell outside the city.
Arpan Rai7 September 2023 03:58
One of the 17 who died ‘was a child’
Ukraine’s ministry of defence Twitter account has said that one of the 17 civilians who was killed in the Kostyantynivka attack was a child.
The update on Wednesday evening said that 34 have now been confirmed to be injured.
“Terrorist attacks against civilians are the Kremlin’s preferred approach,” the statement added.
“We must put a stop to this evil in Ukraine so that it does not spread.”
William Mata7 September 2023 03:00
‘Grateful’ message from Volodymyr Zelensky
“I am grateful to the American people, both parties of the US Congress, and personally to Joe Biden for their unwavering support,” Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The US secretary of state Antony Blinked visited Kyiv on Wednesday.
Mr Zelensky’s tweet added: “Ukrainian forces are advancing on the battlefield and we discussed steps to ensure their further successes.”
William Mata7 September 2023 02:00
Pictures from the day: Ukraine on August 6
Police officers and rescuers inspect the site of a Russian military strike in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region
(via REUTERS)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures as he talks with Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen prior to a press conference outside the Presidential Palace following their meeting in Kyiv
(Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima)
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attend a joint press conference
(via REUTERS)
Burnt cars are seen at the site at of a Russian strike at a market in Kostyantynivka
(AFP via Getty Images)
William Mata7 September 2023 01:00