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‘Everyone is afraid’: Wagner’s arrival in Belarus sparks fear in Polish border town
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Russia launched a fresh wave of drone strikes on Kyiv and other parts of the country early on Tuesday morning, Ukraine has said.
The Kremlin used Iranian-made Shahed drones to attack Kyiv for the sixth time this month, but all were shot down, Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv military administration, said.
Air raid sirens wailed across the capital and attacks were also reported in the north and centre of Ukraine but none in the south. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to buildings.
Air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said air defences had been engaged in three regions in the north of the country.
“About 10 drones were recorded, the information is being clarified,” he told Ukrainian television, adding that up to five were destroyed.
Earlier, thousands of Wagner group mercenaries have arrived in Belarus since the group’s short-lived rebellion, a military monitoring group said.
Between 3,450 and 3,650 soldiers have travelled to a camp close to Asipovichy, a town 230 kilometres (140 miles) north of the Ukrainian border, according to Belaruski Hajun, an activist group that tracks troop movements within the country.
Recommended Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin? The Wagner Group mercenary chief who rebelled against Putin Monitoring group says thousands of Wagner mercenaries have arrived in Belarus since failed uprising Wagner mercenaries training Belarus special forces just miles from border with Nato-member Poland
Key Points Putin in fresh drone strikes on Kyiv Thousands of Wagner troops arrive in Belarus after failed Kremlin coup Russia launches sixth air attack on Kyiv this month Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant's fourth and fifth blocks in shutdown mode Moscow’s grain and fertiliser exports on agenda for Russia-Africa summit Russia threatens revenge after drone attacks on Moscow and Crimea Four injured as Russian attack on Odesa destroys grains depot, says Ukraine Putin gives chilling warning to Poland as Moscow ready to defend Belarus
Show latest update 1690274765 Russia launches fresh strikes on Kyiv
Russia launched new drone strikes on Kyiv and parts of central and northern Ukraine early on Tuesday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
There were also no reports of new attacks on southern Ukraine, which had been struck almost every night since Russia pulled out of a deal allowing the safe export of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea on July 17.
Russia used Iranian-made Shahed drones to attack Kyiv for the sixth time this month, but all were shot down, said Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv military administration.
Air raid alerts blared for more than three-and-half hours over the Kyiv region. Regional governor Ruslan Kravchenko said there had been no reports of damage or casualties although falling debris set off a fire in a field.
Air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said air defences had been engaged in three regions in the north of the country.
"About 10 drones were recorded, the information is being clarified," he told Ukrainian television, adding that up to five were destroyed.
A man works on the rubble of an apartment building destroyed in Russian missile attacks in Odesa, Ukraine, Sunday
(PA Wire)
Matt Mathers 25 July 2023 09:46
1690291113 Why are Wagner mercenaries in Belarus – and would they try to invade Poland?
Thousands of Wagner group mercenaries have arrived in Belarus since its failed mutiny against Moscow led by founder Yevgeny Prigozhin – leading to Nato-member Poland reinforcing its eastern border from the “potential threat” they pose.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko welcomed Wagner forces into the country after brokering a deal between the Kremlin and Mr Prigozhin – stopping the mercenaries march on Moscow about 125 miles from the capital. He and Russian President Vladimir Putin have spoken about the mercenaries on a number of occasions, including during two days of talks over the weekend and into Monday, the Kremlin said on Tuesday. Mr Putin has said that any aggression from
The Wagner chief called the mutiny a “march of justice” to oust the top military leaders. The mercenaries faced little resistance and downed at least six military helicopters and a command post aircraft, killing a number of Russian troops.
Chris Stevenson reports:
Why are Wagner mercenaries in Belarus – and would they try to invade Poland? Fighters from the group are training Belarusian troops near the border with Nato-member Poland
Martha Mchardy 25 July 2023 14:18
1690289458 Kremlin: Putin and Lukashenko discussed Wagner, economic cooperation, external threats
Russian president Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko discussed the Wagner mercenary group, economic cooperation and external threats during two days of talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.
Lukashenko, who helped broker a deal to end a mutiny against the army’s top brass by the Wagner group last month, flew to St Petersburg on Sunday to start the talks with Putin.
The two men have met regularly, as well as talking by phone, since Lukashenko allowed Belarus to be used as a staging post for Russia’s armed forces when they launched what Moscow calls its “special military operation” against Ukraine in February 2022.
Peskov said the two men had not set out to reach any new agreements in the latest talks, but that “within the framework of very close relations, the presidents synchronise their positions, synchronise their watches”.
Russian president Vladimir Putin and Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko
(via REUTERS)
He said the agenda had taken in “the theme of the Wagner Group, and the theme of trade and economic cooperation, and the Union State, and external threats along the perimeter of our countries.”
Russia and Belarus are linked in a partnership called the “Union State” in which Moscow is the dominant player.
Lukashenko has proved his usefulness to Putin not only in February 2022 but also by letting Russian forces train at his military bases and station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
The Kremlin also credited Lukashenko with brokering last month’s deal to end the mutiny, under which Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was allowed to relocate to Belarus. Thousands of his fighters have since moved there.
Martha Mchardy 25 July 2023 13:50
1690288226 Russian could target civilian ships in Black Sea after grain deal collapse, warns Cleverly
Russian could target civilian ships in the Black Sea in a bid to “destroy” Ukraine’s exports following the collapse of a crucial grain deal, the Government has warned.
Foreign secretary James Cleverly warned: “The UK believes that Russia may escalate its campaign to destroy Ukraine’s food exports by targeting civilian ships in the Black Sea.”
He said that the Government would raise this “unconscionable behaviour” at the UN Security Council.
“Russia should stop holding global food supplies hostage and return to the deal,” Mr Cleverly said.
The deal, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, was broken off earlier this month by Russia in a move that sparked fresh concerns about global food security as the war drags on.
In recent days Russia has also fired dozens of missiles and drones at the Odesa region, a key Ukrainian hub for exporting grain.
James Cleverly
(PA Wire)
Martha Mchardy 25 July 2023 13:30
1690287941 UK PM and Zelensky agree on need for Ukraine to be able to export grain
Prime minister Rishi Sunak and Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky agreed on Tuesday on the importance of ensuring Ukraine can export grain to international markets, Sunak’s office said following a call between the pair.
“Discussing the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the leaders agreed on the importance of ensuring grain was able to be exported from Ukraine to reach international markets,” a spokesperson for Sunak said in a statement.
“The prime minister said the UK was working closely with Turkey on restoring the grain deal, and we would continue to use our role as chair of the UN Security Council to further condemn Russia’s behaviour.”
Sunak also told Zelensky he was appalled by the devastation caused by the recent Russian attacks on Odesa, the statement said.
Martha Mchardy 25 July 2023 13:25
1690287362 Kremlin says it is impossible to return to Black Sea grain deal for now
The Kremlin said on Tuesday that it was impossible for Russia to return to the Black Sea grain export deal for now, as an agreement related to Russian interests was “not being implemented”.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, however, that president Vladimir Putin had made it clear that the deal could be revived if the Russia-focused part of the agreement was honoured.
The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July, aimed to help prevent a global food crisis by allowing grain blocked by the conflict in Ukraine to be safely exported.
Peskov said it would be important for Russia to discuss grain supplies with African countries at a Russia-Africa summit later this week.
Martha Mchardy 25 July 2023 13:16
1690287083 Russian lawmakers vote to raise conscription age limit to 30
Russia’s lower house of parliament voted on Tuesday to raise the maximum age at which men can be conscripted from 27 to 30 years, increasing the number of young men liable for a year of compulsory military service at any one time.
The law will come into effect on Jan. 1.
Martha Mchardy 25 July 2023 13:11
1690279699 Sunak reaffirms UK support for Ukraine in call with Zelensky
Prime minister Rishi Sunak reaffirmed the UK’s support for Ukraine in a call with president Zelensky this morning.
The two leaders said they looked forward to speaking with one another again “soon”, a Downing Street readout of the call said.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The UK continued to support Ukraine’s air defence and artillery needs with more ammunition and missiles being delivered, the prime minister said.
"Reflecting on long-term security assurances, the leaders agreed the number of countries who had put themselves forward to sign up to the multilateral Joint Declaration was a testament to the international support for Ukraine.
"The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon."
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their bilateral meeting at the Nato summit in Vilnius (Paul Ellis/PA)
(PA Wire)
Matt Mathers 25 July 2023 11:08
1690278037 UN warns of mines near occupied nuclear plant
The UN atomic watchdog staff at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine have reported seeing anti-personnel mines around the site as Kyiv pursues a counter-offensive against the Kremlin’s forces after 17 months of war.
"Having such explosives on the site is inconsistent with the IAEA safety standards and nuclear security guidance and creates additional psychological pressure on plant staff," International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Grossi said.
However, any detonation of the mines, located between the site’s internal and external perimeter barriers, "should not affect the site’s nuclear safety and security systems", the statement added.
Russia Ukraine War
(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Matt Mathers 25 July 2023 10:40
1690272443 Ukraine makes small gains in south - Kyiv
Ukraine has made small advances against Russian troops in the south of the country, Ukraine’s armed forces has said/
Andriy Kovaliov, spokesperson for the armed forces general staff, said Ukrainian troops had made gains in the direction of the southeastern village of Staromayorske, near settlements recaptured by Ukraine last month in the Donetsk region.
Kyiv says it has retaken more than 192 sq km of land in the south and 35 sq km in the east since launching its counteroffensive, a senior defence official said on Monday.
Russia Ukraine War
(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Matt Mathers 25 July 2023 09:07
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Russia-Ukraine: Putin launches fresh drone strikes on Kyiv - live
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