Page 2 - Ukraine Civil War

Ukraine's infrastructure targeted in another Russian missile barrage

Several regions of Ukraine, including its capital, were facing a Russian missile attack Thursday morning, the latest in a series targeting national infrastructure. Air raid sirens rang out across the country. In Kyiv, the regional administration said that air defence systems were activated to fend off the ongoing missile attack. Sounds of explosions were heard in the city. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said numerous explosions took place in Ukraine's second-largest city. Ukrainian authorities in several regions said some incoming Russian missiles were intercepted. The governor of southern Ukraine's Mykolaiv province, Vitaliy Kim, said five missiles were shot down over the Black Sea. The Ukrainian military's command North said two were downed over the Sumy region, located on the border with Russia in the country's northeast. The Kyiv regional administration said fragments from a downed Russian missile damaged a private building in the Darnytskyi district and a car parked ...

Nearly 10 dead, 55 wounded after Russian shells strike Ukraine's Kherson

Russian shells pummelled the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson on Saturday, killing at least 10 people and injuring 55 in the city that Moscow's troops were forced to abandon last month. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, just back from his quick trip to Washington, posted photos of the wreckage on his social media accounts. He noted the destruction came as Ukrainians were beginning Christmas celebrations that for many Orthodox Christians will culminate in the traditional celebration on January 7. This is not sensitive content it's the real life of Kherson, Zelenskyy tweeted. The images showed cars on fire, bodies on the street and building windows blown out. Yaroslav Yanushevych, the governor of the Kherson region, said in televised remarks that the number of people killed in the latest shelling of the city has risen from seven to 10. He added that 55 people were wounded, 18 of them in grave condition, including a 6-year-old child. Saturday marks 10 months since the star

US House passes $1.7 trillion spending bill with more aid for Ukraine

A USD 1.7 trillion spending bill financing federal agencies through September and providing more aid to a devastated Ukraine cleared the House on Friday as lawmakers race to finish their work for the year and avoid a partial government shutdown. The bill passed mostly along party lines, 225-201. It now goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. Passage of the bill represented a closing act for Rep. Nancy Pelosi's second stint as House speaker, and for the Democratic majority she led back to power in the 2018 election. Republicans will take control of the House next year and Rep. Kevin McCarthy is campaigning to replace her. He is appealing for support from staunch conservatives in his caucus who have largely trashed the size of the bill and many of the priorities it contains. He spoke with a raised voice for about 25 minutes, assailing the bill for spending too much and doing too little to curb illegal immigration and the flow of fentanyl across the US-Mexico border. This

Washington trip tops Ukrainian prez Zelenskyy's list of surprise war moves

President since 2019, Zelenskiy has made it a point of his leadership to stay in his battered country, close to the people and soldiers fighting in a war

US to send $1.8 billion in aid, patriot battery, to Ukraine against Russia

The US will send USD 1.8 billion in military aid to Ukraine in a massive package that will for the first time include a Patriot missile battery and precision guided bombs for their fighter jets, US officials have said, as the Biden administration prepares to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Washington. US officials on Tuesday described details of the aid on condition of anonymity because it has not yet been announced. The aid signals an expansion by the U.S. in the kinds of advanced weaponry it will send to Ukraine to bolster the country's air defenses against what has been an increasing barrage of Russian missile strikes. The package, which was expected to be announced Wednesday, will include about $1 billion in weapons from Pentagon stocks and another USD 800 million in funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which funds weapons, ammunition, training and other assistance, officials said. Zelenskyy and other Ukraine officials have pressed Weste

Ukraine's Zelenskyy preparing to visit Washington to meet Prez Biden

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is preparing to visit Washington on Wednesday, according to three AP sources, in his first known trip outside the country since Russia's invasion began in February. Two congressional sources and one person familiar with the matter confirmed plans for the visit. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the highly sensitive nature of the trip. They said Zelenskyy's visit, while expected, could still be called off at the last minute due to security concerns. The visit to Washington is set to include an address to Congress on Capitol Hill and a meeting with President Joe Biden. It comes as lawmakers are preparing to vote on a year-end spending package that includes about $45 billion in emergency assistance to Ukraine and as the U.S. prepares to send Patriot surface-to-air missiles to help stave off Russia's invasion. The latest tranche of U.S. funding would be the biggest American infusion of assistance yet to Ukraine, above even Biden'

Russia targets Ukraine's Kyiv in early morning drone attack: Authorities

Ukraine's capital was targeted by multiple drones in a new attack early Monday, local authorities reported, three days after what they described as one of Russia's biggest attacks on Kyiv since the beginning of the war. The Kyiv city administration said on its Telegram account that more than 20 Iranian-made drones were detected over the capital's air space of Kyiv, and at least 15 of them were shot down. It added that a critical infrastructure point was hit, without giving more details. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Russia has been targeting energy infrastructure, including in Kyiv, as part of a strategy to try to freeze Ukrainians. On Friday, Ukraine's capital was attacked as part of a massive strike from Russia. Dozens of missiles were launched across the country, triggering widespread power outages.

Electricity restored to 9 mn Ukrainians after Russian attack: Zelenskyy

Several energy infrastructure facilities and residential buildings were damaged in Zhytomyr, Kiev, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions as a result of the strikes

Russia attacks Ukrainian energy systems leading to power emergency

According to Klitschko, in Kyiv, even after hours of repairs, about two-thirds of the residents were left without heat and water and about 60% were left without electricity

Ukraine's Kherson without power after heavy Russian shelling, two dead

The city was shelled more than 16 times on Thursday

US air defense systems could be targets in Ukraine, threatens Russia

Russia's Foreign Ministry warned Thursday that if the U.S. delivers sophisticated air defense systems to Ukraine, those systems and any crews that accompany them would be a legitimate target for the Russian military, a blunt threat that was quickly rejected by Washington. The exchange of statements reflected soaring Russia-U.S. tensions amid the fighting in Ukraine, which is now in its 10th month. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the U.S. had effectively become a party to the war by providing Ukraine with weapons and training its troops. She added that if reports about U.S. intentions to provide Kyiv with Patriot surface-to-air missile system prove true, it would become another provocative move by the U.S. and broaden its involvement in the hostilities, "entailing possible consequences. Any weapons systems supplied to Ukraine, including the Patriot, along with the personnel servicing them, have been and will remain legitimate priority targets for the Russian

European Union approves new sanctions against Russia over war in Ukraine

The European Union said it approved a new package of sanctions Thursday aimed at ramping up pressure on Russia for its war in Ukraine. The package, whose details have not been revealed, was approved after days of deliberations during a meeting of the 27-nation bloc's ambassadors. The Czech Republic, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, said the package will be confirmed by written procedure on Friday. Details will then be published in the bloc's legal records. The European Commission, the EU's executive branch, last week proposed travel bans and asset freezes on almost 200 more Russian officials and military officers as part of the new round of measures. The targets of the latest recommended sanctions included government ministers, lawmakers, regional governors and political parties. In addition to sanctions on various entities, banks and individuals, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and members of his family, the EU previously approved an embargo on co

Helping Ukraine is 'self-preservation' for West: Finance chief Marchenko

Ukraine's finance minister says crucial Western financial support is not charity but self-preservation in the fight to defend democracy as his country deals with growing costs to repair electrical and heating infrastructure wrecked by Russian attacks. Serhiy Marchenko also told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday from Kyiv that he believes European Union officials will sort out a dispute with Hungary that has blocked a key 18 billion-euro (USD 18.97 billion) aid package and would cover much of Ukraine's looming budget gap. Marchenko said financial support for Ukraine is tiny compared to what developed countries spent to combat emergencies like the global financial crisis of 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic. And that the money bolsters freedom and security far beyond his country's struggle, he added. It's not charity to support Ukraine, Marchenko said. We are trying to protect freedom and democracy of all (the) civilized world." He said the damage from Russian missile attack

Putin says Ukraine fight is taking longer than expected, hails seizures

Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged Wednesday that his special military operation in Ukraine is taking longer than expected but hailed the seizure of his neighbor's territory as a major achievement and said his country's nuclear weapons are deterring escalation of the conflict. Of course, it could be a lengthy process, Putin said of the more than 9-month-old war that began with Russia's invasion Feb. 24 and has displaced millions from their homes, and killed and wounded tens of thousands. Despite its length, he showed no signs of letting up, vowing to consistently fight for our interests" and protect ourselves using all means available. Speaking in a televised meeting in Russia with members of his Human Rights Council, Putin described the land gains as a significant result for Russia, noting that the Sea of Azov has become Russia's internal sea. In one of his frequent historic references to a Russian leader he admires, he added that Peter the Great fought to get access" to

Russia continues hold on Indian oil supplies; West's price cap threat looms

India will be unable to use Western tankers and insurance if it refuses to adhere to price cap

Ukraine's 'surrender hotline' for Russian soldiers gets 100 enquiries a day

According to officials in Kiev, through the "I Want To Live" scheme, Russian troops can choose to surrender on the helpline

Biden, Macron ready to talk Ukraine, trade during French Prez' state visit

French President Emmanuel Macron is headed to Washington for the first state visit of Joe Biden's presidency a revival of diplomatic pageantry that had been put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Biden-Macron relationship had a choppy start. Macron briefly recalled France's ambassador to the United States last year after the White House announced a deal to sell nuclear submarines to Australia, undermining a contract for France to sell diesel-powered submarines. But the relationship has turned around with Macron emerging as one of Biden's most forward-facing European allies in the Western response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This week's visit it will include Oval Office talks, a glitzy dinner, a news conference and more comes at a critical moment for both leaders. The leaders have a long agenda for their Thursday meeting at the White House, including Iran's nuclear programme, China's increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific and growing concerns about security a

Ukraine works to restore water, power after Russian strikes Kherson

Ukrainian authorities endeavoured on Saturday to restore electricity and water services after recent pummelling by Russian military strikes that vastly damaged infrastructure, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying millions have seen their power restored since blackouts swept the war-battered country days earlier. Skirmishes continued in the east and residents from the southern city of Kherson headed north and west to flee after punishing, deadly bombardments by Russian forces in recent days. The strikes have been seen as attempts at Russian retribution against Ukraine's beleaguered but defiant people after Ukrainian troops over two week ago liberated the city that had been in Russian hands for many months. The key task of today, as well as other days of this week, is energy," Zelenskyy said in his nightly televised address late Friday. From Wednesday to today we have managed to halve the number of people whose electricity is cut off, to stabilize the system. He said, however,

NATO vows to aid Ukraine against Russia 'for as long as it takes'

NATO is determined to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia for as long as it takes and will help the war-wrecked country transform its armed forces into a modern army up to Western standards, the alliance's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg vowed on Friday. Speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Romania next week, Stoltenberg urged countries that want to, either individually or in groups, to keep providing air defense systems and other weapons to Ukraine. NATO as an organisation does not supply weapons. NATO will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. We will not back down, the former Norwegian prime minister said. Allies are providing unprecedented military support, and I expect foreign ministers will also agree to step up non-lethal support. Stoltenberg said that members of the 30-nation security organisation have been delivering fuel, generators, medical supplies, winter equipment and drone jamming devices, but that more will

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

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