DIRECT. War in Ukraine: kyiv thwarts Russian attacks in the Odessa region

2023-08-14 16:58:13

16:43

US announces $200 million in new aid

Anti-aircraft ammunition, artillery shells, additional demining equipment… The American Secretary of State Antony Blinken announces, in a press release, an upcoming aid of 200 million dollars for Ukraine.

16:27

Ruble drop: Russian Central Bank announces surprise interest rate meeting tomorrow

The Russian central bank announces a surprise meeting on Tuesday on the key rate, against the backdrop of the ruble falling to the lowest against the euro and the dollar since March 2022, just after the Russian assault on Ukraine.

“On Tuesday, August 15, 2023, a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Russia will be held to consider the issue of the level of key rates,” the BCR said in a statement.

16:24

Russia says it intercepted Norwegian military plane

Russia sent a Mig-29 fighter to intercept a Norwegian military plane approaching its borders over the Barents Sea in the Arctic Ocean. “As the Russian fighter approached, the foreign military aircraft turned around,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement, adding that the Norwegian aircraft had been identified as a Boeing P-8A “Poseidon “, a maritime patrol aircraft.

“No violation of the border of the Russian Federation was allowed”, adds the ministry, assuring that the interception had taken place in compliance with international rules “without cutting air trajectories” or “dangerous rapprochement”. Interception is an operation aimed at escorting an aircraft deemed too close to an airspace or having entered it.

Russia sent a Mig-29 to intercept the Norwegian aircraft. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

16:22

Over 200 buildings damaged last night in Odessa

According to the city council of the port city of Odessa, 203 buildings were damaged as a result of last night’s airstrike, including one listed as a UNESCO heritage site and four hospitals, according to The Kyiv Independent. The damage was caused by falling missile debris.

A supermarket in Odessa was damaged. AFP/Oleksandr GIMANOV.

15:45

Norway to supply Kyiv with new anti-drone systems

Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace will supply Ukraine with new anti-drone systems financed by kyiv’s allies, the defense group and the Norwegian government have announced. The group says it has signed a 65 million euro contract with the International Fund for Ukraine, set up by the United Kingdom, to deliver to Kiev “several” Cortex Typhon C-UAS systems combining, according to him, solutions to physically destroy drones or neutralize them. Their number has not been specified.

As part of this contract, the Norwegian government donated Dingo 2 armored vehicles as well as machine guns and ammunition.

15:32

Ukrainian service officer sentenced for high treason

A major general of the Ukrainian secret service of the SBU was sentenced to 12 years in prison for high treason, according to The mirror. The officer collected information and passed it on to Russia, the kyiv prosecutor’s office said.

He also reportedly hired hitmen to assassinate the commander of a Chechen peacekeeping battalion that was fighting on the Ukrainian side. The Secret Service agent had previously been arrested in April 2020.

15:12

Ukrainian drones shot down in the Belgorod region

The Russian Defense Ministry claims that “Russian air defense systems detected and destroyed drones” attributed to kyiv “over the territory of the Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine. “There were no casualties or damage,” according to Moscow.

15:05

Romania will increase the transit of Ukrainian cereals

Romania wants to double the monthly transit capacity of Ukrainian grain via the Danube, says Transport Minister Sorin Grindeanu after a meeting with representatives of the European Union, the United States, Moldova and Ukraine in the Danubian city of Galati.

“I underlined the importance of the Romanian railway, road and naval transport routes in maintaining a constant flow of Ukrainian exports,” he explains. “It was a good meeting that will guide us through the agreed measures to increase grain transit capacity from over 2 million tonnes per month currently to almost 4 million tonnes in the coming months,” he said. he adds.

14:33

More than 19,000 Ukrainian children separated from their parents and deported to Russia since the Russian invasion

More than 19,000 Ukrainian children have been separated from their parents and deported to Russia since the Russian invasion, says aid organization SOS Children’s Villages Ukraineciting figures from the Ukrainian authorities.

“It is a war crime and an element of genocide under international law,” said the director of the NGO, Serhii Lukashov, in a press release.

13:27

Two Russian bombers intercepted as they headed into Dutch airspace

Two Dutch Air Force F-16 fighter jets took off this morning to intercept “two Russian bombers” flying towards Dutch airspace, the Dutch Defense Ministry said in a statement. a statement. A rapid reaction alert (QRA) was triggered at 07:19. The bombers then “turned back”, the ministry said.

13:12

“Ukraine urgently needs arms” for its counter-offensive, says the mayor of kyiv

“I stressed that Ukraine urgently needs armaments, these are anti-aircraft defenses and long-range weapons. We are counting on our partners to understand the situation and that it cannot be postponed,” said Mayor of Kiev Vitali Klitschko after receiving German Finance Minister Christian Lindner.

Since the launch, in June, of the vast counter-offensive to drive the Russian army out of the territories it occupies, the Ukrainian leaders have not ceased to say that the fighting is tough and that they need more armaments, in particular long-range missiles.

12:59

Ukraine claims small advances in the east and south of the country

In addition to the 3 km2 liberated in the Bakhmout region “last week”, according to Ganna Maliar, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister, Ukraine also claims some gains on the southern front. She remained vague but nevertheless reported progress. “Hostilities are continuing in the locality of Urojaïné, we have had some success,” she said.

In the Kherson region, the deputy minister reported on “actions” carried out by “certain units” of Ukraine on the eastern bank of the Dnieper, where the Russian army withdrew in November 2022, the river becoming the line head on. “We cannot reveal the details, but we have accomplished these actions. To entrench yourself there, you have to dislodge the enemy and liberate the territory,” she added.

10:39

The ruble at its lowest since March 2022

The Russian currency continued to fall, trading at more than 100 to the dollar and 110 to the euro, a first since March 2022, when the ruble crashed in the wake of the military offensive against Ukraine. On the Moscow Stock Exchange, it took 100.73 rubles for 1 dollar and 110.22 for 1 euro at 10:05 a.m. local time (9:05 a.m. French time).

A Russian ruble note and others in US dollars, March 10, 2023. Reuters / Dado Ruvic

10:25

German Finance Minister visits Kyiv

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner is making his first trip to the Ukrainian capital since the beginning of the Russian invasion to show that Germany stands “at the side” of the country.

Arriving in Kyiv early in the morning, the minister said he would have “very concrete” talks with Ukrainian officials on how the German finance ministry can support Ukraine now and in the future.

10:22

Two Russians arrested after spreading Wagner propaganda material in Poland

Two Russians “disseminating propaganda material” from the Russian paramilitary group Wagner in Warsaw and Krakow in Poland have been detained, announces the Polish Minister of the Interior.

“Both were charged with espionage and arrested,” Mariusz Kaminski claims on X, formerly Twitter.

09:52

Ukraine denounces Russian warning shots against a cargo ship in the Black Sea

kyiv denounces the Russian warning shots fired the day before towards a Ukrainian cargo ship heading for the port of Izmail in the Black Sea.

“These actions illustrate Russia’s deliberate policy of threatening the freedom of navigation and the safety of merchant shipping in the Black Sea,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Sukru Okan ship transiting the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey on July 10, 2023. Reuters/Yoruk Isik

09:26

kyiv thwarts Russian attacks in the Odessa region

Ukraine Kyiv thwarted Russian missile and drone attacks on the Odessa region last night, in which three people were injured, the Ukrainian military said.

“The enemy attacked the Odessa region three times during the night, (using) two waves of attack drones, a total of 15 (drones), and 8 missiles” of the Kalibr type, said the Operational Command Ukrainian for the south of the country on Telegram, adding that all attacks were foiled by air defense.

According to the Kiev army, the dormitory of a training establishment as well as a store were damaged by debris resulting from the destruction of missiles “directed towards the center of Odessa”.

Firefighters battle a fire in a building following a Russian drone and missile strike in Odessa, Ukraine August 14, 2023. ReutersFirefighters respond to a fire at a supermarket after a drone strike and Russian missiles over Odessa, Ukraine on August 14, 2023. Reuters

09:16

Chinese defense minister visits Russia, Belarus this week

Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu will be in Russia and Belarus from Monday to Saturday, his ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Li Shangfu is due to attend the 11th International Security Conference in Moscow, the ministry said.

Chinese Defense Minister General Li Shangfu speaking at the Asian Security Forum on June 4, 2023 in Singapore. icon sport

09:02

The Ukrainian army says it has taken over 3 km2 near Bakhmout

The Ukrainian army has taken over 3 km2 of territory near Bahmkout, in eastern Ukraine, one of the high places of the current counter-offensive by Kiev forces, announced the Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense.

“In the Bakhmout sector, 3 km2 were liberated last week. In total, 40 km2 have already been liberated on the southern flank of the Bakhmout sector, a city designated in May by Russia, Ganna Maliar told television.

08:29

Russian strikes in Odessa region kill seven

Seven people were killed, including an infant and a 12-year-old child, in Russian strikes on Sunday in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities said. Three adults and two children from the same family died in the village of Chyroka Balka and two others in that of Stanislav, Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said.

08:29

Hello everyone

Welcome to this direct dedicated to the war in Ukraine and its consequences around the world.