Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of trying to blow up a large hydroelectric dam in Nova Kakhovka near the Russian-occupied city of Kherson, which could flood the southern region. criticized. “The destruction of the dam would mean a massive disaster,” he warned in a televised address, urging the West to act “strongly and swiftly” to prevent such consequences. ing.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a rare phone call with Russian Defense Secretary Sergei Shoigu on Friday for the first time since May. Officials from both sides have provided few details about the call, but Air Force Brig. “I emphasized the importance of that,” he said.
Here you will find the latest information about war and its effects around the world.
- Concerns about Kakhovka Dam Growing This weekend as a potential target. Earlier in the week, Zelensky accused the Russian military of mining a hydroelectric power plant, one of Ukraine’s largest power facilities, in preparation for a “false flag” attack. He offered no evidence of a Russian conspiracy, but told European Council leaders that infrastructure attacks could cause flooding in 80 settlements and destroy much of southern Ukraine’s water supply. Kremlin-backed officials said Ukraine was instead planning to blow up a 1956 dam on the Dnieper to flood Russian-occupied Kherson, killing thousands of people in preparation. claimed to have evacuated from the city. The Washington Post was unable to independently verify the allegations.
- Washington sees no evidence that Moscow will end war anytime soon, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told reporters on Friday with his French counterpart. Instead, he said the Kremlin was “doubling and tripling” its aggression against Ukraine. “All signs are far from being actively engaged in meaningful diplomacy, Mr. President. [Vladimir] Putin continues to go in the opposite direction,” said Blinken.
- Bipartisan parliamentary delegation met Zelensky in Kyivinclude Rep. Michael R. Turner (Republican, Ohio), Rep. Jim Hymes (Democrat, Connecticut), and Rep. Eric Swalwell (Democrat, California). The group “talked about financial support, our political interactions, the new anti-European and anti-democratic measures expected of Russia,” Zelensky said. The visit came after House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R, Calif.) suggested this week that Republicans would oppose further aid to Ukraine. President Biden said this week that he fears he will cut off aid to Ukraine if Republicans win the House.
- The Russian army, struggling to maintain control of Kherson, built a “barge bridge” over the Dnieper. according to For daily information updates from the UK Ministry of Defence. Although the use of heavy barge bridges was common in Soviet-era operations, this is probably “the first time the Russian military has had to use a bridge of this kind in decades” and is a significant material and logistical challenge. There will be advantages above.
- Nearly 16,000 civilian casualties have been recorded in Ukraine by the United Nations Office for Human Rights. UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council on Friday. DiCarlo said the figure includes her 6,322 deaths, and that “the real number is much higher.”
- Russia began to withdraw from the western regions of Kherson, said the War Research Institute. Ukraine’s Southern Operations Command said on the same day that Russian forces were “actively” moving military equipment and several units to the east bank of the Dnieper.
- Iran refutes European demands for a UN investigation into Iranian-made drones they say Russia is using in Ukraine. On Saturday, Tehran said it strongly condemned the “false and baseless” accusations as France, Germany and the UK called for an investigation.Britain imposed sanctions on Iran this week, but the Canadian government also condemned Iran’s “active support for Russian atrocities”. Moscow denies using his Iran-made Shahed-136 drone.
- The European Union has pledged to provide Ukraine with €1.5 billion ($1.48 billion) per month in 2023.totaling €18 billion. “It is very important for Ukraine to have a predictable and stable income stream,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Said After the European Council meeting in Brussels.
- Zelensky accused Russia of “deliberately instigating” a food crisis by delaying global grain shipments. The Ukrainian president said more than 150 ships were lined up in an “artificial queue” as Russia delayed passage. The Washington Post was unable to confirm the veracity of his remarks. He added that countries such as China, Bangladesh and others were most affected by the slowdown in food exports. agreed to permit the export of
4. From our local correspondent
In a bloody battle over Bakhmut, Russian mercenaries are eyeing iconic prizes. In the eastern Ukraine city, about ten miles (10 miles) from the Donetsk-Luhansk border, the clashes and roars of artillery rarely stop.
While Bahamut residents huddle by candlelight and pray for the safety of many, soldiers on both sides are dying in large numbers on the battlefield, report Louisa LaBrack and Robin Dixon.
Nevertheless, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, continues to send fighters to Bakhmut, although Bakhmut is no longer a strategic military target, experts say. Instead, shattered regions appear to be military booty for Russian oligarchs, seemingly obscuring all strategic logic.
