KYIV :&nbsp;Two people have been killed in the Russian bombing of a school in the Ukrainian village of Bilohorivka and 60 who remained under debris are feared dead, Serhiy Gaidai, governor of the Luhansk region, said on Sunday.Gaidai said Russia dropped a bomb on Saturday afternoon on the school where about 90 people were sheltering. Thirty people have been rescued."Seven of them were injured," Gaidai wrote on wrote in a post on the Telegram messaging app. "Sixty people were likely to have died under the rubble of buildings."—REUTERS

 Two people have been killed in the Russian bombing of a school in the Ukrainian village of Bilohorivka and 60 who remained under debris are feared dead, Serhiy Gaidai, governor of the Luhansk region, said on Sunday.

60 feared dead in Ukraine school bombed by Russia, governor says

Kiev: Russia has “lost about 30,700 troops” in Ukraine between February 24 and June 1, Ukrainian army claimed. The statement was made by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, Ukrinform news agency reported on Wednesday. “The enemy’s total combat losses, between February 24 and June 1, also included 1,361 tanks (+3 over the past day), 3,343 armored fighting vehicles (+41), 659 artillery systems (+10), 207 multiple launch rocket systems (+0), 94 anti-aircraft warfare systems (+1), 208 aircrafts (+0), 175 helicopters (+1), 2,290 motor vehicles and fuel tanks (+15), 13 warships/boats (+0), 519 unmanned aerial vehicles (+4), 49 special equipment units (+1). A total of 120 enemy cruise missiles (+0) were shot down,” the report noted.Over the past day, Russian troops have suffered the “highest losses” in the Kryvyi Rih and Bakhmut direction. The data are yet to be updated.It is noteworthy that the Russian troops continue to conduct offensive operations in the eastern operational zone to gain “full control” over Donetsk Region and Luhansk Region.—IANS

Russia has “lost about 30,700 troops” in Ukraine between February 24 and June 1, Ukrainian army claimed. 

Ukrainian Army Says Russia Lost About 30,700 Troops In Ukraine

Bakhmut: Workers pulled scores of bodies from smashed buildings in an “endless caravan of death” inside the devastated city of Mariupol, authorities said Wednesday, while fears of a global food crisis escalated over Ukraine’s inability to export millions of tons of grain through its blockaded ports. At the same time, Ukrainian and Russian forces battled fiercely for control of Sievierodonestk, a city that has emerged as central to Moscow’s grinding campaign to capture Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland, known as the Donbas. As the fighting dragged on, the human cost of the war continued to mount. In many of Mariupol’s buildings, workers are finding 50 to 100 bodies each, according to a mayoral aide in the Russian-held port city in the south.Petro Andryushchenko said on the Telegram app that the bodies are being taken in an “endless caravan of death” to a morgue, landfills and other places. At least 21,000 Mariupol civilians were killed during the weeks-long Russian siege, Ukrainian authorities have estimated. The consequences of the war are being felt far beyond Eastern Europe because shipments of Ukrainian grain are bottled up inside the country, driving up the price of food. Ukraine, long known as the “bread basket of Europe,” is one of the world’s biggest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but much of that flow has been halted by the war and a Russian blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea coast. An estimated 22 million tons of grain remains in Ukraine. The failure to ship it out is endangering the food supply in many developing countries, especially in Africa. Russia expressed support Wednesday for a U.N. plan to create a safe corridor at sea that would allow Ukraine to resume grain shipments. The plan, among other things, calls for Ukraine to remove mines from the waters near the Black Sea port of Odesa.But Russia is insisting that it be allowed to check incoming vessels for weapons. And Ukraine has expressed fear that clearing the mines could enable Russia to attack the coast. Ukrainian officials said the Kremlin’s assurances that it wouldn’t do that cannot be trusted. European Council President Charles Michel on Wednesday accused the Kremlin of “weaponizing food supplies and surrounding their actions with a web of lies, Soviet-style.” While Russia, which is also a major supplier of grain to the rest of the world, has blamed the looming food crisis on Western sanctions against Moscow, the European Union heatedly denied that and said the blame rests with Russia itself for waging war against Ukraine. “These are Russian ships and Russian missiles that are blocking the export of crops and grain,” Michel said. “Russian tanks, bombs and mines are preventing Ukraine from planting and harvesting.”The West has exempted grain and other food from its sanctions against Russia, but the U.S. and the EU have imposed sweeping punitive measures against Russian ships. Moscow argues that those restrictions make it impossible to use its ships to export grain, and also make other shipping companies reluctant to carry its product. Turkey has sought to play a role in negotiating an end to the war and in brokering the resumption of grain shipments. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met on Wednesday with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. Ukraine was not invited to the talks. Meanwhile, Moscow’s troops continued their painstaking, inch-by-inch campaign for the Donbas region with heavy fighting in and around Sievierodonetsk, which had a prewar population of 100,000. It is one of the last cities yet to be taken by the Russians in Luhansk, one of the two provinces that make up the Donbas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Sievierodonetsk the “epicenter” of the battle for the Donbas and perhaps one of the most difficult battles of the war.He said the Ukrainian army is defending its positions and inflicting real losses on the Russian forces. “In many ways, it is there that the fate of our Donbas is being decided,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address, which was recorded in the street outside his office in Kyiv. An adviser to Zelenskyy’s office said Russian forces have changed their tactics in the battle, retreating from the city while pounding it with artillery and airstrikes. As a result, Oleksiy Arestovych said, the city center is deserted, and the artillery hits an empty place. “They are hitting hard without any particular success,” he said in his daily online interview. Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai acknowledged the difficulties of battling Russian forces, saying, “Maybe we will have to retreat, but right now battles are ongoing in the city.” “Everything the Russian army has — artillery, mortars, tanks, aviation — all of that, they’re using in Sievierodonetsk in order to wipe the city off the face of the Earth and capture it completely,” he said. The city of Lysychansk, like Sievierodonetsk, is also wedged between Russian forces in Luhansk province. Valentyna Tsonkan, an elderly resident of Lysychansk, described the moment when her house came under attack. “I was lying on my bed. The shrapnel hit the wall and went through my shoulder,” she said as she received treatment for her wounds.Russia’s continuing encroachment could open up the possibility of a negotiated settlement between the two nations more than three months into the war, analysts said.Russian President Vladimir Putin “has the option of declaring his objectives met at more or less any time in order to consolidate Russia’s territorial gains,” said Keir Giles, a Russia expert at the London think tank Chatham House. At that point, Giles said, Western leaders may “pressure Ukraine to accept their losses in order to bring an end to the fighting.” Zelenskyy said Russia is unwilling to negotiate because it still feels strong. Speaking by video link to U.S. corporate leaders, he called for even tougher sanctions to weaken Russia economically, including getting it “off the global financial system completely.” Zelenskyy said Ukraine is willing to negotiate “to find a way out.” But a settlement cannot come “at the expense of our independence.” Meanwhile, to the north, Russian shelling of the Kharkiv region killed five people and wounded 12 over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian authorities said. The Russian military said it used high-precision missiles to hit an armor repair plant near Kharkiv. There was no confirmation from Ukraine of such a plant being hit.—AP

Workers pulled scores of bodies from smashed buildings in an “endless caravan of death” inside the devastated city of Mariupol, authorities said Wednesday, while fears of a global food crisis escalated over Ukraine’s inability to export millions of tons of grain through its blockaded ports.

More bodies found in Mariupol as global food crisis looms

Kiev:&nbsp;An aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the country is losing upto 200 troops a day while fighting on the front line with Russian forces. According to the aide Mykhaylo Podolyak, hundreds of Ukrainian troops are under relentless bombardment as Russian forces attempt to take control of the whole of th eastern Donbas region, the BBC reported on Friday.While reiterating that Ukraine still requires Western artillery, he said: “The Russian forces have thrown pretty much everything non-nuclear at the front and that includes heavy artillery, multiple rocket launch systems and aviation.”Podolyak added that the “complete lack of parity” between the two rival armies was the reason for Ukraine’s heavy casualty rate. “Our demands for artillery are not just some kind of whim, but an objective need when it comes to the situation on the battlefield,” the BBC quoted the aide as saying, who went on to add that Kiev needs 150-300 rocket launch systems to match Russia, which is a much higher number than it has received so far. He also stressed that peace talks between Kiev and Moscow can resume if Russia surrendered the territory it has gained since it launched the invasion on February 24. Meanwhile, Russian forces have concentrated their assault on the eastern city of Severodonetsk. On Wednesday, President Zelensky said “the fate of the Donbas is being decided there” and officials said it has been reduced to rubble by intense Russian artillery and missile barrages.—IANS

An aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the country is losing upto 200 troops a day while fighting on the front line with Russian forces. According to the aide Mykhaylo Podolyak, hundreds of Ukrainian troops are under relentless bombardment as Russian forces attempt to take control of the whole of th eastern Donbas region, the BBC reported on Friday.

Ukraine Losing Upto 200 Troops A Day: President’s Aide

Ankara (Turkey): The Turkish Defence Ministry on Monday confirmed the departure of the first shipment with grain cargo from the Ukrainian port of Odessa, adding that the vessel is expected to reach the port of Istanbul on August 2.Earlier, the ministry said that the first ship with grain cargo will depart from Ukraine on Monday at around 8:30 am (Turkish time).Sputnik News Agency reported quoting Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin on Sunday that the first ship carrying Ukrainian grain will depart tomorrow morning.Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said that grain exports via the Black Sea will begin in the coming days."With the beginning of maritime grain transportation in the coming days we will make an important contribution to the upcoming global food crisis," TASS news agency quoting Erdogan reported.Erdogan had also said that Turkey would continue its efforts to solve the Ukrainian crisis diplomatically."We are resolved to continue diplomatic efforts until peace between Russia and Ukraine is ensured. In the near future, we hope to receive encouraging news at talks and with contacts at all levels, including leaders," the Turkish President said further. Meanwhile, a high-level UN trade official has said the world body will continue to stay engaged with partners in the European Union, the United States and Russia to understand any obstacles to grain exports in the wake of the deal with Ukraine. This statement comes as the defence ministers of Russia and Turkey and the infrastructure minister of Ukraine met in Istanbul to ink an UN-brokered deal on grain exports that would allow Russia to export its grain and fertilizers, Washington Post reported.The agreement has ended a wartime standoff that had threatened food security in several countries and cleared the way for exporting tons of Ukrainian grains.The deal will enable Ukraine to export 22 million tons of grain and other agricultural products that have been stuck in Black Sea ports due to the war. Notably, the deal will create provisions for the safe passage of ships. Moreover, a control centre will be established in Istanbul, staffed by UN, Turkish, Russian and Ukrainian officials, to run and coordinate the process and the ships would undergo inspections to ensure they are not carrying weapons.Ukraine is regarded as the "breadbasket of Europe" supplying 10 per cent of the world's wheat, 12-17 per cent of the world's maize and half of the world's sunflower oil. Twenty-five million tonnes of corn and wheat - the entire annual consumption of all the least developed countries. The West accused that Russia's actions have driven up prices in countries like the UK and the ongoing blockade has placed 47 million people around the world on the brink of humanitarian disaster. Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, security experts say one of Moscow's earliest strategic aims quickly became apparent as its armoured columns advanced along the coast in an effort to seize Ukraine's coastline. —ANI

The Turkish Defence Ministry on Monday confirmed the departure of the first shipment with grain cargo from the Ukrainian port of Odessa, adding that the vessel is expected to reach the port of Istanbul on August 2.

First Grain Shipment Leaves Ukrainian Port, Expected To Reach Istanbul On Tuesday: Turkey

New York (The Hawk): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday met Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at the UN headquarters in New York and apprised him of India's principled position that emphasises cessation of all hostilities and return to dialogue and diplomacy.
Jaishankar met the Ukrainian leader on the margins of the high-level UN General Assembly session in New York, hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilisation of some 300,000 reservists, saying the move was essential to protect Russia's sovereignty as the "West is seeking to weaken, divide and finally destroy this country."
"At the UN Headquarters this morning, called on Prime Minister of Ukraine @Denys_Shmyhal," Jaishankar tweeted.
Jaishankar said he apprised Prime Minister Shmyhal of "India's principled position that emphasises cessation of all hostilities and return to dialogue and diplomacy."
The minister thanked "him for sharing his perspectives and assessment of the ongoing conflict. Discussed their consequences, including for food security, energy security and safety of nuclear facilities."
Jaishankar assured him that India would continue to provide humanitarian assistance.
India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.
Since early September, Ukraine forces have swiftly recaptured large swaths of land in Ukraine's Kharkiv region that Russian troops took over in early weeks of the war which began on February 24.
Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu on Wednesday disclosed that a total of 5,937 Russian troops have died during the military operation in Ukraine while fatalities on the Ukrainian side are ten times higher, with 61,207 Kiev troops killed.
It's the first time that Russia announced its losses during the military operation since late March when the casualties stood at 1,351. —PTI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday met Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at the UN headquarters in New York and apprised him of India's principled position that emphasises cessation of all hostilities and return to dialogue and diplomacy.

Jaishankar Apprises Ukrainian PM Of India's Stand

Kyiv, Brussels, Vienna (The Hawk): The war in Ukraine has caused immense human suffering and destruction to infrastructure as well as to the natural environment, with long-term implications for the Ukrainian people and economy. More than 6 million people have no or limited access to clean water, and over 280,000 hectares of forests have been destroyed or felled.
While the end of the war is still unknown, it is clear that Ukraine will need the largest reconstruction plan in Europe since World War II. Planning for post-war reconstruction has already started with the Ukrainian government presenting a draft recovery plan at the high-level international Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano on 4-5 July 2022. At the conference key actors committed to sustainability as one of the key principles of recovery.
The WWF-BCG report provides a pathway to achieve these sustainability goals. It shows that, while circumstances are dire, if sustainability is at the core and reforms are properly implemented, this effort could shape a sustainable model of economic development for Ukraine, Europe and the world. Developed with WWF-Ukraine, who work closely with other social and environmental organizations, academia and businesses, the report aims at bringing a civil society voice into the reconstruction agenda.
Modernizing Ukraine’s economy and infrastructure in a way that works with nature rather than against it would generate many benefits, including enhanced security with less dependence on imports of fossil fuels and accelerated economic development and job creation. Such reconstruction can accelerate Ukraine’s integration in the EU and alignment with key policies such as the European Green Deal, to which Ukraine has already committed.
Dr Bohdan Vykhor, CEO WWF Ukraine, said:
“Environmental security must be part of the security paradigm for Ukraine as it provides a basis for Ukraine’s economic development, well-being and survival. It's about building a more sustainable and resilient country for the people of Ukraine”.
Hubi Meinecke, Global Leader, Climate &amp; Sustainability, Boston Consulting Group, said:&nbsp;
“Even under the most tragic circumstances, there is hope. The extent of suffering and destruction brought by the war is staggering. We know from our engagement with leaders in the Ukraine that they want the international community to start to mobilize now for the recovery. At BCG, we strongly believe that to achieve the best outcome for Ukrainians, reconstruction should be planned with climate and nature at its heart. With WWF, we show the path for a sustainable recovery plan.”
Invest in the future, don’t reconstruct an unsustainable past
The recovery plan should not simply aim to rebuild what has been destroyed, but rather focus on the future: investments must be transformative and sustainable, working with rather than against nature. Starting with climate change, the plan should ensure that Ukraine can at least deliver on, and potentially raise, its pre-war ambitions to reduce GHG emissions by 65% by 2030 vs. 1990 and reach Net Zero by 2060 — all while adapting to a future with growing impacts from climate change. The natural environment is the foundation of a strong and resilient economy as well as a healthy society. Ecosystem goods and services are valued at ~$185 bn/year, which is roughly equivalent to Ukraine’s GDP. In every sector covered by the report (covering two-thirds of GDP and ca 90% of exports), there are opportunities to de-carbonize, reduce resource use and leverage nature-based solutions.&nbsp;
The report defines ten key recommendations as well as further specific recommendations regarding three environmental issues (Forests, Wildlife Biodiversity, Freshwater), six economic sectors (Housing, Transport, Energy and Power, Agriculture, Industry, Tech &amp; Digital) as well as Governance.
Tomislav Corak, Managing Director &amp; Partner at BCG, declared:&nbsp;
“Having grown up in Croatia, I have experienced firsthand the difficulties and uncertainties of recovery after the Homeland War ended in 1995. Ukrainians will have access to new technologies and can use their digital skills to build people-friendly housing and infrastructure, sustainable agriculture as well as low carbon industrial, transportation and energy solutions. It will take strong leadership and persistence to rebuild Ukraine in an economical and environmentally friendly way. Both are possible, but to deliver them we need to start planning now.”
The report is an important step in WWF’s efforts to support reconstruction in Ukraine. It is a basis for engaging with decision-makers inside and outside of Ukraine as well as stakeholders from the private sector, civil society and communities across key sectors for development. “The war is still ongoing, and the challenges are complex, so this report offers our current perspectives and not definitive answers. It has been developed as a basis for discussion, planning and cooperation with decision-makers and stakeholders both inside and outside of Ukraine. We expect the analysis and ideas presented here to develop further as this dialogue unfolds,” Dr Vykhor said.

The war in Ukraine has caused immense human suffering and destruction to infrastructure as well as to the natural environment, with long-term implications for the Ukrainian people and economy.

Ukraine Needs A Sustainable, Climate And Nature-Positive Reconstruction To Ensure Long-Term Security

New York: 14 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes since the start of Ukraine's invasion on February 24 this year, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has said.
In a briefing to the Security Council on Wednesday, the UN refugee chief said, "The Russian invasion of Ukraine has driven the fastest and largest displacement witnessed in decades. Some 14 million people have been forced from their homes since the 24th of February."
Filippo Grandi warned the Ukrainians are about to face one of the world's harshest winters in extremely difficult circumstances. "Humanitarian organizations have dramatically scaled up their response, but much more must be done, starting with an end to this senseless war," he said.
As the war continues to prolong in Ukraine, the UN refugee chief said the destruction caused by strikes at civilian infrastructure is quickly making the humanitarian response look like a drop in the ocean of needs.
He said UNHCR's focus is increasingly on helping displaced people in Ukraine, working under the government's able leadership. Of the neighbouring countries, Moldova continues to need special attention, given its vulnerability. "Meanwhile in the European Union, we have seen an open, well managed and above all shared refugee response that has proven wrong many of the statements frequently repeated by some politicians: that Europe is full; that relocation is impossible; that there is no public support for refugees," he added. Over UNHCR's response to the crisis in Ukraine, Grandi said that they are maintaining a high level of preparedness for further population movements, both inside and outside Ukraine, taking into account different possible scenarios and the scope and limitations of humanitarian assistance. It has responded to 37 emergencies around the world in the past 12 months alone, in countries such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Myanmar and Syria. —ANI

14 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes since the start of Ukraine's invasion on February 24 this year, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has said.

14 Million Ukrainians Displaced From Their Homes Since  Russian Invasion: UNHCR

Kiev (The Hawk): According to the president of Ukraine, six million homes in his country still lack electricity as a result of this week's widespread missile attacks.
Volodymyr Zelensky stated in his nightly address that "as of this evening, blackouts persist in the majority of regions and in Kyiv."
Since Wednesday, the number of impacted households has dropped by 50%, he added.
However, as winter approaches, millions are left without access to heat, water, or light.
President Zelensky stated in a televised address that the attacks had had a particularly negative impact on the capital city and its surrounding area. Many city inhabitants, according to him, have been without electricity "for 20 or even 30 hours."
He added that the more central Vinnytsia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as well as Odesa and Lviv in the south and west, are among the worst impacted.
Everyone was urged by President Zelensky to utilise energy-efficient appliances: "Even if you don't have a power outage, the issue may still exist. Please remember that just because you have access to electricity does not give you permission to use many large appliances at once."
We must withstand this winter, which will be remembered by everyone, he remarked.
Despite the attacks, practically all of the nation's vital infrastructure has been restored, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, including items like water utilities, heat producing facilities, hospitals, and emergency services.
However, he noted, scheduled power outages continue to affect regular people in every part of Ukraine.
There are worries that the targeting of Ukrainian infrastructure by Russia, along with snowfall and extremely low temperatures, could lead to a health disaster.
Russia has always refuted Ukraine's and its Western allies' accusations that it committed war crimes by attacking vital civilian infrastructure.
The Kherson regional governor claimed on Friday that "continuous Russian shelling" had forced medical patients to leave the area.
Officials from the municipal council reported that 15 people had died this week in the eastern city, which Ukrainian forces have just lately retaken.
As the UN nuclear agency announced that three nuclear plants on Ukrainian soil had been restored to the grid after being forced to shut down during this week's bombardment, the Russian air assault began.
On Thursday, a fourth nuclear power plant that is located in Zaporizhzhia and is under Russian control restarted.
(Inputs from Agencies)

According to the president of Ukraine, six million homes in his country still lack electricity as a result of this week's widespread missile attacks. Volodymyr Zelensky stated in his nightly address that "as of this evening, blackouts persist in the majority of regions and in Kyiv."

6 million Ukrainian households are without power

According to the president of Ukraine, six million homes in his country still lack electricity as a result of this week's widespread missile attacks.
Volodymyr Zelensky stated in his nightly address that "as of this evening, blackouts persist in the majority of regions and in Kyiv."

New Delhi: On Thursday, for the first time since the Ukrainian conflict began in February of last year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met briefly.
Blinken assured Lavrov that the United States will maintain its support for Ukraine during their about 10-minute conversation on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers meeting in Delhi. The brief meeting occurred as tensions between the United States and Russia grew over the conflict in Ukraine.
The US Secretary of State told reporters that he had a brief conversation with the Russian Foreign Minister in which he urged the minister to reconsider Russia's decision and resume work on implementing the new START Treaty.—Inputs from Agencies

On Thursday, for the first time since the Ukrainian conflict began in February of last year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met briefly.

US Secretary Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister briefly meet in Delhi

New Delhi News: Visiting Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova on Monday said that India should be pragmatic while diversifying its political interactions and energy resources.

The Minister's comments have come in the light of the fact that India has repeatedly abstained from voting against Russia at all international fora against Moscow's ongoing invasion of Kiev.

Dzhaparova, who arrived on Sunday on a four-day visit to India, met Secretary-West Sanjay Verma at the External Affairs Ministry earlier on Monday.

"India should be pragmatic in diversifying its energy resources, military contracts and political interactions. Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's policy of democracy, dialogue and diversity and 'no era of war' and strategic application is really important," she told reporters after the meeting.

It is the first official visit by a Ukraine Minister to India since Russia launched the full scale invasion on February 24, 2022.

During the visit, Dzhaparova will also call on Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi and meet Deputy National Security Adviser Vikram Misri, official sources said. IANS

Visiting Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova on Monday said that India should be pragmatic while diversifying its political interactions and energy resources.

India should be pragmatic in its political interactions: Ukraine minister

Hiroshima: The Japanese newspapers on Sunday were flooded with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the G7 Summit.  They also extensively covered Zelenskyy's visit to Hiroshima amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine that started on February 24 last year. "Democracy needs more. I think we need clear global leadership of democracy. This is the main thing that we provide with our cooperation," the Ukrainian president said. Earlier on Saturday, he invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join the Ukrainian Peace Formula initiative and also thanked him for supporting the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty.  Taking to Twitter, Zelenskyy said, "Had a meeting with Prime Minister of India @narendramodi in Japan. I briefed the interlocutor in detail on the Ukrainian Peace Formula initiative and invited India to join its implementation. I spoke about Ukraine's needs in humanitarian demining and mobile hospitals. I thank India for supporting our country's territorial integrity and sovereignty, in particular, at the platforms of international organizations, and for providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine." In the meeting, PM Modi assured that he will do whatever is possible to help in resolving the Ukraine conflict. "India and I will do whatever we can for resolving the conflict," PM Modi said.  Zelenskyy said that he believed that India will participate in the restoration of the rules-based international order that all free nations clearly need. Taking to Twitter, Zelenskyy shared a video where he said, "I spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I gave an update on the progress of our peace formula. We have already passed many stages of presenting the formula to leaders and countries from different parts of the world. The day before the formula was successfully presented to the participants of the Arab League Summit." "I believe India will participate in restoring the rules-based international order that all free nations clearly need," he added. Notably, this was the first in-person meeting between the two leaders after the Russia-Ukraine war started on February 24 last year. Since the Ukraine conflict began, PM Modi has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as President Zelenskyy a number of times. Group of Seven talks culminated Sunday with a dramatic, in-person appeal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is pressing leaders gathered here to remain united against Russian aggression. In a striking morning photo-op, leaders in suit jackets lined up alongside the Ukrainian president, dressed in his usual military green, to show their sustained support for his country moving ahead, reported CNN. As they convened behind closed doors, it was almost certain Zelenskyy would continue his appeals for more powerful weapons and tougher sanctions on Russia. "Together with all of our allies and partners, we have achieved such a level of cooperation which ensures that democracy, international law, and freedom are respected. There have been attempts to ignore and disregard what we value. But now it is impossible. Now our power is growing. Anyone who might want to wage aggression against a democratic country sees what the response will be. And the more we all work together, the less likely anyone else in the world will follow Russia's insane path. But is this enough? Democracy needs more. I think we need the clear global leadership of democracy. This is the main thing that we provide with our cooperation," tweeted Zelenskyy. (ANI)

The Japanese newspapers on Sunday were flooded with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Ukrainian 

It's PM Modi, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy all over Japanese newspapers today

Moscow: Russia's Wagner group in a special military operation in Ukraine has gained a "complete control" of Bakhmut on Saturday, Russian news agency Tass reported. Following the capture in eastern Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the assault teams of the Wagner private military and Russian troops. "Vladimir Putin congratulates Wagner assault teams as well as all Russian troops, who rendered the required assistance and shielded the flanks, with the completion of the operation to liberate Artyomovsk," the Kremlin's press office said in a statement on Sunday. "Everyone, who distinguished himself in the battle, will be recommended for the state decorations," the statement added. However, as soon as the Wagner Chief claimed the capture of Bakhmut, Kyiv immediately rejected the claim and said fighting was still going on.  Bakhmut (known as Artyomovsk in Russia) is located in the northwestern part of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and served as a significant supply hub for the Ukrainian army in Donbass. On August 1, 2022, fierce combat to liberate the city began. The war for this city has been one of the most intense since the liberation of Donbass in 2014. The Russian Defence Ministry also declared that the city of Artyomovsk (named Bakhmut in Ukraine) had been entirely freed during the special military operation in Ukraine, reported Russian news agency TASS. This comes at a time when G7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to stand together against Russia's "illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked war of aggression" against Ukraine, according to the joint statement issued during the G7 Leaders Summit that began Saturday in Japan's Hiroshima. The joint communique stated that the leaders of the Group of Seven countries are taking concrete steps to support Ukraine for "as long as it takes" in the face of Russia's "illegal war of aggression." To ensure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, the G7 members have urged Russia to stop its ongoing aggression and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops and military equipment from the entire internationally recognised territory of Ukraine. The Russia-Ukraine war that started on February 24, 2022 has taken numerous lives and the war continues to escalate between the two nations even now. (ANI)

Russia's Wagner group in a special military operation in Ukraine has gained a "complete control" of Bakhmut on Saturday

Russia's Wagner group 'captures' Bakhmut, Putin congratulates

Moscow: The Russian defence ministry claimed on Sunday that the Western Military District and the FSB Border Service prevented Ukrainian saboteurs from crossing a river close to Novaya Tavolzhanka in the Belgorod Region, according to the Russian News Agency TASS. "On June 4, 2023, border protection units of the Western Military District and the Border Service of the Russian Federal Security Service exposed an attempt by a sabotage and reconnaissance group of Ukrainian terrorists to cross the river near the settlement of Novaya Tavolzhanka in the Belgorod Region," it said, adding that an artillery strike was delivered at them, forcing them to retreat, TASS reported. The governor of Russia's Kursk region, Roman Starovoit, announced on Sunday that an unmanned aerial vehicle bearing symbols of Ukrainian nationalists had landed there and was bordering Ukraine. "Our guys landed a drone of Ukrainian Nazis in Sudzha. The colouration indicates that it belonged to the Azov battalion (outlawed in Russia as a terrorist organization - TASS). I thank border guards and soldiers for their service," he wrote on his Telegram channel. The Kursk regional authorities have extended the high (yellow) level of terror alert, which has been in force since February 4, for the period of enhanced measures for the protection of the region's territory, TASS reported. The medium level of response has been in place in the region since October 19, 2022 and the regional authorities have enhanced pass control on the borderline territory, at entry to and exit from the city of Kurchatov where the Kursk nuclear power plant is located and control along the region's major routes. They have also tightened the protection of infrastructural facilities and educational institutions, security checks at railway and auto stations and prohibited the use of drones. —ANI

 The Russian defence ministry claimed on Sunday that the Western Military District and the FSB Border Service prevented Ukrainian

Ukrainian Saboteurs' Attempt To Infiltrate Belgorod Region Thwarted By Russian Military

Washington: US President Joe Biden will meet with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit on Wednesday, CNN reported citing an official familiar with the meeting. The meeting between Biden and Zelenskyy will mark a sign of unity as the Ukrainian President's presence at the summit had been in question, according to CNN. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is among the team agenda items for NATO leaders along with discussing a future pathway for Ukraine to become a member of military alliance, the report said. Ukraine will dominate the NATO summit scheduled to be held in Vilnius as Biden looks to keep the military alliance united behind Kyiv amid the ongoing conflict with Moscow. The alliance is facing questions regarding a potential path to NATO membership for Ukraine and additional military assistance, according to CNN. Last week, Biden said he doesn't think Ukraine is ready for NATO membership and added that NATO is a process that takes some time to meet all qualifications, from democratization to a whole range of other issues. "I don't think it (Ukraine) is ready for membership in NATO," the US President said in an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria when asked about Ukraine's NATO membership. Biden said he doesn't think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family in the middle of the war. "I don't think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war. If the war is going on, then we're all in the war. You know, we're at war with Russia, if that were the case. So, I think we have to lay out a path for a rational path for Russia, for you and me, for Ukraine to be able to qualify to get into NATO," Biden said. Previously, Zelenskyy said that he does not plan on attending the NATO summit "for fun" as he wants a clearer pathway for Ukraine to become part of a military alliance with security guarantees. He stressed that Ukraine should get clear security guarantees while it is not a member of NATO. In an interview with ABC News, Zelenskyy said, "It would be an important message to say that NATO is not afraid of Russia. Ukraine should get clear security guarantees while it is not in NATO. Only under these conditions, our meeting would be meaningful, otherwise it's just another politics." Over the past several months, Biden and Zelenskyy have had multiple high-profile meetings. Since the conflict started, Zelenskyy's first visit outside Ukraine was to the US. A few months later, Biden travelled to Kyiv in a surprise visit and announced a half-a-million dollar assistance package. The last in-person meeting between the two leaders took place at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima in May. On Friday, US President Joe Biden said providing Ukraine with cluster munitions for the first time was a "difficult decision," but he was ultimately convinced to send the widely-banned weapons as Kyiv needed the ammunition against its ongoing counteroffensive against Russia, reported CNN. The White House announced sending cluster munitions to Ukraine. Biden said, "It was a very difficult decision on my part. And by the way, I discussed this with our allies, I discussed this with our friends up on the Hill," adding, "The Ukrainians are running out of ammunition," according to CNN. —ANI

US President Joe Biden will meet with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 

US President Biden To Meet Ukrainian Counterpart Zelenskyy At NATO Summit: Report

Kyiv (Ukraine): The Russian missile strikes that killed at least one and injured many have destroyed a famous Orthodox cathedral in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa, reported CNN. In the latest wave of attacks on Odesa, several other historic buildings have also been destroyed. The largest church structure in Odesa is the Transfiguration Cathedral. It was consecrated in 1809 and later demolished in 1936 during the Soviet era. However, when Ukraine became an independent nation, the structure underwent a reconstruction. Videos circulating on social media revealed the cathedral's interior was filled with debris. According to Ukrainian officials, the patroness of the city's icon had been rescued from the ruins, CNN reported. The cathedral is located in Odesa's city centre, which UNESCO designated a World Heritage Site in response to the invasion threat from Russia.  The Russian missiles have damaged as many as twenty-five architectural monuments in Odesa, the Ukrainian port city, alleged a Ukrainian local official, reported CNN. Russia “deliberately aimed their missiles at the historic city centre of Odesa” which is protected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), said Oleh Kiper, the head of the region’s military administration. “Everything that was built with hard work by great architects is now being destroyed by cynical inhumans,” said Kiper. Odesa is a significant cultural hub with long ties to Russia. Earlier this week, Russia launched a barrage of drones and missiles overnight at the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, CNN reported. Russia had cited Ukraine's attack on the Crimea bridge for launching a strike on Odesa. —ANI

The Russian missile strikes that killed at least one and injured many have destroyed a famous Orthodox cathedral 

Russian Missile Strikes Damage Historic Orthodox Ukrainian Cathedral In Odesa

Washington: The US has condemned the Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian ports in Odesa, calling it “unacceptable” and also called Moscow to “immediately return” to the Black Sea Grain initiative. The State Department said that the Russian President “doesn’t care” about global food security and that this attack will further escalate the global food crisis. “The United States condemns Russia's continued attacks on Ukrainian grain infrastructure and calls for Russia to immediately return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Today we are learning that multiple Russian drone attacks damaged warehouses and granaries in a Ukrainian port on the Danube near the Romanian border. This is in addition to previous Russian attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure in Odesa, Reni and Izmail, US Deputy Press Secretary Vedant Patel said at the state briefing. He further said that the escalation demonstrates that Moscow continues to prevent grain and foodstuffs from reaching those who need it most throughout the world, which is “unacceptable”. “Putin simply does not care about global food security. Such actions by the Kremlin negatively affect Ukrainian farmers and all those around the world who are most vulnerable to food insecurity. Russia's attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure facilities have destroyed hundreds of thousands of Ukraine's grain,” Patel said. He added that the grain was bound for global markets, and this attack will further escalate the global food crisis. “This further escalates the global food crisis and keeps food prices high. These attacks are in addition to the loss of a quarter of the arable land in Ukraine, a vital global bread basket as a result of Russia's illegal war. The contrast here is quite sharp. Our Ukrainian partners are inspiring the world, while Russia starves it by weaponizing food,” Patel further said. Earlier on Wednesday, Russian forces launched a drone attack and damaged a port on the Danube River in Ukraine's southern Odesa region overnight, CNN reported on Wednesday citing a Ukrainian official. In the Telegram, head of the Odesa regional military administration Oleh Kiper said, "The main target is port and grain infrastructure in the south of the region" on the Danube. Earlier in July, Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain initiative, an agreement that had permitted Ukraine to export grain from its Black Sea ports a year ago, despite the war, to help alleviate a global food crisis. —ANI

The US has condemned the Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian ports in Odesa

'Unacceptable': US Condemns Russian Attack On Ukrainian Grain Infrastructure

Kyiv [Ukraine]: Ukraine's powerful business tycoon Ihor Kolomoisky has been arrested in a fraud and money laundering investigation on Saturday, CNN reported citing state media.  The State Department sanctioned Kolomoisky in March 2021 for his alleged involvement in “corrupt acts that undermined the rule of law and the Ukrainian public’s faith in their government’s democratic institutions and public processes.”
A Kyiv court ordered Kolomoisky to 60 days in pre-trial detention, meanwhile, the authorities are investigating fraud charges against him.  One of the most powerful oligarchs Kolomoisky's media and banking businesses have made him one of the richest men in Ukraine.  The US State Department has also accused him of using his "political influence and power for personal benefit," reported CNN.&nbsp;
Following that, the Shevchenkivskyi District Court ordered Kolomoisky to be held until October 31 and was provided the option of posting bail in excess of 500 million Ukrainian hryvnia (USD 14 million), CNN reported citing state media.  Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an address on Saturday thanked law enforcement following the arrest of Kolomoisky.  According to a Ukrainian online newspaper Kyiv Independent, "I thank the Ukrainian law enforcement for their determination to bring every case stalled for decades to a just conclusion," Zelensky said, adding that the law "must work." Additionally, Zelenskyy promised that there will be "no more decades-long 'business as usual' for those who plundered Ukraine and put themselves above the law and any rules," reported Kyiv Independent.  According to a state report, "If the businessman posts bail, he must fulfil a number of conditions – not leave the locality where he will be staying, appear for interrogations, and notify the relevant authorities of any change of residence, if any, CNN reported.  Moreover, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Ukraine’s Bureau of Economic Security have started an investigation on Kolomoisky for fraud and laundering of criminally obtained property, reported CNN.  However, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office is supervising the pre-trial investigation which will focus on Kolomoisky’s alleged role in the money laundering of over half a billion Ukrainian hryvnia (USD 130.5 million) by transferring funds abroad between 2013 and 2020 by allegedly using banks under his control.
—ANI

Ukraine's powerful business tycoon Ihor Kolomoisky has been arrested in a fraud and money laundering investigation on Saturday, CNN reported citing state media. 

Ukraine's business tycoon Ihor Kolomoisky arrested in fraud, money laundering case 

Washington: Russia is holding "sham elections" in the occupied region of Ukraine, US State Secretary Antony Blinken said adding that this action shows its blatant disregard for UN Charter principles.  In a statement released by the State Department, Blinken said, "The Russian Federation is in the process of conducting sham elections in occupied areas of Ukraine. These so-called elections are taking place nearly one year after the Kremlin staged sham referenda and purported to annex Ukraine’s Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts, and over nine years after Russia purported to annexe Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol."  "The Kremlin hopes these pre-determined, fabricated results will strengthen Russia’s illegitimate claims to the parts of Ukraine it occupies, but this is nothing more than a propaganda exercise," he added.  He further stated that such action by Russia shows its blatant disregard for UN Charter principles like respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity, which underpin global security and stability, as per the statement.  "The United States will never recognize the Russian Federation’s claims to any of Ukraine’s sovereign territory, and we remind any individuals who may support Russia’s sham elections in Ukraine, including by acting as so-called “international observers,” that they may be subject to sanctions and visa restrictions," Blinken said.  This statement came after the voting ends on Thursday and will run through the weekend in certain areas, according to US media, The Hill reported.  On August 31, Russia started holding regional elections in “occupied areas” of Ukraine, CNN reported citing Kyiv officials.  Ukraine has condemned the move and has urged citizens in “occupied areas” not to vote in upcoming elections planned by Russian-appointed officials, adding they should "leave the region" if possible.  "Russians have started holding 'elections' to pseudo-local councils and 'legislative bodies' in the temporarily occupied territories," CNN quoted Ukraine's National Resistance Center (NRC), an official agency, as saying.  The “Occupation authorities” were planning "early voting" in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions through September 8 at people's homes, the NRC added.  The voting will begin in Kherson and Luhansk on September 2, CNN reported.“We urge Ukrainians not to open their doors to the occupiers and, if possible, to leave the region or their homes for the period of 'early voting’”, NRC stated.  Voting will then take place at polling stations between September 8 and 10."The Russians need this long scheme to hide the turnout and the lack of interest of the locals in the 'expression of will,'" the Ukrainian agency further added. —ANI

Russia is holding "sham elections" in the occupied region of Ukraine, US State Secretary Antony Blinken said adding that this action shows its blatant 

Russia Conducting ‘Sham Elections’ In Occupied Areas Of Ukraine: Blinken

New York: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday (local time) accused the West of selectively turning to principles of the UN Charter on a case-by-case basis based on their "parochial geopolitical needs." Addressing the United Nations Security Council on Ukraine, Lavrov said Russia continues to insist on all provisions of the United Nations Charter being respected and applied fully and not selectively.  The Russian Foreign Minister said, "Thanks to the United Nations, a new world war was averted. A new world war that was fraught with nuclear disaster. Unfortunately, after the end of the Cold War, the collective West, led by the US single-handedly decided that it would determine the fates of all of humankind and with its complex of superiority began to more frequently and broadly ignore the legacy of the founding fathers of the United Nations. Today, the West turns selectively to norms and principles on a case-by-case basis, exclusively based on their parochial geopolitical needs. This has resulted in the shaking of global stability as well as the exacerbation and the fermenting of new hotbeds of tension. Risks of global conflict have heightened."  "In order to curb them, in order to bring things on a peaceful path, the Russian Federation has and continues to insist on all provisions of the United Nations Charter being respected and applied not selectively but fully in their full and interconnected way. This includes the principle of the sovereign equality of states, non-intervention in their domestic affairs, respect for territorial sovereignty, integrity and the right of peoples to self-determination and the actions of the US and their allies attest to the systematic violation of the balance of needs which have been enshrined in the Charter," he added.  Accusing the US of interfering with the domestic affairs of Ukraine since the collapse of the erstwhile USSR, he stressed that the meeting, being held uinder the Albanian Presidency, allows them to restore the chronological succession of events, particularly in the context of relations of the main acting parties and the purposes of the UN Charter.  "Since the collapse of the USSR and establishment of independent states in its place, the US and its ... have egregiously and openly interfered in the domestic affairs of Ukraine as was publicly and even with pride recognized by the Deputy Secretary of State, Victoria Newland in 2013, the USD 5 billion were spent on cultivating Ukrainian politicians in Kyiv by the west," Lavrov said.  "All of the facts are being swept under the rug. There are attempts to cancel all of what happened prior to 2014, and for this reason, the theme of today's meeting proposed by the Albanian presidency is most apt, which allows us to restore the chronological succession of events, specifically in the context of relations of the main acting parties, in the implementation of the principles and the purposes of the UN charter," he added.  He also accused the US of electing people who became key participants in the coup. He said "putschists" after the coup announced that their top priority was to deny the rights of Russian language speakers in Ukraine and Crimea. He said a "litany of Western leaders" directly encouraged participants in "anti-government demonstrations and acts of violence". "In February 2014, the US elected individuals who became key participants in the brutal coup which was organized. I would recall one day after what was reached under the guarantees of Germany, Poland and France. I referred to the agreement between the legitimately elected president of Ukraine and the opposition leaders. The principle of non-intervention in domestic affairs was repeatedly trampled upon," the Russian Foreign Minister added. "Immediately after the coup, the putschists announced that their top priority was to deny the rights of Russian language speakers in Ukraine and the residents of Crimean, southeast of the country who refused to reconcile themselves to the outcomes of the coup were labelled terrorists. A punitive operation was unleashed against them. In response to this, Crimea and Donbas conducted a referendum fully in line with the principles of equality and self-determination of peoples which are enshrined in paragraph 2 of article 1 of the UN charter. Western diplomats and politicians vis-a-vis Ukraine have been turning a blind eye to this important norm of international law. They have been trying to take all the background and the essence of what has happened and trying to distill this to the inadmissibility of violation of territorial integrity," he added.  Also accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former President Petro Poroshenko of adopting racist law and terming it a blatant violation of the UN charter, he said the Kyiv regime's actions directly counter the constitution of Ukraine.  "To the fact that the Ukrainian neo-Nazis who seized power in Kyiv did not represent the population of Crimea and Donbas is something that does not need to be proven. And the unconditional support from Western capitals of the actions, criminal actions, of the Kyiv regime is nothing other than a violation of the principle of self-determination subsequent to an egregious violation interference in domestic affairs," Lavrov said.  "Poroshenko and Zelenskyy adopted racist laws on the prohibition of everything Russian - education, media, culture, the destruction of books and monuments, a prohibition on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church seizure of its property. These all became blatant violations of paragraph 3, Article 1 of the UN Charter on the Respect for Human Rights and Basic Freedoms for all, without distinctions on the basis of race, gender, language and religion. Not to mention the fact that these actions directly rank counter to the constitution of Ukraine itself, the constitution which sets out the obligation of the state to respect the rights of Russian and other national minorities," he added. —ANI

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday (local time) accused the West of selectively turning to principles of the UN Charter

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