October 17, 2020 Russia-Ukraine news - CNN

SpaceX laminitis Elon Musk said Monday that the backing petition the institution had made to the Pentagon to commencement picking up the measure for outer net services for Ukraine has been withdrawn.

Musk’s announcement connected Twitter followed an exclusive CNN report that SpaceX made a petition to the Pentagon successful September saying they were nary longer capable to donate the captious Starlink terminals oregon enactment the costly accompanying work “for an indefinite play of time.” SpaceX asked the Pentagon to commencement paying for the work for the existent terminals operated by the Ukrainian authorities arsenic good arsenic money astir 8,000 caller terminals and work for Ukraine’s subject and quality services.

After the CNN study revealed the petition and showed successful greater item that SpaceX is not solely liable for Starlink entree successful Ukraine (in information galore planetary efforts funded overmuch of it), Musk tweeted connected Saturday: “To hellhole with it…even though Starlink is inactive losing wealth & different companies are getting billions of payer $, we’ll conscionable support backing the Ukraine govt for free.”

Musk’s tweet connected Monday went a spot farther, saying the measurement had been taken to rescind the petition to the Defense Department.

CNN has asked the Pentagon if SpaceX has withdrawn its petition for funding.

Two sources briefed connected the discussions betwixt SpaceX and the Pentagon told CNN that arsenic of Friday, earlier Musk’s evident about-face, the Pentagon had successful information agreed to the petition from SpaceX to wage for ongoing work for Ukraine’s authorities and the caller petition from Ukraine’s commanding general.

To work more, click here.

Brittney Griner’s household and supporters are launching a #WeAreBG messaging campaign for the WNBA star’s 32nd birthday connected Tuesday, which she volition beryllium spending successful a Russian prison.

“I’ve felt each infinitesimal of the grueling 7 months without her,” Cherelle Griner, Brittney’s wife, says successful a video. “I privation to convey President Biden for the Administration’s efforts to unafraid her release.”

The friends and household of Griner privation to erstwhile again bring attraction backmost to Griner’s wrongful detention. The US Embassy successful Russia has not had consular entree to Griner since early August, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said past week.

Griner has a proceeding adjacent week for the entreaty of her situation sentence.

Some background: Earlier this month, Cherelle Griner said on CBS This Morning that she thinks it’s going to instrumentality Russian President Vladimir Putin to “have mercy” connected her woman to get her home. 

“I consciousness similar astatine this constituent it’s going to instrumentality Putin to person that aforesaid mindset and accidental ‘You cognize what, Brittney Griner Z– who came to my state for seven, 8 years, and helped my state beryllium recognized done sport, paid taxes successful my country, helped my state – I’m going to beryllium astatine a table, and I’m going to beryllium wide astir what I request successful instrumentality for her release,’ truthful that we tin really get a gathering of the minds betwixt these 2 governments,” she said. 

The WNBA prima was sentenced successful August to nine years successful a Russian jail for drug-smuggling. She turns 32 connected Tuesday.

Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, left, meets with Tatyana Moskalkova, Russian Human Rights Commissioner, during an exchange of much than 200 prisoners of war.

Tatyana Moskalkova, Russian Human Rights Commissioner

In a first, Ukrainian and Russian quality rights officials met Monday during a captive speech betwixt the 2 sides. 

Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, met with Tatyana Moskalkova, Russian Human Rights Commissioner, during the swap of much than 200 prisoners of war.

Moskalkova posted video of the gathering connected Telegram. It is unclear wherever precisely the speech took place. 

In the video, Lubinets and Moskalkova attack each different connected a deserted highway, shingle hands, and person a little exchange.

“Today is the time that our civilian sailors volition beryllium coming home,” Moskalkova told Lubinets. “It’s besides important that we guarantee that harmless corridors beryllium for our enactment with the evacuated. We person a Iot of questions, but the astir important is returning each their documents to them. So that’s what I americium coming to you contiguous for, and I’m present to assistance successful the lawsuit that an evacuee oregon exile needs a circumstantial papers oregon confirmation of their identity.”

“It’s an important humanitarian facet successful presumption of societal rights,” she said.

Lubinets replied that “we are exchanging lists, and I petition that you volition enactment done it and beryllium successful interaction connected what’s possible.”

“Most importantly, we person activated the process of exchanging civilians of our countries. I’m definite that you privation this arsenic overmuch arsenic we do.”

Moskalkova said that “certainly everyone is funny successful this way forward.”

In a summation of the gathering posted connected Telegram, Moskalkova said that she “met for the archetypal clip with Commissioner for Human Rights of Ukraine Dmitry Valeryevich Lubinets. We had a constructive dialog and agreed to proceed moving to guarantee the due attraction of prisoners, support moving for aboriginal exchanges, to support the rights of civilians, and larn the destiny of missing persons.”

Lubinets, on his Telegram account, said that “the request for negotiations is the humanitarian sphere.”

“In particular, we talked astir the request to intensify the repatriation of prisoners of warfare and the merchandise of civilian hostages,” helium said.

He said that the 2 discussed, among different things, the request to “develop ways to sojourn prisoners of war, inspect places of their detention, some connected the territory controlled by the Russian Federation and successful Ukraine” and “thorough searches for missing persons.”

They besides discussed Ukraine’s tendency to sojourn prisoners of warfare held successful Olenivka, which is successful an occupied information of the Donetsk region.

“At the extremity of the meeting, it was agreed to nonstop authoritative letters for the implementation of the discussed tasks involving the extortion of quality rights,” Lubinets said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky connected Monday hailed an speech of much than 200 prisoners by Russia and Ukraine.

Among those released by Russian and pro-Russian forces, helium said, were radical who had been detained since earlier Russia’s full-scale penetration successful February.

“We bash not hide astir immoderate of our people,” helium said. “We indispensable instrumentality them all. And we will.”

“I convey each those progressive for this success, and I besides convey each those who replenish our speech fund, who guarantee the seizure of the enemy,” helium added.

A Russian drone onslaught connected the Ukrainian superior Monday greeting killed a pistillate who was 6 months large and her husband, according to Kyiv’s mayor.

In reaction, President Volodymyr Zelensky said:

“The satellite tin and indispensable halt this terror,” Zelensky said. “When we speech astir Ukraine’s request for aerial and rocket defense, we are talking astir existent lives that are taken by terrorists.”

He said that though Ukraine has been palmy successful shooting down Iranian-made Shahed drones, it was not enough.

“In bid to warrant the extortion of our skies and trim to zero the capabilities of Russian terrorists, we request overmuch much modern aerial defence systems and much missiles for specified systems,” helium added.

White House property caput Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during the regular quality briefing astatine the White House successful Washington, DC, connected Monday.

Alex Wong/Getty Images

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned Russia’s latest attacks connected Kyiv, Ukraine. While she would not accidental whether the Biden medication believes the warfare is entering a caller phase, she did picture the past fewer weeks arsenic an “escalation.” 

“I’m not going to spell into immoderate investigation connected wherever we are successful this war, we person been precise wide astir however we — however we’ve been seeing Russia’s escalation implicit the past respective weeks,” Jean-Pierre told CNN’s MJ Lee.

She besides again noted that the medication is successful regular interaction with the Ukrainians and she pointed to the latest information bundle the US has announced for Ukraine, adding: “The astir caller escalation, the United States powerfully condemns Russia’s rocket strikes contiguous which proceed to show Putin’s brutality.” 

Members of a forensic squad during an exhumation astatine a wide sedate successful Lyman, Ukraine, connected Tuesday.

Andriy Andriyenko/SOPA Images/Sipa/AP

Police successful the eastbound Ukrainian portion of Donetsk says that they proceed to exhume up to 10 to 15 bodies per time successful antecedently Russian-occupied areas of the region.

“By now, 43 wide graves are known successful Donetsk oblast,” Oleksandra Havrylko, property serviceman for the Donetsk Oblast Police, said during a media briefing. “For example, 2 wide graves — with some civilians and subject — were recovered successful Lyman. Moreover, the Oblast Police receives accusation astir spontaneous burials successful quality yards, wherever each sedate whitethorn incorporate up to 10 people.” 

Many radical are believed to person died of injuries from explosives, Havrylko said, but the constabulary besides person accusation astir citizens “who were killed done violence.”

Exhumations successful Lyman person truthful acold revealed 35 members of the subject and 152 civilians, Havrylko said. He said that 40 hard-to-reach graves person yet to beryllium exhumed.

The Kyiv region’s aerial defence is actively responding to a Russian drone attack, the politician of Boryspil connected the outskirts of Kyiv metropolis said Monday evening.

“Air defence strategy is moving supra our metropolis truthful I powerfully urge everyone to enactment successful shelters,” Volodymyr Borysenko said connected Facebook. “Situation is nether control. Our Armed Forces are doing their occupation well. But the menace remains.”

“The agleam portion of airy is our subject trying to spot the force drones, truthful don’t panic. Stay successful shelters,” the politician added.

Moscow’s strikes connected Kyiv: At slightest four radical were killed aft Russia attacked the superior of Kyiv with Iranian-made “kamikaze” drones connected Monday, according to Ukrainian officials, who person repeated their calls for Western allies to proviso Ukraine with much precocious aerial defence systems. 

Ukraine’s interior curate said Kyiv’s information forces were capable to sprout down 36 of 42 onslaught drones that Russia launched connected Monday.

“It shows that this onslaught has not reached its goal. I deliberation that the extremity was to outdo the past Monday missiles attack. But this did not hap today,” Denys Monastyrskyi told Ukrainian television.

Of those 42 drones, astir 30 targeted Kyiv, helium said, adding that the others targeted the Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

The Ukrainian authorities and Russian-backed authorities successful eastbound Ukraine’s Donetsk portion each freed much 100 prisoners connected Monday successful a swap.

The Russian-backed broadside released 108 Ukrainian women, some subject and civilian, according to Ukraine’s Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Among the released Ukrainians are members of the Armed Forces, servicewomen successful the Navy, National Guard and Border Guard. The Russian-backed authorities besides released 12 Ukrainian civilians. 

“It was a precise nerve-wracking exchange,” Andrii Yermak, caput of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said connected Telegram.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian authorities released 110 people, among them 80 civilian sailors and 30 servicemen who service connected behalf of Russia, according to Denis Pushilin, the Russian-backed person successful Ukraine’s Donetsk region, which Russia present claims to beryllium portion of its country.

Fire caused by a Russian pitchy that crashed into a residential gathering successful the metropolis of Yeysk, Russia, connected Monday.

Telegram/BAZA

A Russian Su-34 supersonic fighter-bomber pitchy crashed into a residential gathering successful the metropolis of Yeysk connected Monday, the Russian authorities media TASS reported.

The clang was owed to ignition of 1 of the engines, Russian authorities media RIA Novosti reported citing the country’s defence ministry.

It is not wide however galore radical were successful the combatant jet. 

“On October 17, 2022, a Su-34 craft crashed portion climbing to execute a grooming formation from the subject airfield of the Southern Military District,” the ministry said successful a connection to RIA. “According to the study of the ejected pilots, the origin of the level clang was the ignition of 1 of the engines during take-off. At the tract of the clang of the Su-34 successful the courtyard of 1 of the residential quarters, the plane’s substance ignited.”

The country of the occurrence that started aft the clang is 2,000 quadrate meters, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations told RIA.

The accusation astir casualties successful the country is being established, according to the ministry.

Veniamin Kondratyev, the politician of Krasnodar Krai region, is connected his mode to the city, helium said successful a connection connected his Telegram channel.

“Emergency services are already moving connected the spot — each determination occurrence and rescue garrisons are engaged successful extinguishing the fire,” helium added.

The authorities media reported that different nonmigratory of the metropolis specified that this residential gathering has 9 floors. The full location is connected fire, according to the eyewitnesses, arsenic quoted by TASS.

Yeysk is located crossed the h2o from the Russian-occupied city of Mariupol.

An advisor successful Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s bureau has called for Russia to beryllium expelled from the G20 forum of starring nations.

“Those who springiness orders to onslaught captious infrastructure to frost civilians and signifier full mobilization to screen the frontline with corpses, cannot beryllium astatine the aforesaid array with leaders of G20 for sure,” Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the caput of the President’s office, said connected Twitter.

Some much context: Russia was expelled from the G8 successful 2014 implicit its annexation of Crimea. The G20 is acceptable to conscionable successful Bali, Indonesia, adjacent month. The Kremlin has not yet confirmed whether President Vladimir Putin volition attend, but said that Russia volition participate.

See Podolyak’s tweet:

Relatives accidental goodbye to Russian citizens drafted during the partial mobilization arsenic they depart to their subject units successful Moscow, Russia, connected September 29.

(Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Moscow politician Sergei Sobyanin announced connected Monday the extremity of partial mobilization successful the metropolis and the closing of the subject draught offices astatine 2 p.m. section clip connected Monday, according to the connection published online.

“According to the accusation of the subject commissar of Moscow, the tasks for partial mobilization, established connected the ground of the Decree of the President and the duty of the Ministry of Defense, person been completed successful full,” Sobyanin said successful a statement. 

“Military draught offices volition adjacent connected October 17, 2022, astatine 14:00. Summons sent successful the process of mobilization to the spot of residence and enterprises cease to beryllium valid,” the connection said.

More connected Russia’s mobilization order: Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the immediate “partial mobilization” of Russian citizens connected Wednesday, a determination that threatened to escalate his faltering penetration of Ukraine pursuing a string of defeats that caused recriminations successful Moscow.

Putin said successful a code that helium would usage “all the means astatine our disposal,” and adjacent raised the specter of atomic weapons, if helium deemed the “territorial integrity” of Russia to beryllium jeopardized.

Kyiv’s information forces were capable to sprout down 36 of 42 onslaught drones that Russia launched connected Monday, Ukraine’s interior curate said connected Monday.

“It shows that this onslaught has not reached its goal. I deliberation that the extremity was to outdo the past Monday missiles attack. But this did not hap today,” Denys Monastyrskyi told Ukrainian television.

Of those 42 drones, astir 30 targeted Kyiv, helium said, adding that the others targeted the Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

At slightest 1 drone successful Kyiv was brought down by tiny arms occurrence from constabulary officers, helium added.

However, helium warned that the accidental of shooting down a drone with tiny arms occurrence is rather debased with a precocious risk.

“I would similar code those citizens who person firearms successful their possession: shooting from a firearm oregon a weapon from the high-rise gathering mightiness origin much harm than a accidental to changeable down a drone,” helium said.

A constabulary adept holds a fragment of a drone with a handwritten inscription speechmaking "For Belgorod. For Luch" aft a drone onslaught successful Kyiv connected October 17. Image has been blurred by CNN due to the fact that the identifier could assistance Russian targeting.

(Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images)

A drone utilized by Russia to onslaught the Ukrainian superior Kyiv connected Monday had the operation “for Belgorod” written connected 1 of its vertical stabilizers.

The operation appears to beryllium a notation to explosions successful caller weeks successful Russia’s Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine adjacent the metropolis of Kharkiv. Ukraine has not commented connected those incidents.

The drone is the Iranian-manufactured Shahid-136, which is rebranded nether the Russian sanction “Geran 2.”

The stabilizer was photographed this greeting by an AFP photographer. It besides appeared in a video posted connected Telegram by Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to Ukraine’s curate of interior affairs.

The drone besides included the operation “for Luch” that appears to beryllium a notation to a reported powerfulness works occurrence past week successful the Belgorod region.

Russian and Belarusian troops person “begun to deploy and transportation retired tasks for the equipped defense” of Belarus, according to Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin, Belarusian state media BELTA reported connected Monday.

“Today, based connected the existent situation, we are acting successful stages, implementing idiosyncratic measures aimed astatine proactive readiness of the determination grouping to respond to emerging challenges and threats,” Khrenin said astatine a gathering with the unit of 1 of Belarus factories, arsenic quoted by BELTA.

“The determination grouping of troops and forces itself is simply a analyzable organism of galore components. It includes bid and power bodies astatine assorted levels, and troops, and forces, arsenic good arsenic assorted enactment systems, some Belarusian and Russian,” helium added.

According to Alexander Volfovich, authorities caput of the Security Council of Belarus, the determination grouping of troops connected the territory of the republic is deployed successful an incomplete composition.

“In the future, beingness volition amusement whether to deploy it connected a afloat standard oregon not,” said Volfovich, arsenic quoted by BELTA.

On Monday, Valery Revenko, caput of the planetary subject practice section of Belarus Defense Ministry, said successful a tweet that Russia plans to nonstop astir 170 tanks, up to 200 armored combat vehicles and up to 100 guns and mortars with a caliber of much than 100 mm to Belarus arsenic portion of the deployed Belarusian-Russian radical of troops.

“Belarus to person 9,000 personnel, astir 170 tanks, up to 200 AFVs and up to 100 guns and mortars with a caliber of much than 100 mm,” Revenko said connected Twitter.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko announced connected Oct. 10 that Belarus agreed to deploy a associated determination grouping citing “the aggravation of the concern connected the occidental borders of the Union State.”

Germany announced it volition extremity its program that offered Ukrainian refugees the quality to speech Ukrainian hryvnia banknotes to euros without speech rates.

The programme volition extremity by Oct. 30, a associated connection from the German concern ministry and cardinal slope said connected Monday. 

The provision was initially introduced to assistance Ukrainian refugees who fled the state aft Russia’s invasion, but that the request has “dwindled,” the connection said, adding that fewer transactions person precocious taken place. 

The connection added that the past time to speech betwixt currencies is Oct. 28, owed to banks being closed implicit the weekend. 

Kyiv politician Vitali Klitschko speaks to the property adjacent to a destroyed gathering aft a drone onslaught successful Kyiv, Ukraine, connected October 17.

(Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images)

The fig of radical killed aft Russian strikes successful the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, has present reached four, the city’s politician said Monday.

“We’ve got already 4 radical dormant nether the ruins of the gathering successful the Shevchenkivsky territory which was deed by the Russian violent drone,” Vitali Klitschko said connected Telegram. “The rescuers recovered different assemblage of a antheral there. The rescue cognition is ongoing. There could beryllium immoderate different radical nether the rubble.”

Three radical person been taken to the hospital, helium said, 2 of whom are exigency responders.

CNN’s Olly Racz contributed to this report.

Russian-Belarusian exercises, dubbed Allied Resolve 2022, successful Belarus connected February 19.

(Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua/Getty Images)

The announcement last week that Belarus and Russia would signifier a associated determination unit and transportation retired exercises acceptable disconnected alarm bells successful Kyiv.

The past clip Belarusian and Russian forces held associated exercises, in February, galore of those Russian forces went connected to transverse the Ukrainian borderline successful their ill-fated thrust toward the capital.

It’s not that Belarus has a mighty service – it doesn’t. But the imaginable of Ukraine’s agelong bluish borderline becoming a passageway for Russian forces for the 2nd clip this twelvemonth would beryllium a nightmare for Ukraine’s already stretched forces. Ukraine and Belarus stock a 1,000-kilometer frontier, overmuch of it sparsely populated and thickly forested.

At the moment, the Ukrainian army is conducting offensives successful the eastbound and southbound portion holding disconnected Russian forces successful parts of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia. After 7 months of war, the Ukrainian subject has suffered attrition conscionable similar its enemy: moving forces to support its bluish flank would agelong forces already warring connected aggregate fronts.

Predictably enough, Belarus says the associated unit is purely defensive. The country’s Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said that “all activities carried retired astatine the infinitesimal are aimed astatine providing a capable effect to activities adjacent our borders.”

Those activities, according to Belarus, are aimed astatine deterring Ukrainian preparations to onslaught the country. Lukashenko said past week that his authorities had been “warned astir strikes against Belarus from the territory of Ukraine.”

Ukraine has vehemently denied the claims. The Foreign Ministry said it “categorically rejects these latest insinuations by the Belarusian regime. We cannot regularisation retired that this diplomatic enactment whitethorn beryllium portion of a provocation connected the portion of the Russian Federation.”

Read the full investigation here.

A fragment of a kamikaze drone aft the Russian attacks successful Kyiv, Ukraine, connected October 17.

(Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Ukraine has repeatedly asked its allies to proviso it with much aerial defence systems and ammunition aft Russia stepped up its usage of “kamikaze drones” successful its brutal battle against the country.

Kyiv says Moscow has utilized Iranian-supplied kamikaze drones successful strikes against Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia and different cities crossed Ukraine successful caller weeks, and pleaded with Western countries to measurement up their assistance successful the look of the caller challenge.

Drones person played a important relation successful the struggle since Russia launched its full-scale penetration of Ukraine successful precocious February, but their usage has accrued since Moscow acquired the caller drones from Iran implicit the summer.

What are kamikaze drones? Kamikaze drones, oregon termination drones, are a benignant of aerial limb system. They are known arsenic a loitering munition due to the fact that they are susceptible of circling for immoderate clip successful an country identified arsenic a imaginable people and lone striking erstwhile an force plus is identified.

They are small, portable and tin beryllium easy launched, but their main vantage is that they are hard to observe and tin beryllium fired from a distance.

Why are they called “Kamikaze”? The sanction “kamikaze” refers to the information that the drones are disposable. Unlike much traditional, larger and faster subject drones that instrumentality to basal aft dropping missiles, Kamikaze drones are designed to clang into a people and explode, detonating their warhead and destroying the drones successful process.

Which drones is Russia utilizing successful Ukraine? The Ukrainian subject and US intelligence accidental Russia is utilizing Iranian-made onslaught drones. US officials told CNN successful July that Iran had begun showcasing Shahed bid drones to Russia astatine Kashan Airfield southbound of Tehran the erstwhile month. The drones are susceptible of carrying precision-guided missiles and person a payload of astir 50 kilograms (110 pounds).

In August, US officials said Russia had bought these drones and was grooming its forces however to usage them. According to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia has ordered 2,400 Shahed-136 drones from Iran.

Iran has denied supplying weapons to Russia: But grounds points to the contrary. Ukraine claimed its forces had changeable down 1 of these drones for the archetypal clip past period adjacent the metropolis of Kupyansk successful Kharkiv. There person been much reported attacks since then. Kyiv’s subject said Wednesday it had downed 17 Shahed-136 drones that time alone. According to photos released by Ukrainian authorities, Russia has rebranded the Shaheds and is utilizing them nether the sanction of “Geran.”

US officials accidental determination has been “some grounds already” that the Iranian drones “have already experienced galore failures” connected the battlefield.

Read much here.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba during the property league up of Security Council gathering connected concern successful Ukraine astatine UN Headquarters, successful New York, connected September 22.

(Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket/Getty Images)

Ukraine’s overseas curate said “the patience broke,” arsenic helium explained wherefore helium called for sanctions against Iran connected Monday astatine an EU gathering aft dozens of Iranian-made drones struck crossed the state and the superior metropolis of Kyiv, sidesplitting astatine slightest 3 people. 

“Today, for the archetypal clip successful the past of Ukrainian-Iranian relations, I called for sanctions against Iran,” Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba said successful the video connection connected his Facebook page.

“The patience broke. We listened to assorted explanations and arguments for a precise agelong time, but it’s intolerable to fell the truth. And this information contiguous flew into the houses of the metropolis of Kyiv. Therefore, the clip has travel to use sanctions against Iran for the proviso of weapons to the Russian Federation,” Kuleba said. 

The overseas curate said sanctions against Iran would nonstop a connection that anyone helping Russia volition “suffer and consciousness the terms of it.”

Earlier Monday, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said that the EU “will look for factual evidence” connected Iran’s engagement successful the warfare successful Ukraine, up of today’s scheduled gathering of EU overseas ministers successful Luxembourg. 

Firefighters enactment connected a gathering successful Kyiv, Ukraine, connected October 17, aft a Russian drone attack.

(Roman Hrytsyna/AP)

As Ukraine’s superior metropolis of Kyiv has travel nether onslaught by alleged “kamikaze” drones, according to a apical Ukrainian official, the Biden medication volition origin successful Russia’s usage of these deadly drones successful its aboriginal decision-making and readying arsenic it pertains to helping Ukraine, according to a elder medication official. 

That decision-making notably includes ongoing deliberations astir providing Ukraine with aerial defence systems, which is Kyiv’s apical request astatine this constituent successful the warfare arsenic Ukrainian officials person repeatedly said.

In caller days, US President Joe Biden and apical US officials person made wide that the US plans to proceed providing Ukraine with assorted aerial defence systems – including the expedited transportation of 2 NASAMS systems. 

While the US is definite that Russians are successful information utilizing these “kamikaze” drones and that they are lethal, the elder medication authoritative besides told CNN Monday, for now, the medication volition fto the Ukrainians picture and qualify however overmuch harm attacks from those drones person caused connected the ground. 

As Moscow escalates its battle connected Ukraine, exigency services are moving to rescue radical from fatal “kamikaze” drone attacks launched by Russia aboriginal Monday.

Here are the latest developments:

• Drone strikes stone Kyiv: A large pistillate is among three people killed successful a spate of “kamikaze” drone attacks targeting the Ukrainian superior city, according to section authorities. Kyiv and US quality accidental Moscow utilized weapons supplied by Iran, a assertion Tehran vehemently denies.
• EU to analyse Iran’s ties with Moscow: The European Union “will look for factual evidence” connected Iran’s engagement successful Russia’s subject battle connected Ukraine, the bloc’s overseas argumentation chief, Josep Borrell, said Monday.
• Moscow targets Ukrainian vigor infrastructure: Russia’s defence ministry said Monday that its forces launched monolithic high-precision strikes connected subject targets and vigor infrastructure facilities crossed Ukraine, with the Ukrainian premier curate urging residents to minimize their energy consumption.
• Ukraine-Saudi relations astatine captious juncture: Relations betwixt Ukraine and Saudi Arabia are “strengthening,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday. His comments came aft Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged $400 cardinal successful humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

At slightest 3 radical were killed, 9 injured and others stay trapped successful the rubble aft rocket attacks connected captious infrastructure successful Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, according to the determination caput of the subject administration.

“At 5:20 successful the morning, 3 Russian rockets deed the civilian infrastructure facility. At slightest 3 radical died. Nine are wounded. There are inactive radical nether the rubble,” Dmytro Zhyvytskyi, the caput of the Sumy portion subject administration, said connected Telegram.

Electricity was besides impacted and 1,625 subscribers were disconnected from the energy proviso successful the Sumy region, Zhyvytskyi said.

He urged radical to minimize energy usage during highest hours. 

The United Russia Party Leader Dmitry Medvedev speaks during the Congress of The United Russia Party, connected December 4, successful Moscow, Russia.

(Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)

Dmitry Medvedev, the lawman caput of Russia’s Security Council and erstwhile Russian president, has warned Israel against supplying subject weapons to Ukraine. 

“Israel seems to beryllium readying to proviso weapons to the Kyiv regime. A precise reckless move. It volition destruct each interstate relations betwixt our countries,” Medvedev said successful a Telegram post, without providing much details.

CNN reached retired to the Israeli premier minister’s bureau for a effect but they had nary remark to Medvedev’s claims.

Some background: Nachman Shai, Israel’s curate of diaspora affairs — whose docket does not see subject argumentation – tweeted Sunday, successful enactment of sending subject assistance to Ukraine.

“This greeting it was reported that Iran is transferring ballistic missiles to Russia. There is nary longer immoderate uncertainty wherever Israel should basal successful this bloody conflict. The clip has travel for Ukraine to person subject assistance arsenic well, conscionable arsenic the USA and NATO countries provide,” helium said.

Remember: Although Israel has officially condemned the penetration and regularly sends assistance to Ukraine, it has not yet sent immoderate weapons to Kyiv, and has been criticized for not being much forceful successful its disapproval of Russia.

Marina Ovsyannikova speaks to journalists arsenic she arrives for a proceeding successful a tribunal successful Moscow, Russia, connected July 28.

(Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

Marina Ovsyannikova, the Russian writer who held up an anti-war poster connected Russian authorities TV earlier this year, has fled Russia and is present nether extortion of a European country, Russian authorities media RIA Novosti reported Monday citing a remark from her lawyer Dmitry Zakhvatov.

“Marina Ovsyannikova was forced to permission Russia,” said Zakhvatov, adding that the writer is present “under the extortion of 1 of the European countries.”

Ovsyannikova was charged according to the Russian transgression codification with disseminating mendacious accusation astir the Russian subject aft participating successful a protestation successful July, which could pb to punishment of up to 10 years successful prison.

In aboriginal October, she was placed connected the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs’ “wanted list.”

A six-month large pistillate was 1 of the radical killed successful a drone onslaught connected a residential gathering successful Kyiv, according to the city’s mayor. 

“The bodies of 3 dormant civilians were pulled retired during hunt and rescue operations successful a residential gathering successful the metropolis center, deed by a Russian drone. Among them is simply a young couple, a hubby and wife, who were expecting a child. The pistillate was 6 months pregnant,” Vitalii Klitschko said successful a connection connected Telegram.

Moscow launched drone attacks connected residential buildings aboriginal Monday successful Kyiv. Ukraine and US intelligence claimed that Russia utilized Iranian-supplied “kamikaze” drones to deed aggregate regions successful Ukraine, which Tehran has repeatedly denied.

A Ukrainian pistillate is seen with her kid aft the Russian attacks successful Kyiv, Ukraine connected Monday.

(Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Civilians were “running” and “screaming” amid deadly drone attacks launched by Russia crossed Kyiv aboriginal Monday, according to an eyewitness astatine the scene.

Vitalii, a antheral successful his 20s, told CNN helium was astatine a bid presumption erstwhile the deadly strikes deed the Ukrainian superior city. He declined to springiness CNN his past sanction owed to information concerns.

Vitalii said helium saw “Shahed” drones flying overhead — the sanction fixed to Iranian-made “kamikaze” drones that Kyiv and US quality assertion Moscow is utilizing successful their subject battle connected Ukraine.

“We were astatine the railway presumption (during the attack), we conscionable arrived. We conscionable got disconnected the bid and saw this Shahed flying implicit us. We saw a flash and an explosion,” helium said.

“We went to the basement, and erstwhile we got out, we saw a 2nd deed implicit there, wherever determination is fume now. We had been staying successful the basement for astir 2 hours, and past determination was different explosion. When it was quiet, we took a taxi and left.

“People archetypal started coming retired of the basement. After, erstwhile determination was different explosion, everyone went backmost to the basement. People were running, screaming. There was panic. People were frightened due to the fact that they didn’t recognize what was going on.”

He added: “We person seen the mentation successful net astir however it (‘Shahed’) works, it buzzes. We person heard, seen it. It flew conscionable supra america — a triangular one. And it exploded.”

Anna works successful a section java store adjacent to wherever the onslaught took place. She declined to springiness CNN her past sanction owed to information concerns.

“I learned astir the onslaught from the news. At archetypal I decided not to spell work, truthful I arrived lone astir 10:30 a.m. (local time),” she told CNN.

“It was scary, but not arsenic scary arsenic astatine the opening of the war. That is, we are someway utilized to it.

“I had a feeling this greeting that thing was going to happen, due to the fact that I was present past Monday, I saw what happened. Thank God, I wasn’t present astatine the infinitesimal erstwhile everything happened.

“Last week we did not enactment due to the fact that of this concern due to the fact that we were acrophobic of caller attacks. Today I truly commencement thinking, whether it is safe,” she added,

“I’m scared, but it’s hard to judge that it (drone oregon rocket) could alert here.”

A pistillate is rescued arsenic Ukraine's superior is rocked by explosions during a drone onslaught successful the aboriginal greeting connected Monday successful Kyiv, Ukraine.

(Photo by Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)

Smoke rises arsenic Ukraine's superior is rocked by explosions during a drone onslaught successful the aboriginal greeting connected Monday, October 17, 2022 successful Kyiv, Ukraine.

(Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Russia’s defence ministry said connected Monday that its forces launched monolithic high-precision strikes connected subject targets and vigor infrastructure facilities crossed Ukraine.

“During the day, the Russian equipped forces continued to onslaught with high-precision long-range aerial and sea-based weapons astatine subject bid and power facilities and the vigor strategy targets of Ukraine. All designated objects were hit,” the ministry said successful a statement.

Drone attacks launched by Moscow connected residential buildings aboriginal Monday have killed astatine slightest 3 radical successful Kyiv, a elder Ukrainian authoritative has said, with hunt and rescue operations still underway.

Kyiv and US quality claimed that Russia utilized Iranian-supplied “kamikaze” drones to deed aggregate regions successful Ukraine, which Tehran has repeatedly denied.

European Commission vice-president Josep Borrell speaks to journalists arsenic helium arrives astatine the European Council successful Brussels, Belgium, connected October 3.

(Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images)

The European Union “will look for factual evidence” connected Iran’s engagement successful Russia’s subject battle connected Ukraine, according to the bloc’s overseas argumentation chief.

Russia is “more and much isolated” and is “losing this war,” Josep Borrell said arsenic helium arrived successful Luxembourg for a gathering with EU overseas ministers connected Monday.

When asked astir Iran’s engagement successful the warfare successful Ukraine, Borrell said: “This is thing that volition beryllium discussed … and we volition look for factual grounds astir the information (of Iran).”

EU overseas ministers are owed to sermon “peace facility, subject support” and a “training mission” to enactment Ukraine, Borrell added. 

Iran has repeatedly rebuffed claims from Kyiv and US quality that it is supplying “kamikaze” drones for Moscow’s warfare connected Ukraine.

The denials from Tehran travel a drawstring of deadly drone attacks launched by Russia crossed Ukraine Monday.

A drone flies implicit Kyiv, Ukraine, during an onslaught connected October 17.

(Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images)

Moscow carried retired attacks connected important vigor facilities successful 3 Ukrainian regions and disrupted powerfulness successful immoderate areas connected Monday, Ukraine’s premier curate has said.

“In particular, 5 drone strikes were recorded successful Kyiv. Energy facilities and a residential gathering were damaged,” Denys Shmyhal said connected Telegram.
“The aggressor besides launched rocket attacks connected captious infrastructure successful the Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy regions. Hundreds of settlements were chopped disconnected arsenic a effect of the attack.”

The onslaught connected vigor infrastructure successful the Kamianske territory of the Dnipropetrovsk portion caused “fire” and “serious destruction,” according to determination subject authoritative Valentyn Reznichenko.

The premier curate urged each Ukrainians to minimize their energy consumption, arsenic authorities enactment to stabilize inferior services.

“Currently, each services are moving connected eliminating the consequences of shelling and restoring energy supply. Each portion has a situation effect plan,” Shmyhal added.

“We inquire Ukrainians, successful bid to stabilize the vigor system, to instrumentality a agreed and conscious attack to economical depletion of electricity. Especially during highest hours.”

Ukraine’s authorities vigor supplier Ukrenergo said the powerfulness grid successful the state remains “under control,” adding that repair crews are moving to curb the consequences of the attacks.

Ukrenergo did not regularisation retired the anticipation of introducing exigency shutdown schedules.

Shmyhal’s announcement comes arsenic Ukraine grapples with sweeping attacks connected critical vigor facilities, pursuing deadly Russian strikes implicit the past week.

Firefighters be a residential gathering destroyed by a Russian drone onslaught in Kyiv, Ukraine, connected October 17.

(Vladyslav Musiienko/Reuters)

Three radical were killed and 19 radical person been rescued pursuing a spate “kamikaze” drone attacks targeting Kyiv connected Monday, according to a elder Ukrainian official.

“As of now, the fig of radical killed arsenic a effect of a kamikaze drone onslaught connected a residential gathering has accrued to 3. 19 radical person been rescued,” Kyrylo Tymoshenko, lawman caput of the president’s office, said connected Telegram.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing successful the Ukrainian superior arsenic exigency services enactment to retrieve radical from underneath the rubble.

Smoke rises implicit the thoroughfare aft a drone onslaught successful Kyiv, Ukraine, connected October 17.

(Sergei Supinksy/AFP/Getty Images)

One pistillate has died and different idiosyncratic remains beneath the rubble astatine the tract of a fatal drone onslaught successful Kyiv connected Monday, according the city’s mayor.

“The assemblage of a dormant pistillate was pulled retired from the rubble successful the location successful Shevchenkivskyi district, wherever determination was an detonation arsenic a effect of a drone attack,” Vitali Klitschko said connected Telegram. “Another idiosyncratic is nether the rubble.”

Three radical person been hospitalized, Klitschko added.

Moscow launched a caller circular of deadly “kamikaze” drone attacks crossed Ukraine aboriginal Monday, with weapons that Kyiv and US quality accidental were supplied by Iran.

Search and rescue operations astatine the tract of the attacks are ongoing.

Iran has again refuted claims that it is supplying weapons to Russia for Moscow’s warfare connected Ukraine.

“Iran has repeatedly declared that it is not a enactment successful the warfare betwixt Russia and Ukraine and has not sent immoderate weapons to either side,” said Iranian overseas ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani, according to Iranian authorities media IRNA.

“News is published that is based connected governmental issues,” Kanaani added. “It is simply a bitter irony that the countries that export millions of dollars of arms to 1 broadside of the warfare started a propaganda warfare against Iran.”

During a telephone telephone with Portugal’s overseas curate connected Saturday, Iran’s overseas minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, emphasized that Iran “has not and volition not” supply immoderate limb to beryllium utilized successful Ukraine.

The denials travel assertions from Kyiv and the US that the Kremlin utilized Iranian-made “kamikaze” drones successful a drawstring of fatal attacks it launched crossed Ukraine Monday, wherever rescue operations are ongoing.

A 'kamikaze" drone approaches for an onslaught successful Kyiv connected Monday.

(Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images)

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said it destroyed 37 Iranian-made Shahed-136s — known arsenic “kamikaze” drones — overnight Sunday and connected Monday. 

“In the past 13 hours, #UAarmy shot down 37 Iranian Shahed-136 drones and 3 cruise missiles launched by Russian terrorists,” the ministry said connected Twitter. 

Russian forces struck Ukraine with a flurry of deadly “kamikaze” drone attacks aboriginal Monday.

The strikes, including the ones successful Kyiv, were each launched from confederate Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

Ukrainian forces said they deed 11 Shahed-136s successful bluish and cardinal regions of the country.

Nine of the drones were changeable down by anti-aircraft rocket units and combatant craft by the Air Force portion 2 were destroyed by the Land Forces, the connection added. 

Earlier, the Air Force said 26 drones were downed successful the southbound of the country. 

Some context: Russia has ordered 2,400 “kamikaze” drones from Iran, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

They are susceptible of carrying precision-guided missiles and person a payload of astir 50 kilograms (110 pounds).

Drone attacks successful the eastbound of Ukraine had targeted important infrastructure, the Air Force said. 

Last week, Moscow launched a spate of fatal strikes targeting the Ukrainian electrical grid, starring to wide powerfulness outages.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky struck a defiant code connected Monday aft Russia launched dozens of drone attacks against Ukraine, including Kyiv.

The Ukrainian superior was deed astatine slightest 4 times by “kamikaze” drones, with rescue workers pulling astatine slightest 18 survivors from the rubble, according to authorities. 

“All nighttime and each morning, the force terrorizes the civilian population. Kamikaze drones and missiles are attacking each of Ukraine. A residential gathering was deed successful Kyiv,” Zelensky said successful a station connected Telegram.

The Ukrainian Air Force said it destroyed dozens of Iranian-made Shahed-136s — known arsenic “kamikaze” drones — crossed the southbound and eastbound of Ukraine successful the aboriginal greeting hours connected Monday. It comes aft Moscow fired hundreds of missiles astatine civilian targets successful deadly attacks crossed Ukraine past week.

Firefighters be to a gathering aft Russian drone attacks successful Kyiv, Ukraine, connected October 17.

(Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Eighteen radical person been rescued and 2 radical stay nether the rubble astatine the tract of a drone onslaught successful Kyiv connected Monday, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. 

“Rescue operations are ongoing. Extinguishing of destroyed gathering structures and demolition of rubble is ongoing,” helium said successful a statement. 

Kyiv was deed astatine slightest 4 times successful Russian “kamikaze” drone attacks connected Monday, according to the city’s subject administration. 

Klitschko said authorities are moving to clarify if anyone was killed successful the attacks.

A presumption shows a thoroughfare aft a Russian drone onslaught successful Kyiv connected Monday. 

(Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

Air raid sirens are disconnected successful Kyiv and the surrounding portion arsenic of 9:38 a.m section time, CNN’s squad connected the crushed reports.

A residential gathering was among the targets successful astatine slightest 4 “kamikaze” drone strikes connected the Ukrainian superior Monday, according to Ukrainian officials.

Ukraine has repeatedly asked its allies to proviso it with much aerial defence systems and ammunition aft Russia stepped up its usage of “kamikaze drones” successful its brutal battle against the country.

Smoke rises aft a Russian drone onslaught successful Kyiv connected Monday.

(Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

Ukraine’s superior Kyiv was deed astatine slightest 4 times successful “kamikaze” drone attacks connected Monday arsenic of 9 a.m. section time, with strikes ongoing, according to the city’s subject administration. 

“A residential gathering successful the Shevchenkivskyi territory was hit. Currently, accusation astir casualties is being clarified,” the Kyiv City Military Administration said successful a connection connected Telegram. 

Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to Ukraine’s curate of interior affairs, said the attacks are ongoing and a radical of drones was approaching Kyiv from the southbound and east.

“Everyone enactment successful shelters!” Gerashchenko warned successful a Telegram post.

Air raid sirens proceed to beryllium heard successful Kyiv.

One onslaught Monday greeting deed adjacent to Kyiv’s main bid station, Gerashchenko said.

People respond arsenic a drone fires connected buildings successful Kyiv connected Monday.

(Efrem Lukatsky/Associated Press)

Blasts proceed to beryllium heard successful cardinal Kyiv, wherever aerial raid sirens are sounding Monday.

Ukrainian officials said Monday that Russia is attacking the Ukrainian superior with “kamikaze” drones.

Police artifact the perimeter astatine the country of Russian shelling successful Kyiv connected Monday.

(Efrem Lukatsky/Associated Press)

Russia attacked Kyiv with “kamikaze” drones connected Monday morning, according to a apical Ukrainian official, who repeated calls for Western allies to proviso the state with much precocious aerial defence systems.

“The Russians deliberation it volition assistance them, but these actions smack of desperation,” Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian President’s main of staff, said successful a statement. “We request much aerial defence arsenic soon arsenic possible. We person nary clip to delay. We request much weapons to support the entity and destruct the enemy.”

In a abstracted Telegram message, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the “drone attack” caused a “fire successful a non-residential building.”

“Firefighters are working. Some residential buildings person been damaged. Medics are connected the site,” Klitschko said.

At slightest 3 explosions were heard successful the Ukrainian superior astatine astir 6:45 a.m. section clip connected Monday arsenic a effect of evident Russian strikes, according to CNN’s squad connected the ground.

At slightest 3 explosions were heard successful Kyiv astatine astir 6:45 a.m. section clip connected Monday arsenic a effect of evident Russian rocket strikes, according to CNN’s squad connected the ground.

One of the blasts was successful the Shevchenkivskyi territory successful the halfway of the Ukrainian capital, according to a Telegram station from Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

“All exigency services person been sent to the site,” Klitschko said. “Air raid sirens continue. Stay successful your shelters!”

Watch:

Relations betwixt Ukraine and Saudi Arabia are the “most meaningful” they’ve been successful 30 years, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said successful his nightly code connected Sunday.

“And for the past week, it is worthy noting the strengthening of contacts with Saudi Arabia,” Zelensky said. “There are important agreements. Among different things, this is the determination of the partners to supply a bundle of humanitarian enactment successful the magnitude of $400 million. It is precise important. Right now, we person the astir meaningful relations with Saudi Arabia successful 30 years.”

Zelensky’s remarks travel aft Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged $400 cardinal successful humanitarian assistance to Ukraine connected Friday.

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman affirmed the country’s enactment for Ukraine successful a statement.

Grain deal: Zelensky besides spoke astir the Black Sea Grain Initiative, emphasizing that since July Ukraine has exported 8 cardinal tons of nutrient by sea.

He added that “60% of this measurement was directed to Africa and Asia.”

Energy: He besides addressed threats to Ukraine’s vigor supply, stating that “due to the Russian rocket panic successful immoderate cities and regions of Ukraine, vigor workers person to bounds the proviso of energy truthful that the full strategy works stably.” He called for Ukrainian residents to bounds energy proviso during highest hours.

Prisoners: In addition, Zelensky spoke astir Ukrainians who had been captured by Russian forces. 

“Everyone who captures the Russian subject provides Ukraine with the accidental to merchandise our heroes,” helium said. “We retrieve our radical detained successful Russia. We indispensable liberate them, and we indispensable liberate them all, leaving nary to the enemy. But for this we request to seizure the occupiers — arsenic galore arsenic possible,” helium said.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear power plant outside Enerhodar successful the Zaporizhzhia region, Russian-controlled Ukraine, connected October 14.

(Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters)

Part of the seized Zaporizhzhia atomic powerfulness plant is controlled by armed Chechen forces, a Ukrainian subject enactment said Sunday.

The forces successful question, the alleged Special Rapid Response Unit Akhmat, are led by a adjacent state of Russian President Vladimir Putin: Chechen Ramzan Kadyrov.

“It is known that a portion of the presumption has precocious been controlled by a Kadyrov pack … which placed instrumentality and weapons straight successful turbine halls #1 and #2,” the Center of National Resistance said successful a statement.

The halfway is simply a subject enactment designed to enactment and coordinate Ukrainian troops.

On Wednesday, the Chechen person Kadyrov wrote successful a Telegram station that his portion is successful Enerhodar, a metropolis adjacent to the Zaporizhzhia plant. He accused Ukrainians of firing “indiscriminately astatine the coastline of Enerhodar, its concern country and the Zaporizhzhia NPP.” 

Remember: The Zaporizhzhia plant, the largest atomic analyzable of its benignant successful Europe, was seized by Russian forces astatine the commencement of the war.

In its statement, the Center of National Resistance also claimed that “Russia is trying to link the Zaporizhzhia NPP to its powerfulness strategy arsenic soon arsenic possible.”

“The occupiers are hastily carrying retired measures to person the spent atomic substance retention strategy astatine the ZNPP to Russian standards, arsenic good arsenic adapting each atomic reactors of the ZNPP to usage Russian substance assemblies,” the Center wrote.

CNN cannot independently verify these claims.

More context: The Chechen Republic is simply a portion successful Russia’s northbound Caucasus.

Russian forces fought a brutal warfare for power of the territory successful the mid-1990s and the aboriginal 2000s. Kadyrov was erstwhile a guerrilla who fought against Russia before switching sides.

During the Second Chechen War, which coincided with the emergence of Putin, Kadyrov helped Moscow wrest power of the Chechen Republic from separatist rebels.

Kadyrov has been accused by planetary and autarkic observers of gross human rights violations in his location territory and beyond. He leads sizeable paramilitary forces that — portion formally a portion of Russian information structures — person idiosyncratic loyalty to him.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman took to Twitter connected Sunday to affirm the kingdom’s enactment for Ukraine and contradict it is backing Russia successful the war.

“We are astonished by the accusations that the kingdom is lasting with Russia successful its warfare with Ukraine. It is telling that these mendacious accusations did not travel from the Ukrainian government,” Khalid bin Salman tweeted. 

He besides retweeted an October 14 station from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “for supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity, solution astatine the UN General Assembly” and for his willingness “to interact successful the merchandise of Ukrainian prisoners of war.” Zelensky besides tweeted Saudi Arabia “agreed connected the proviso of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine.” 

US officials person argued that an OPEC+ determination to chopped accumulation by 2 cardinal barrels per time volition thrust up lipid prices and could extremity up helping Russia reap greater revenues from vigor sales, thereby driving its warfare instrumentality successful Ukraine.  

But Khalid bin Salman called the determination “purely economic” and shouldn’t beryllium taken arsenic a motion of “standing with Russia.” 

“Although the OPEC+ decision, which was taken unanimously, was owed to purely economical reasons, immoderate accused the Kingdom of lasting with Russia. Iran is besides a subordinate of OPEC, does this mean that the Kingdom is lasting with Iran arsenic well?” Khalid bin Salman tweeted Sunday. 

On Wednesday, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir told CNN’s Becky Anderson his state partnered with Russia to slash lipid accumulation successful bid to stabilize markets and denied determination were governmental motives down the decision, which has enraged US leaders and sparked calls to rethink ties with Riyadh.

The Ukrainian government says 54 radical died in a Russian battle connected an flat analyzable successful the eastbound metropolis of Izium connected March 9 — astir fractional of the building’s residents.

Entire families were killed successful the attack, but their fates remained mostly chartless until a fewer weeks ago. Ukrainian forces pursuing a counteroffensive reclaimed Izium aft six months of Russian occupation, revealing a wide burial tract connected the outskirts of the city.

Most of the residents of the flat building, 2 Pershotravneva street, were buried there among much than 400 graves, fewer with identifying marks different than numbers daubed connected unsmooth woody crosses.

After speaking to a survivor, ex-residents and household members, and reviewing photos and video taken successful the aftermath of the onslaught and pursuing the town’s liberation, CNN tin present archer the communicative of what happened astatine 2 Pershotravneva connected that day.

Read the afloat report:

The fragile Black Sea atom deal volition proceed aft Nov. 22, erstwhile it is acceptable to expire, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said Sunday.

Kubrakov made the comments during a gathering with Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar successful Istanbul. They travel aft Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, cast uncertainty connected the deal’s future this week.

“The participating parties of the Initiative — the UN, Turkey and Ukraine — expressed their readiness to proceed operating and assured maximum efforts for its palmy implementation. There is nary uncertainty that the atom corridor volition proceed operating aft Nov. 22,” Kubrakov said. 

The curate besides emphasized the value of getting faster vessel inspections by the Joint Coordination Center. This allows for “a important summation successful the measurement of atom exports to the countries of Africa, Asia, and Europe and prevents the enactment of inspection queues,” helium said. 

Some background: The Black Sea Grain Initiative — which was brokered by the UN and Turkey — was signed by representatives from Russia and Ukraine successful July.

The statement ended 5 months of Russian blockade, allowing ships carrying atom from Ukrainian ports successful Odesa to navigate a harmless corridor done the Black Sea, helping alleviate planetary nutrient shortages.

Kubrakov said astir 7.7 cardinal tons of cultivation products person been exported since the motorboat of the initiative, which “has stabilized nutrient prices and countered the menace of planetary hunger.”

Russia casts doubt: Gennady Gatilov, Russia’s ambassador to the UN successful Geneva, said this week that Russia could permission the deal, according to Reuters. Later, Putin weighed in, saying Moscow would unopen the export corridors if they are utilized to transportation retired “terrorist attacks.”

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan talks to reporters astatine the White House connected September 30 successful Washington, DC.

(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The US volition marque nary favoritism successful its effect to Russia utilizing immoderate signifier of atomic limb successful its warfare with Ukraine, nationalist information advisor Jake Sullivan told CNN Sunday.

Sullivan was responding to a hypothetical question from CNN’s Dana Bash connected “State of the Union.” Bash asked whether the US would dainty the alleged “tactical” usage of a atomic limb — taking retired a tiny people oregon detonating successful the Black Sea, for illustration — immoderate otherwise from wide-scale attacks.

“The usage of a atomic limb connected the battlefield successful Ukraine is the usage of a atomic limb connected the battlefield successful Ukraine, and we’re not going to portion the salami,” Sullivan said, adding: “The conception that someway there’s differences successful usage here, I think, is simply a unsafe notion.”

“From our perspective, we judge it is incumbent upon the United States, moving with our NATO allies and partners and different liable countries astir the world, including the likes of China and India, to nonstop a precise wide and decisive connection to Russia that they should not contemplate the usage of atomic weapons successful this conflict,” Sullivan added.

A surface drawback from a video shows conductor Yuriy Kerpatenko conducting an orchestra.

(Nikolai Ilyashenko/YouTube)

A transgression probe has been launched into the decease of a Ukrainian orchestra conductor successful Russian-occupied Kherson, according to Ukrainian officials.

The conductor was reportedly changeable successful his ain location successful Kherson by Russian forces “because helium refused to cooperate with them,” a connection from the section prosecutor’s bureau said Friday.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Information Policy identified the conductor as Yuriy Kerpatenko of the Kherson Regional Philharmonic Orchestra.

According to the ministry, Kerpatenko had worked with the section philharmonic since 2000 and besides served arsenic the chief conductor of the Gilea Chamber Orchestra based astatine the Kherson Theater successful 2004.

Paying tribute, the ministry said Kerpatenko had “openly demonstrated his civic presumption and refused to permission occupied Kherson.”

The prosecutor’s bureau did not specify erstwhile the sidesplitting happened, but said, “the deceased stopped contacting relatives successful September of this year.”

“The Kherson Regional Prosecutor’s Office conducts procedural absorption successful transgression proceedings initiated based connected violations of the laws and customs of war, combined with intentional murder,” the connection added.

The Kherson region, seen arsenic important to controlling Ukraine’s confederate seashore and entree to the Black Sea, was 1 of the archetypal areas to beryllium occupied by Russian forces erstwhile they invaded much than six months ago.