Russia-Ukraine war – live: Exiled Wagner chief Prigozhin ‘spotted at Putin’s Africa summit’

Exiled Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has been spotted at an international summit in Russia.

A Newly-surfaced photo appears to show Mr Prigozhin at Russia-Africa summit hosted by Russian president Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, shaking hands with a senior aide to president Touadéra of the Central African Republic (CAR), whose regime is propped up by Wagner fighters, The Times reported.

It is unclear when the picture was taken, but it was posted on Facebook on Thursday by Dmitry Sytyi, a senior Wagner figure in CAR.

Mr Prigozhin reportedly met with president Touadéra’s chief of protocol at Trezzini Palace hotel, which is owned by the Wagner chief.

It is the first sighting of the Wagner chief since his failed mutiny, which saw him and his troops exiled to Belarus in a deal drunk with Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko.

The revolt posed the most serious threat to president Putin during his 23-year rule, eroding his authority and exposing the cracks in the military in regard to the Kremlin’s handling of its 16-month invasion of Ukraine.

Key Points

• Kyiv is said to have launched a major push against Russian forces in southeastern Ukraine

• Putin’s forces pushed back around Bakhmut in Ukrainian counteroffensive

• Russia hits port infrastructure in Ukraine’s Odesa region

• Putin ‘looked paralysed and unable to act’ as Wagner coup unfolded

• Wagner gold smuggling critical to keeping Russia’s economy afloat, MPs say

• Exiled Wagner chief Prigozhin ‘spotted at Putin’s Africa summit’

West and Russia vie for status in Niger

10:21 , William Mata

Two days after mutinous soldiers detained Niger’s democratically elected president, it was still unclear Friday morning who was running the country and what mediation efforts were underway, as analysts warned that political chaos could set back the country’s fight against jihadists and increase Russia‘s influence in West Africa.

Niger is seen as the last partner in the West’s efforts to battle jihadists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group in Africa’s Sahel region, where Russia and the west have been vying for influence in the fight against extremism.

On Thursday, several hundred people gathered in the capital, Niamey, and chanted support for the Russian private military group Wagner while waving Russian flags.

Later, they burned cars and ransacked the headquarters of the president’s political party. “We’re fed up,” said Omar Issaka, one of the protestors.“We are tired of being targeted by the men in the bush ... Down with the French people. We’re going to collaborate with Russia now,” he said.

The mutinous soldiers have not announced a leader and President Mohamed Bazoum, who was elected two years ago in Niger’s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since its independence from France in 1960, has not resigned.

Congo Republic leader urges end to Russia-Ukraine conflict

10:19 , Reuters

Congo Republic president Denis Sassou Nguesso called on Friday for an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying a peace plan put forward by African leaders deserved attention.

Mr Nguesso spoke at a Russia-Africa forum in St Petersburg hosted by Russian president Vladimir Putin, who said the peace proposal would be discussed later in the day.

Central African leader says Russia helped avoid civil war

10:02 , Reuters

Central African Republic President Faustin Archange Touadera said on Friday his country’s relations with Russia had helped it to save its democracy and avoid a civil war.

Russian mercenaries, including many from the Wagner militia, intervened in 2018 on the side of the government to quell a civil war that has raged since 2012.

The Russian ambassador to the CAR said in February that 1,890 “Russian instructors” were present.

A Wagner contingent arrived in CAR this month to help secure a constitutional referendum on July 30.

Latest battlefield situation

09:56 , William Mata

The UK’s Ministry of Defence has issued a map based on the latest battlefield situation in Ukraine.

It shows there is the greatest Russian threat in the Donbas area.

Zelensky visits cathedral in Odesa

09:26 , William Mata

Volodymyr Zelensky has tweeted a picture of himself visiting the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa.

His tweet read: “We are looking for air defense systems to protect Odesa and our entire south. And I am grateful to everyone in the world who has joined us in this endeavor.”

A statement from Mr Zelensky added: “Architecture experts are currently working to assess the possibility of restoring the church. I am grateful to our partners in Europe for their willingness to join the reconstruction. Most importantly, the Kasperov Icon of the Mother of God has been saved, and the heart of the church is alive.”

Putin tells African leaders Moscow is studying their Ukraine proposal

09:13 , William Mata / Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin told African leaders on Friday that Moscow respected their peace proposal on Ukraine and was carefully studying it.

Mr Putin said at a Russia-Africa summit that Russia was increasing food supplies to Africa, including some free grain shipments which he announced a day earlier, and was interested in developing military cooperation with the continent.

Read the background to this one here.

China set to upgrade ties with Georgia to strategic partnership

08:48 , Reuters

China is set to elevate its relations with Georgia to one of strategic partnership, President Xi Jinping said on Friday, declaring "unwavering" resolve to deepen ties with the former Soviet republic.

China has regarded Georgia as a good friend since they established diplomatic ties 31 years ago, Xi told Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on the sidelines of the Chengdu University Games in southwest China.

"No matter how the international situation changes, China is unwavering in its determination to develop relations with Georgia," Chinese state media quoted Mr Xi as saying.

"During your visit to China this time, the two sides will issue a joint statement announcing the establishment of a China-Georgia strategic partnership, raising the positioning of bilateral relations to a new level."

Georgia, like other former Soviet states Armenia and Azerbaijan, is on a strategic - and sometimes volatile - overland route between Europe and Asia, along which China aims to develop a "Belt and Road" network of trade and energy links.

Georgia has had fraught relations with China's ally Russia since the 1990s when Russia backed separatists in two Georgian regions. Russia recognised the breakaway regions as independent after fighting a war with Georgia in 2008.

Days after Russian sent troops into Ukraine last year, Georgia applied for EU membership. Georgia has also sought to become a member of NATO.

Drone shot down near Moscow, Russia says

08:43 , William Mata

A Ukrainian drone has been shot down near Moscow, Russia’s defence ministry has said.

It is the third drone strike or attempt on the capital region this month.

There were no injuries or damage, the ministry added.

It did not give details about where the drone was shot down on Friday morning, but said it took place in the Moscow Oblast, a region surrounding but not including the city itself.

The incident adds to concern about Moscow’s vulnerability to attack as the war with Ukraine enters its 18th month.

Putin promises grain aid to Africa despite withdrawing from Ukraine deal

08:16 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Vladimir Putin has told African leaders that Russia will ship 50,000 tonnes of grain aid to six countries in the continent despite withdrawing from a deal with Ukraine.

Speaking at a summit in St Petersburg on Thursday, attended by many of Africa’s heads of state, the Russian president said he was committed to “averting a global food crisis”.

Earlier this month, Russia declined to renew the agreement with Ukraine to reopen Black Sea Ports, which had been blocked by fighting in its illegal invasion of the country, to ensure safe passage of ships. The Kremlin said in withdrawing that its own exports were being held up.

Both Russia and Ukraine are major grain suppliers to Africa and Mr Putin has pledged to deliver the aid to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Eritrea and the Central African Republic in the next three to four months.

Putin promises grain aid to Africa despite withdrawing from Ukraine deal

Russia says downs Ukrainian drone near Moscow - RIA

07:51 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian air defences downed a Ukrainian military drone before it could attack its targets near Moscow on Friday, the RIA news agency cited Russia‘s defence ministry as saying.

The ministry said the incident has caused no casualties or damage to buildings.

Russia’s war on grain in Ukraine will compound food insecurity across Africa till 2025, says UK MoD

07:05 , Arpan Rai

The impact of the war in Ukraine will almost certainly compound food insecurity across Africa for at least the next two years, the British Ministry of Defence has warned today.

This comes as the Russia-Africa conference convened in St Petersburg yesterday, with 17 African heads of state attending, down from 43 at the last iteration, the ministry said.

The event takes place ten days after Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI).

“The BSGI had allowed the export of 30 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to Africa, providing essential nutrition to states including Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Sudan,” it pointed out.

“As well as the direct disruption of supplies, Russia’s blockade of Ukraine is also causing grain prices to rise,” the ministry said.

What are Abrams tanks and why is the US sending them to Ukraine?

06:55 , Arpan Rai

In January this year, the US made a firm promise to the Ukraine and offered to send 31 of its M1 Abram battle tanks, worth an estimated $400m, to help the war-hit nation push back Russian forces out of its territory.

As a result, Anatoly Antonov, Russia’s ambassador to the US, said the decision by Joe Biden’s administration amounted to “another blatant provocation” against Moscow, pledged that the tanks would be destroyed and warned the West it would come to regret the “delusion” that Ukraine could ever win the day.

When it comes to the M1s, experts have warned of the complex logistics involved in getting these high-tech vehicles to the battlefield. The extensive and tricky maintenance required for their use mean that it could be some time before they appear on the frontlines in Eastern Europe.

The first M1 tank was manufactured by American armoured vehicle manufacturer General Dynamics Land Systems in 1978 and was first delivered to the US Army in 1980.

Each model costs around $10m to make, according to Reuters.

It has to be crewed by a team of four (driver, commander, loader and gunner), has a maximum speed of 42 miles per hour, has a maximum range of 624 miles and runs on a 1,500 horsepower gas turbine engine.

The M1 is armed with an M256 120mm smoothbore cannon, as well as two machine guns: a 12.7mm and a 7.62mm M240.

Defence industry expert Sydney Freedberg described them as “big vehicles, heavily armoured” to Al Jazeera, adding that they are “much better protected than anything the Soviets built, or anything the Russians currently have.”

Read more about the top-tier battlefield tank here:

What are Abrams tanks and why is the US sending them to Ukraine?

Ukraine could receive Abrams tanks from US in September – report

06:50 , Arpan Rai

Officials in the US are looking to start delivering Abrams tanks to Ukraine as soon as September, six people aware of the planning said.

The tanks could be deployed to the Ukrainian battlefield in September, reported Politico, citing people aware of the talks.

Handful of Abrams tanks will be sent to Germany in August, according to the plan, where they will undergo final refurbishments.

Once that process is complete, the first batch of Abrams will be shipped to Ukraine the following month, the report added.

The US has pledged to send 31 of its M1 Abram battle tanks, worth an estimated $400m, to Ukraine to help the resistance fight back against the Russian onslaught as the one-year anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s invasion approaches.

Russia claims Ukrainian drone downed near Moscow - RIA

05:07 , Arpan Rai

Russian air defences downed a Ukrainian military drone before it could attack its targets near Moscow today, Russia’s defence ministry said, reported RIA news agency.

The ministry said the incident has caused no casualties or damage to buildings.

It is not immediately clear what kind of drone was used in the purported attack and where was it intercepted.

Even Putin admits Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russia’s forces – but progress will be slow

04:45 , Arpan Rai

Ukraine is believed to be pushing hard to punch through heavily fortified Russian defences in the country’s southeast – with even president Vladimir Putin admitting that “hostilities have intensified significantly”.

Kyiv is seeking to move towards the coast of the Sea of Azov – to break through the land corridor between Russia and the Crimean Peninsula, illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014.

The aim would be to split Russian forces into two and cut supply lines to units farther west. Ukraine’s military has said that Russia was launching intense artillery and aerial bombardments to try and slow down Kyiv’s troops.

Askold Krushelnycky writes from Kyiv:

Putin admits Ukraine has stepped up attacks on his forces – but progress will be slow

Ukraine targeting stronghold of Putin’s troops in war

04:13 , Arpan Rai

The new focus of Ukraine’s military action is now on the southward drive of Staromlynivka, a village less than 5 km (three miles) away from the recently recaptured Ukrainian village Staromaiorske.

“It really serves as a stronghold for the Russian occupiers, the peak of the second defensive line in this location,” Ukrainian military analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko said in an interview with Ukraine’s media outlet RBC UA.

The push to repel Russia from the southward region is aimed at severing the land bridge Russian forces have created linking areas occupied in the east in the 17-month-old invasion and the illegally annexed Crimea.

Ukraine’s military seeing success on one frontline as village recaptured

04:02 , Arpan Rai

Ukraine’s military has confirmed securing battlefield success after recapturing another village in the besieged country.

The military and war-time president Volodymyr Zelensky have confirmed success on one of the front lines in southeast Ukraine.

In a video published by president Zelensky last night, he confirmed Ukrainian troops had taken the village of Staromaiorske.

“I thank everyone who is fighting for Ukraine! Thank you for the liberation of Staromaiorske. Congratulations again, guys!” he said in his nightly address.

This comes as Western nations have indicated of a major warfare taking place.

Ukraine’s military had earlier said it was “solidifying positions” it had reached in the same area, east of the city of Zaporizhzhia.

Watch: Life after the Kakhovka dam explosion | On The Ground

04:00 , Martha Mchardy

Today in pictures

03:00 , Martha Mchardy

Ukraine MP being investigated for taking family holiday in Maldives amid Russian invasion

02:00 , Martha Mchardy

Ukrainian authorities are reportedly conducting an investigation to determine whether a member of parliament violated the law by taking a family holiday to the Maldives.

Earlier in January this year, the Ukrainian president banned officials from travelling abroad for non-governmental purposes.

The security service has initiated a criminal case to ascertain whether member of parliament, Yuriy Aristov provided false information to the authorities. He faces up to three years in prison if convicted.

Maroosha Muzaffar reports:

Ukraine MP being investigated for taking holiday in Maldives amid Russian invasion

Ukrainian MP backs Scottish munitions workers strike which could impact missiles sent to Ukraine

01:00 , Martha Mchardy

A Ukrainian MP has backed workers at a Scottish munitions depot who are set to strike next month.

Staff at the Defence Equipment & Support (DES) site in Beith, North Ayrshire, will walk out between August 4 and 7 after 93% of them backed strike action.

According to the GMB union, staff are split into two categories, craft and non-craft workers, with the former tasked with assembling weapons and the latter transporting them within the site and loading shipments.

Retention bonuses, the union claims, are paid to managers and craft staff, but non-craft workers - who earn less than £21,000 per year - do not receive the payments, meaning the pay gap between the two classifications has tripled to £18,000.

Strikes - like the two-day walkout earlier this month - will impact on the supply of Storm Shadow and Brimstone missiles to Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion, but a high-profile MP from the country has backed the workers at the depot.

Lesia Vasylenko, who decided to train in the use of guns to defend Ukraine and made a number of appearances in the UK to drum up support, said: “The work being done by GMB Scotland members at Beith could not be more important to Ukraine as we fight for our freedom.

“I thank every one of them for their efforts, support their fight for fairness and urge managers to quickly negotiate an end to this dispute and ensure their crucial work continues.”

Her intervention comes after Ukrainian trade unions sent their support to the workers at the depot earlier this week.

Ireland won’t offer condolences to Russia if Putin dies, Varadkar says

Friday 28 July 2023 00:00 , Martha Mchardy

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he does not think the Irish government would offer condolences to Russia in the event of Vladimir Putin’s death.

Mr Varadkar was responding to a question relating to Ireland’s historical foreign policy.

He said he did not believe an Irish delegation would be present at the Russian president’s funeral.

The hypothetical situation relates to events almost 80 years ago.

The Irish government adhered to a strict policy of neutrality throughout the Second World War.

Read the full story:

Ireland won’t offer condolences to Russia if Putin dies, Varadkar says

Watch: Zelensky presents medals to war medics at Dnipro hospital

Thursday 27 July 2023 23:00 , Martha Mchardy

Even Putin admits Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russia’s forces – but progress will be slow

Thursday 27 July 2023 22:00 , Martha Mchardy

Ukraine officials are cautious over the fresh push in their counteroffensive but say steady progress is being made in the south and east, writes Askold Krushelnycky from Kyiv.

Putin admits Ukraine has stepped up attacks on his forces – but progress will be slow

Head of US 'KleptoCapture' unit targeting Russian oligarchs leaves DOJ

Thursday 27 July 2023 21:38 , Martha Mchardy

The top prosecutor on a U.S. government task force targeting Russian oligarchs’ assets as a means to pressure Moscow into ending its war in Ukraine said on Thursday he is leaving the Department of Justice.

Andrew Adams, who has led the “KleptoCapture” task force since its inception in March 2022, will be replaced by his deputies Michael Khoo and David Lim, a DOJ spokesperson said.

“It was a privilege to cap this time in service of the Department’s response to the war in Ukraine,” Adams, a 10-year Justice Department veteran, wrote in a LinkedIn post.

In launching the task force, U.S. attorney general Merrick Garland said it would enforce sanctions and export controls designed to freeze Russia out of global markets, and confiscate assets obtained through unlawful conduct.

During Adams’ tenure, the unit unveiled indictments against aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska and TV tycoon Konstantin Malofeyev for alleged sanctions busting, and seized yachts belonging to sanctioned oligarchs Suleiman Kerimov and Viktor Vekselberg.

It also won a court order letting prosecutors confiscate $5.4 million from Malofeyev’s U.S. bank account, the first of what authorities hope will be a slew of transfers of oligarchs’ funds to Ukraine for reconstruction efforts.

More recently, the task force has focused on people accused of helping oligarchs evade sanctions, securing a guilty plea from a U.S. lawyer who admitted to paying taxes, insurance and other fees for Vekselberg’s New York properties.

Exiled Wagner chief Prigozhin ‘spotted at Putin’s Africa summit’

Thursday 27 July 2023 21:34 , Martha Mchardy

Exiled Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has been spotted at an international summit in Russia.

A Newly-surfaced photo appears to show Mr Prigozhin at Russia-Africa summit hosted by Russian president Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, shaking hands with a senior aide to president Touadéra of the Central African Republic (CAR), whose regime is propped up by Wagner fighters, The Times reported.

It is unclear when the picture was taken, but it was posted on Facebook on Thursday by Dmitry Sytyi, a senior Wagner figure in CAR.

Mr Prigozhin reportedly met with president Touadéra’s chief of protocol at Trezzini Palace hotel, which is owned by the Wagner chief.

It is the first sighting of the Wagner chief since his failed mutiny, which saw him and his troops exiled to Belarus in a deal drunk with Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko.

The revolt posed the most serious threat to president Putin during his 23-year rule, eroding his authority and exposing the cracks in the military in regard to the Kremlin’s handling of its 16-month invasion of Ukraine.

Putin promises grain aid to Africa despite withdrawing from Ukraine deal

Thursday 27 July 2023 21:30 , Martha Mchardy

Vladimir Putin has told African leaders that Russia will ship 50,000 tonnes of grain aid to six countries in the continent despite withdrawing from a deal with Ukraine.

Speaking at a summit in St Petersburg on Thursday, attended by many of Africa’s heads of state, the Russian president said he was committed to “averting a global food crisis”.

Earlier this month, Russia declined to renew the agreement with Ukraine to reopen Black Sea Ports, which had been blocked by fighting in its illegal invasion of the country, to ensure safe passage of ships. The Kremlin said in withdrawing that its own exports were being held up.

Both Russia and Ukraine are major grain suppliers to Africa and Mr Putin has pledged to deliver the aid to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Eritrea and the Central African Republic in the next three to four months.

William Mata reports:

Putin promises grain aid to Africa despite withdrawing from Ukraine deal

Moldova expels 45 Russian diplomats and embassy staff over ‘attempts to destabilise’ country

Thursday 27 July 2023 21:00 , Martha Mchardy

Moldova has expelled 45 Russian diplomats and embassy staff members in Chisinau, citing Moscow’s “unfriendly actions” amid further deteriorating relations over the war in neighbouring Ukraine.

“We agreed on the need to limit the number of accredited diplomats from Russia, so that there are fewer people trying to destabilise the Republic of Moldova,” foreign minister Nicu Popescu said at a cabinet meeting.

The foreign ministry said the decision was based on “numerous unfriendly actions” towards Moldova, “which are not related to the diplomatic mandate, as well as attempts to destabilise” the country.

Shweta Sharma reports:

Moldova expels 45 Russian diplomats and embassy staff over ‘unfriendly actions’

White House: Russia grain deal withdrawal has sparked price volatility

Thursday 27 July 2023 20:30 , Martha Mchardy

Russia’s withdrawal from a deal that had allowed Ukraine to export its badly needed grain has sparked volatility in grain prices, the White House said on Thursday.

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the Black Sea grain initiatives have resulted in more than 32 million tons of grain being exported to rural markets.

“Russia’s actions to take such a significant amount of food products off the world markets will exacerbate hunger in some of the hardest-hit areas of the world, including Africa,” she said.

Zelensky posts video of soldiers saying they recaptured Staromaiorske in the east

Thursday 27 July 2023 20:07 , Martha Mchardy

President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a video online with Ukrainian soldiers saying they have recaptured Ukrainian village of Staromaiorske in Donetsk region.

Zelensky posted the video on his Telegram channel.

Watch: Russian defence minister meets Kim Jong-un during visit to arms exhibition in North Korea

Thursday 27 July 2023 20:00 , Martha Mchardy

Poland's ruling party leader vows to protect the EU border with Russia's ally Belarus

Thursday 27 July 2023 19:30 , Martha Mchardy

The European Union’s border with Russian ally Belarus has become more dangerous because of Russia’s military presence there, and securing the frontier is the Polish government’s top priority, Poland’s ruling party leader said Thursday.

Jaroslaw Kaczynski, a deputy prime minister and head of the conservative Law and Justice party, made the comments while visiting the village of Koden on the EU’s border with Belarus. The Polish defense minister was due to meet with troops on the border later in the day.

Amid Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, thousands of Russia’s Wagner mercenaries have deployed to Belarus over the past month, and the Kremlin says it also has moved some of its short-range nuclear weapons into Belarus.

Poland's ruling party leader vows to protect the EU border with Russia's ally Belarus

Ukrainian fencer disqualified from world championships for refusing handshake with Russian opponent

Thursday 27 July 2023 19:00 , Martha Mchardy

Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan has been disqualified after refusing to shake hands with Russian Anna Smirnova at the FIE Fencing World Championships in Milan.

Kharlan, a four-time Olympic medallist and world champion, won the individual sabre bout 15-7 and then refused to shake hands with her opponent.

Smirnova remained on the piste for over half an hour after the incident, staging a sit-down protest and speaking with a number of officials before leaving.

Ukrainian athletes in other sports – including tennis players Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk – have also refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Moscow using Belarus as a staging ground for what it calls a “special military operation”.

In fencing’s rules, shaking an opponent’s hand is mandatory and failure to do so results in a “black card”.

Ukrainian fencer disqualified for refusing handshake with Russian opponent

Watch: Life after the Kakhovka dam explosion | On The Ground

Thursday 27 July 2023 18:30 , Martha Mchardy

In June, a catastrophic explosion destroyed the Kakhovkadam in southern Ukraine, flooding huge areas of land. As the flood waters recede, Bel Trew has travelled to the affected areas to find shellshocked Ukrainians trying to put their lives back together.

Homes and businesses have been destroyed by the floods, with many citizens displaced. It’s also destroyed huge swathes of agricultural land that Ukraine needed to grow grain and crops for worldwide distribution. And on the horizon, fears about the occupied nuclear power plant linger.

Watch On The Ground on Independent TV - across desktop, mobile and connected TV.

Life after the Kakhovka dam explosion | On The Ground

Belarus-EU borders may be closed if Wagner group incidents happen, Poland says

Thursday 27 July 2023 18:00 , Martha Mchardy

Poland, Lithuania and Latvia could jointly decide to shut their borders with close Russian ally Belarus if there are serious incidents involving the Wagner group along their frontiers with the country, Poland’s interior minister said on Thursday.

Nato member Poland on July 19 decided to move military units to its east after Wagner mercenaries began training Belarusian special forces a few miles from its border.

Two days later president Vladimir Putin accused Poland of having territorial ambitions in the former Soviet Union, and said any aggression against Belarus would be considered an attack on Russia.

“Undoubtedly, should there be serious incidents involving the Wagner group on the borders of Nato and EU countries, such as Poland, Lithuania or Latvia, we will undoubtedly take an action together,” the minister, Mariusz Kaminski, said.

“I do not exclude that if we decide that this is the right answer at the moment, we will lead to the complete isolation of Belarus.”

Poland, which denies any territorial ambitions in Belarus, has been an important refuge for opponents of Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko, and Warsaw has become one of Kyiv’s staunchest supporters since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Road traffic between Poland and Belarus has been curbed since February amid deteriorating relations between the two countries.

Poland has also accused Belarus of artificially creating a migrant crisis on the border by flying in people from the Middle East and Africa and attempting to push them across the frontier. Belarus has repeatedly denied this.

Zimbabwean leader thanks Putin for free grain offer - but says country 'food-secure'

Thursday 27 July 2023 17:30 , Martha Mchardy

Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Thursday that his country was food-secure but was grateful for an offer of free grain from Russian president Vladimir Putin at a Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg.

“We are grateful,” Mnangagwa told reporters at the summit. “We are not in any grain deficit at all. We are food-secure, he is just adding to what we are already have.”

Putin earlier told the summit that Russia was ready, in the next three to four months, to supply up to 50,000 tonnes of free grain to each of Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Mali, Somalia, Central African Republic and Eritrea.

Putin told African leaders that Russia would continue to meet their food needs despite last week pulling out of a deal that had allowed Ukraine - another top grain exporter - to ship cereals from its Black Sea ports despite the war.

Since then, Russia has repeatedly bombed Ukrainian ports and food storage sites. Western governments accuse Putin of “weaponising” food as an instrument of war.

In his speech, Putin set out his reasons for quitting the deal, which he said was not getting grain to the poorest countries. He did not acknowledge the fact that it had substantially lowered world prices, which have risen again sharply since Russia walked out of the agreement.

Russia’s state RIA news agency quoted the Ugandan foreign minister as saying Russia’s decision to end the deal was understandable.

Sawadogo Mahamadi, head of Burkina Faso’s chamber of commerce and industry, called the Russian food offer “a very good thing”.

“Africa needs these vital products today,” he said, “especially the Sahel countries like Burkina Faso that are facing security and humanitarian threats.”

US intelligence report says China giving Russia military tech, aiding in sanctions evasion

Thursday 27 July 2023 17:06 , Martha Mchardy

China is helping Russia evade Western sanctions and likely providing Moscow with military and dual-use technology for use in Ukraine, according to an unclassified U.S. intelligence report released on Thursday.

The assessment by the Office of the director of national intelligence was released on Thursday by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Ukraine extends martial law, ruling out October parliament vote

Thursday 27 July 2023 16:55 , Martha Mchardy

Ukraine’s parliament voted on Thursday to extend martial law by another 90 days until Nov. 15, ruling out the possibility of parliamentary elections being held in October.

Ukraine brought in martial law on Feb. 24, 2022, the day Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour. The law, which bars 18- to 60-year-old men from leaving the country, has since been extended several times.

Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a member of parliament, said on the Telegram messaging app that an overwhelming majority of lawmakers voted to extend martial law in a session of the Verkhovna Rada parliament.

Elections cannot be held during martial law and, with the nation scheduled to go to the polls in October to elect a new parliament, this will be the first time a big national vote has been pushed back due to the war, although the move was not unexpected.

As it stands, Ukraine is also due to hold presidential elections in March next year.

African Union head: We should listen to Russia's complaints over grain deal to seek solution - RIA

Thursday 27 July 2023 16:45 , Martha Mchardy

Comoros president Azali Assoumani, the chair of the African Union, said on Thursday at a Russia-Africa summit that the complaints that prompted Russia to end the Black Sea grain deal should be listened to in order to seek a solution, the Russian state news agency RIA reported.

“I shouldn’t say that Russia is right or wrong. It acted for its own reasons. Now we need to hear them in order to try to move forward,” Assoumani was quoted as saying.

Watch: Zelensky visits Dnipro hospital to hail medics treating Ukrainian troops

Thursday 27 July 2023 16:30 , Martha Mchardy

Volodymyr Zelensky visited a hospital in Dnipro on Thursday 27 July, to present state awards to medical workers.

The president of Ukraine thanked the staff on a trip that coincided with Medical Worker’s Day.

“On your frontline, you are the same heroes as the military. Thank you for saving our boys and girls. Thank you for giving all your time and energy to restore the health of our warriors,” the video, shared on Mr Zelensky’s Facebook page, was captioned.

“We highly respect you and are proud that we have such doctors. I wish you and all Ukrainians victory, good health to you and your families.”

Oliver Browning reports:

Zelensky visits Dnipro hospital to hail medics treating Ukrainian troops

Watch: Russian defence minister meets Kim Jong-un during visit to arms exhibition in North Korea

Thursday 27 July 2023 16:00 , Martha Mchardy

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu toured an arms exhibition with Kim Jong-un on Wednesday 26 July, during his visit to Pyongyang.

The pair met to discuss military issues and the regional security environment, state media said, illustrating North Korea’s support for Russia’s conflict in Ukraine as the isolated country celebrated the 70th anniversary of an armistice that halted fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War.

Mr Kim showcased some of North Korea’s newest weapons in the arms exhibition and briefed Mr Shoigu on national plans to expand the country’s military capabilities.

Footage shows the pair walking near a row of large missiles mounted on launcher trucks.

Oliver Browning reports:

Russian defence minister tours Pyongyang arms exhibition alongside Kim Jong-un

EU’s border with Belarus ‘more dangerous’ because of Russia’s military presence, says Polish MP

Thursday 27 July 2023 15:25 , Martha Mchardy

The European Union’s border with Russian ally Belarus has become more dangerous because of Russia’s military presence there, and securing the frontier is the Polish government’s top priority, Poland’s ruling party leader said Thursday.

Jaroslaw Kaczynski, a deputy prime minister and head of the conservative Law and Justice party, made the comments while visiting the village of Koden on the EU’s border with Belarus. The Polish defence minister was due to meet with troops on the border later in the day.

Amid Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, thousands of Russia’s Wagner mercenaries have deployed to Belarus over the past month, and the Kremlin says it also has moved some of its short-range nuclear weapons into Belarus

.“We want to say it clearly: We are doing everything that is needed and that is sufficient for us to easily repel any potential provocations or aggressive undertakings,” from the Belarus side, Kaczynski said.

Last year, Poland’s right-wing government built a tall wall along the border with Belarus aiming to stop a swelling wave of unauthorized migration from the Middle East and Africa which it said was organized by Minsk and Moscow in order to destabilize the EU.

Russian helicopter crashes in Siberia, killing 4 people on board and injuring 10

Thursday 27 July 2023 15:21 , Martha Mchardy

A helicopter crashed in the Siberia region of Russia on Thursday, killing four of the people on board and injuring 10, Russian emergency officials reported.

The Mi-8 helicopter caught fire as it was landing in southern Siberia’s Altai Republic and brushed against a power line, the Altai branch of the Russian Emergency Ministry said. It released a photo showing the chopper’s wreckage.

The branch’s initial statement said the helicopter carried 13 people and six were killed and seven were injured. Officials revised the numbers later in the day, saying a total of 16 people were on board and four died.

It turned out two people who were believed dead had left the crash site on their own and went to the nearest hospital, an updated statement said.

Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing the country’s civilian aviation regulator Rosaviatsia, that the helicopter belonged to a private company and was carrying a group of tourists.

The Mi-8 is a two-engine helicopter designed in the 1960s. It is used in Russia, where crashes have been frequent, as well as in neighbouring countries and many other nations.

UN chief warns ‘handful of donations’ can’t replace Black Sea deal

Thursday 27 July 2023 14:58 , Martha Mchardy

United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres warned on Thursday that a “handful of donations to some countries” won’t correct the dramatic impact of the end of a deal that had allowed the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain for the past year.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has promised free Russian grain “to replace Ukrainian grain.”

Putin admits Kyiv’s attacks have intensified ‘significantly’

Thursday 27 July 2023 14:52 , Martha Mchardy

Vladimir Putin has admitted that Ukrainian attacks have intensified in recent days, as Kyiv ramps up the counteroffensive against Russian troops.

Speaking in St Petersburg at a summit of African leaders, the Russian president admitted that attacks by Ukrainian forces have “intensified significantly”, primarily in the Zaporizhzhia region.

He claimed Ukraine had not enjoyed success on the front lines, despite experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reporting that Volodymyr Zelensky’s troops “appear to have broken through certain pre-prepared Russian defensive positions” in Zaporizhzhia.

Battles in recent weeks have taken place on multiple points along the 1,500-kilometer front line as Ukraine wages its counteroffensive.

The ISW on Thursday said that Ukraine had launched a “significant mechanised counteroffensive operation in western Zaporizhzhia”, while a Western official said that Mr Zelensky has committed thousands of troops to the region in recent days.

Ukrainian officials have been mostly silent about battlefield developments since they began early counteroffensive operations, though deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said troops are advancing toward the city of Melitopol in the region.

Ukraine eases its sports boycott policy to compete against some Russians ahead of Olympics

Thursday 27 July 2023 14:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine has signaled it will no longer bar its athletes from competing against Russians who are taking part in sporting events as “neutral athletes,” a significant easing of its boycott policy a year before the Paris Olympics.

A decree dated Wednesday says Ukrainian athletes and teams will only be required to boycott if competitors from Russia or Belarus are competing under their national flags or other symbols, or have signaled allegiance to either of those countries in another way.

The change in policy could smooth the way for Ukrainians to compete at next year’s Paris Olympics. Ukrainian athletes previously boycotted events which allowed Russians and Belarusians as “Individual Neutral Athletes,” the preferred term of the International Olympic Committee.

Ukraine eases its sports boycott policy to compete against some Russians ahead of Olympics

Ukrainian parliament accepts culture minister's resignation - lawmaker

Thursday 27 July 2023 13:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine‘s parliament voted on Thursday to accept the resignation of Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko, a lawmaker said, a week after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked for his dismissal.

Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a member of parliament, said on the Telegram messaging app that the chamber had voted overwhelmingly to accept Tkachenko’s resignation and published a photograph showing the outcome of the vote.

Tkachenko quit last week after Zelenskiy called for his government to keep a tight lid on spending during Russia‘s war on his country, and asked his prime minister to consider replacing the culture minister.

Tkachenko had been a proponent of several high-profile and costly projects.

Zheleznyak said parliament would not consider the appointment of a replacement for Tkachenko on Thursday and was unlikely to do so this week.

Putin says Ukrainian attacks in Zaporizhzhia intensified but without success

Thursday 27 July 2023 13:19 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Ukrainian attacks had intensified in recent days, primarily on the frontline running through Ukraine‘s Zaporizhzhia region.

Speaking to Russian TV on the margins of a Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg, Putin said that Ukraine had not enjoyed success on any part of the front.

Russia arrests one of its own sailors over alleged plot to attack warship

Thursday 27 July 2023 12:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia has arrested one of its own sailors over an alleged plot to carry out a “terrorist attack” against a warship in Russia‘s Black Sea Fleet, the FSB security service said on Thursday.

It said the alleged plot was directed against “a ship...armed with high-precision weapons”. The Black Sea Fleet is headquartered in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

The suspect had been “recruited by a Ukrainian intelligence service” and was caught with two homemade bombs, the FSB said in a statement. He was also suspected of passing state secrets to Ukraine.

Russia has previously brought lesser charges, such as desertion, against some of its own servicemen. But the accusations against the sailor - which include possible charges of terrorism, treason, divulging state secrets and illegally possessing explosives, were of exceptional gravity.

The statement gave no further details and it was not possible to independently verify the incident.

Separately, state media quoted the FSB earlier on Thursday as saying two alleged agents for Ukrainian intelligence had been sentenced by a Russian court to 15 years each in a harsh-regime penal colony for espionage.

Russia says it repelled Ukrainian attacks near Bakhmut and in Zaporizhzhia region

Thursday 27 July 2023 12:17 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia‘s Defence Ministry said on Thursday that Ukrainian forces were continuing what it called “unsuccessful” attacks across several fronts, state media said.

It said Russian forces had repelled Ukrainian attacks around the village of Klishchiivka near Bakhmut, and north of Robotyne on the frontline in Zaporizhzhia region, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield reports.

Thursday 27 July 2023 11:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday told African leaders he would gift them tens of thousands of tons of grain within months despite Western sanctions which he said made it harder for Moscow to export its grain and fertilisers.

Speaking at a summit in St Petersburg devoted to Russian-African ties, Putin said Russia was expecting a record grain harvest this year and was ready to replace Ukrainian grain exports to Africa on both a commercial and aid basis and honour what he said was Moscow’s critical role in global food security.

“We will be ready to provide Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Central African Republic and Eritrea with 25-50,000 tons of free grain each in the next 3-4 months,” Putin told the summit, whose participants reacted with applause.

“We will also provide free delivery of these products to consumers”

The event, which is expected to see various agreements signed, follows Moscow’s first Russia-Africa summit in 2019 and is part of a concerted push for influence and business on a continent where mercenaries from Russia‘s Wagner Group remain active despite an abortive mutiny at home last month.

Ukraine MP being investigated for taking family holiday in Maldives amid Russian invasion

Thursday 27 July 2023 11:24 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukrainian authorities are reportedly conducting an investigation to determine whether a member of parliament violated the law by taking a family holiday to the Maldives.

Earlier in January this year, the Ukrainian president banned officials from travelling abroad for non-governmental purposes.

The security service has initiated a criminal case to ascertain whether member of parliament, Yuriy Aristov provided false information to the authorities. He faces up to three years in prison if convicted.

During a video address in January, Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Ignoring the war is a luxury that no one can afford.”

Ukraine MP being investigated for taking holiday in Maldives amid Russian invasion

Russia jails two alleged Ukrainian intelligence agents for 15 years

Thursday 27 July 2023 10:39 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Two alleged agents for Ukrainian intelligence have been sentenced by a Russian court to 15 years each in a harsh-regime penal colony for espionage, Russian state media on Thursday quoted the FSB security service as saying.

The FSB did not name the accused people or say which court had passed the verdict.

Russia has frequently announced the arrests of alleged spies since launching its war in Ukraine 17 months ago.

The FSB said the defendants had been detained last year on suspicion of espionage and involvement in the deaths of Russian troops and destruction of equipment in the area of what Russia calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Kyiv is said to have launched a major push against Russian forces in southeastern Ukraine

Thursday 27 July 2023 10:06 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Kyiv has launched a major push to dislodge Russian forces from southeastern Ukraine as part of its weeks-long counteroffensive, committing thousands of troops to the battle in the country’s southeast, according to Western and Ukrainian officials and analysts.

The surge in troops and firepower has been centered on the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, a Western official said late Wednesday.

The official was not authorised to comment publicly on the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The intense fighting is taking place in areas in the south and east of Ukraine, far from the capital Kyiv, and it was not possible to verify either side’s claims.

The Institute of Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, reported that Ukrainian forces launched “a significant mechanised counteroffensive operation in western Zaporizhzhia region” on Wednesday, adding that they “appear to have broken through certain pre-prepared Russian defensive positions.”