Ukraine
Kiev region completely liberated: Ukraine Minister
In a social media post late Saturday, the Minister said: "Irpin, Bucha, Hostomel, and the rest of the Kiev region have been liberated from the invaders," Ukrayinska Pravda reported. The announcement comes after Russia said last week that it would "drastically reduce" combat operations around the capital Kiev and the northern city of Chernihiv, and instead focus on the eastern regions.
First Ukrainian air strikes on Russian territory
Ukrainian helicopter pilots have plenty of experience of flying low and fast to avoid being detected by military radar and air defence systems. They have been doing exactly that in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine for years. But if these reports are correct -- flying at night, well into Russian territory, to launch an attack on an enemy fuel depot would have required extraordinary bravery -- as well as finely-honed flying skills.
Ukraine confirms partial withdrawal of Russian troops from Kiev, Chernihiv directions
"The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine notes a certain partial relocation of individual units from the Kiev direction, as well as from the Chernihiv direction," Motuzyanyk told a media briefing. However, there was no mass withdrawal of Russian troops from those areas, he was quoted as saying Xinhua news agency.
Zelensky, Biden discuss support for Ukraine over phone
"Talked about specific defensive support, a new package of enhanced sanctions, macro-financial and humanitarian aid," Zelensky tweeted after the talks. The situation on the battlefield in Ukraine and the diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis were other topics of the hour-long conversation, Zelensky was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.
Ukraine considered use of biological weapons against Russia and Donbass
The official representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Major General Igor Konashenkov, said that Kiev was seriously considering the possibility of using biological weapons against the population of Donbass and the Russian Federation. The Russian armed forces are carrying out a planned regrouping of troops in the Kiev and Chernigov directions, Konashenkov said.
Peace talks did not offer any breakthrough: Russia
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has played down any hopes of a breakthrough in the talks held with Ukraine in Turkey, BBC reported. On Tuesday, Russia said it intended to scale back its military activity in Kiev and Chernihiv, while Ukraine said it would consider becoming a "neutral" state. Peskov said Russia is careful to comment on the talks as "we believe that negotiations should take place in silence", adding that the chief Russian negotiator will speak later.
Peace Dividend: Russia-Ukraine talks calm commodity price rise
Advanced talks between Russia and Ukraine to reach a peaceful settlement have relatively calmed down global commodities' prices.Nonetheless, prices still remain at elevated levels but the latest trend shows a slower rate of appreciation. Lately, the conflict which started over a month ago, seems to reach a partial resolution, after the two sides entered another round of talks.
12 killed in Russia's airstrike on Ukraine's regional administration building
The airstrike, which occurred at about 8.45 a.m. local time (0545 GMT), destroyed the central section of the nine-story building, the ministry said on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the ministry, 18 people were rescued from the debris following the attack. The search and rescue operation is under way, the ministry said.
Ukraine puts indirect losses from conflict with Russia at over $1 trillion
"The losses, calculated indirectly, taking into account the losses in the coming years, amount to more than a trillion dollars," Shmyhal was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. The cost of direct damage to Ukraine's public buildings, bridges, roads, civilian and military infrastructure caused by the attacks is estimated at about 270 billion dollars, he said.
Moscow to cut military activity near Kiev to create mutual trust
Russia has "drastically" reduced its military activity near Kiev and Chernigov as talks with Ukraine enter the "practical" stage, the deputy minister of defense Alexander Fomin announced on Tuesday. Speaking to the press following the talks with the Ukrainian delegation, Fomin said that "a decision was made to drastically, in several times, reduce the military activity on the approaches to Kiev and Chernigov."
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