STRAIGHT. War in Ukraine: Moscow and Kyiv intensify shelling

Wagner mercenaries will fight more in Ukraine, but will go to Africa

In a video posted by the Wagner Group on Telegram, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of this mercenary organization, welcomes the militants to Belarus. “You have done a lot for Russia. What is happening at the front today is an outrage in which we should not participate, ”he said. And add: “Therefore, it was decided that we would stay here, in Belarus, for some time. Then we prepare, improve our level and set off on a new path towards Africa. But maybe we will return to the war in Ukraine when we are sure that we will not be ashamed, we and our experience,” he concluded.

International Gymnastics Federation allowed Russians and Belarusians to compete in international competitions

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has stated that Russian and Belarusian gymnasts will be admitted. “under strict conditions”, to participate in its competitions on the terms of neutrality. The FIG Executive Committee clarified in a statement that citizens of Russia and Belarus will only be able to participate in“neutral individual athletes”without any involvement or connection with the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus, their respective National Federations or National Olympic Committees.

Sea mines laid by Russians near Ukrainian ports

After the denunciation of the grain deal, Russia planted additional sea mines near Ukrainian ports, according to White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge. “We believe that this is a coordinated effort to justify any attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea and blame these attacks on Ukraine,” he said.

Teenage girl killed in Crimean drone attack

A teenage girl was killed overnight in a Ukrainian drone attack in Crimea, according to a Moscow-appointed local governor.

“As a result of an attack by an enemy drone in northwestern Crimea, four administrative buildings were damaged,” Sergei Aksyonov said on Telegram, adding: “Unfortunately, a teenage girl died. »

Twenty people were injured as a result of Russian shelling of Nikolaev and Odessa

Early Thursday morning, Russia targeted the cities of Mykolaiv and Odessa, port cities in southern Ukraine. According to local authorities, 11 people were injured. “The Russians hit the center of the city of Nikolaev. A garage and a 3-storey residential building are on fire. Firefighters left for the place, ”the governor of the Nikolaev region Vitaly Kim said in Telegram. “A total of 18 people were injured, nine of them were hospitalized, including five children, two people were removed from the rubble,” he added. According to the mayor of the city, “there is a huge hole in the ground near a three-story residential building. The fire is very serious.” According to him, “at least five residential buildings were damaged. A search and rescue operation is underway.”

In Odessa, another major Ukrainian port city on the Black Sea, about 100 kilometers southwest of Nikolayev, another Russian attack has hospitalized two people, according to the local governor.

“As a result of the Russian attack, destruction occurred in the center of Odessa,” Oleg Kiper, the governor of the Odessa region, said on Telegram. This is the third consecutive night of Russian attacks on this city.

Cereal prices are rising

Since the suspension of the Ukrainian grain corridor and the intensification of Russian bombardments, not a single vessel has dared to enter and load grain, which has led to a sharp increase in prices in the European market: + 5%.

Insurers leave the Black Sea

After the Black Sea grain agreement expired on Monday, which allowed 33 million tons of grain to be left from Ukraine for the year, several insurers stopped covering risks in the area.

Russia threatens

Russia said it would consider ships bound for Ukraine in the Black Sea from Thursday as “potential warships” and the countries whose flag they fly as “parties to the conflict.”

Ukraine plans ‘long and complex’ counter-offensive

“Undoubtedly, this operation will be quite complex, long and will take a long time,” said Mikhail Podolyak, an adviser to the President of Ukraine, due to problems with Western arms supplies and the “intensity of mining.”

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