Ukrainian officers mentioned they don’t anticipate to have the ability to deploy U.S.-built F-16 fighter jets earlier than the top of the 12 months.
“We had massive hopes for this airplane, that it’s going to turn into a part of air protection, in a position to shield us from Russia’s missiles and drones terrorism,” Ukrainian air power spokesman Yuriy Ihnat advised a joint telethon broadcast by Ukrainian channels. “It’s already apparent that we will be unable to guard Ukraine with F-16 plane this fall and winter,” he mentioned. Earlier this 12 months, Washington relented to Ukraine’s request to make use of the superior fighter jets as a part of its air defenses.
The State Division condemned what it referred to as Moscow’s “continued assaults on Ukrainian grain infrastructure,” after reviews of Russian drones focusing on Ukrainian grain warehouses close to Danube ports this week. Deputy spokesman Vedant Patel accused Russia of “weaponizing meals” by suspending its participation in a world grain deal that might see Ukrainian meals objects exported safely through the Black Sea.
“[Vladimir] Putin merely doesn’t care about international meals safety,” Patel mentioned, referring to the Russian president.
Right here’s the newest on the warfare and its impression throughout the globe.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by telephone to Paul Whelan, an American jailed in Russia, CNN reported. Whelan, a Marine turned company safety govt, was convicted of espionage and sentenced in 2020 in a trial he argued was politically motivated. Whelan had a “lengthy, frank dialog” with Blinken on Wednesday, his brother David advised CNN.
NATO official Stian Jenssen apologized and withdrew his suggestion that Ukraine ought to cede land to Russia, to make peace and turn into a member of the navy alliance, Dutch media shops reported. His feedback drew anger from Kyiv, with Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak describing the thought of ceding land to Russia as “ridiculous.”
Chinese language Protection Minister Li Shangfu is in Belarus for a three-day go to, Belarusian information company BelTA reported. Cooperation between the 2 nations is getting stronger, the company cited Li as saying. Belarus is a detailed Russian ally.
North Korea and Russia are ramping up navy cooperation with indicators of a attainable arms supply from Pyongyang to Moscow this month, South Korea’s spy company advised lawmakers on Thursday. Seoul’s Nationwide Intelligence Service advised a parliamentary briefing that North Korean chief Kim Jong Un and Russian Protection Minister Sergei Shoigu agreed on a “broad framework for navy cooperation” at their assembly in July. Shoigu made a uncommon journey to Pyongyang final month, the place he met with Kim and toured a protection exhibition. Washington mentioned Shoigu requested munition provides, however Moscow and Pyongyang have denied allegations of arms offers between them.
Finland will construct Europe’s largest emergency stockpile in case of a nuclear, radiological, organic or chemical risk, its Inside Ministry mentioned. Amid issues in regards to the fallout from the warfare in Ukraine, Finland was granted $262 million from the European Fee earlier this 12 months to construct the reserve, which is able to embrace protecting tools, medicines and vaccines.
Russia launched eight missiles and 82 airstrikes towards Ukraine up to now day, the Common Workers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine mentioned on Fb. The casualties embrace youngsters, the assertion mentioned, with out offering extra particulars. Port infrastructure in Odessa was hit, in accordance with the replace, in addition to residential and public buildings within the Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk areas. The Submit couldn’t confirm the claims.
Ukrainian ship carrying grain sails from Odessa, testing Russian risk: A ship carrying Ukrainian agricultural merchandise left the southern port of Odessa — the primary such vessel to set sail since Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain deal final month, reviews David L. Stern. The container ship, flying a Hong Kong flag, left the port by way of a “short-term hall” established for civilian vessels towards the Bosporus, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov mentioned on Fb.
Russian forces have continued their ferocious barrage towards Ukraine’s agricultural infrastructure, intent on destroying the nation’s capacity to ship to international markets and crippling a key sector of the Ukraine’s economic system.
Min Joo Kim contributed to this report.