Russo-Ukrainian War: Zelenskiy Advisor Says War Deadlocked; Russia “appoints new Black Sea commander” – live news | Ukraine

Chinese troops will travel to Russia to participate in host-led joint military exercises including India, Belarus, Mongolia, Tajikistan and other countries, the Chinese Defense Ministry said.

China’s participation in the joint drills was “unrelated to the current international and regional situation”, the ministry said.

In July, Moscow announced its intention to hold “Vostok” (eastern) exercises from August 30 to September 5, even as it fights a costly war in Ukraine. He said at the time that some foreign forces would participate, without naming them.

China’s Defense Ministry said its participation in the drills is part of an annual bilateral cooperation agreement with Russia.

“The aim is to deepen practical and friendly cooperation with the armies of the participating countries, improve the level of strategic collaboration between the participating parties and strengthen the ability to respond to various security threats.”

Russia has reportedly replaced the commander of its Crimean-based Black Sea Fleet after explosions rocked the peninsula this week.

Russian news agency RIA quoted sources as saying Igor Osipov had been replaced by Viktor Sokolov.

If confirmed, it would mark one of the most significant dismissals of a military official in the war so far.

The Black Sea Fleet, which has a revered history in Russia, has suffered several humiliations since Russia invaded Ukraine in hopes of a quick victory.

In April, Ukraine hit the Russian flagship, the Moskva, a huge cruiser, with Neptune missiles. It became the largest warship sunk in combat for 40 years.

Russia’s war on Ukraine has reached a “strategic stalemate”, a senior presidential adviser has said.

Russian forces only got minimum advancesand in some cases we have moved forward since last month,” Oleksiy Arestovych said in a video.

What we see is a’strategic stalemate.‘”

Ukrainian forces said on Thursday they repelled a Russian attack in the southern Kherson region.

“The stakes for the Russian Federation in this war have been raised,” Arestovitch added.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said Russian forces were also move planes further in Crimea and out of reach of Ukrainian forces following recent strikes in Crimea.

“The rashists [Russians] are urgently moving their planes and helicopters deep into the peninsula and to airfields in the Russian Federation following the recent strikes in Crimea,” the ministry said in a press briefing late last night.

“The occupiers are taking steps to partially transfer aviation equipment from advanced airfields in Crimea to reserve airfields and airfields permanently based on the territory of the Russian Federation,” the force added.

The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterresarrived in Ukraine to meet its President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and Turkish President, Tayyip Erdoğan, in the western city of Lviv.

The leaders will review the UN-backed grain export deal and discuss “the need for a political solution to this conflict” as well as the situation at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Lviv, South Africa. western Ukraine.

On Friday, António Guterres will travel to the Black Sea port of Odessa, where grain exports have resumed.

On Saturday, the senior UN official will visit the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul, made up of Russians, Ukrainians, Turks and the UN. officials overseeing Ukrainian grain and fertilizer exports to the Black Sea.

Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the war in Ukraine.

I’m Samantha Lock and I’ll bring you all the latest developments in a short time. Whether you’ve been following our coverage overnight or just passed by, here are the final lines.

Russia would have replaced the commander of its Black Sea Fleet based in Crimea after explosions rocked the peninsula this week.

The UN Secretary General António Guterres, arrived in Ukraine ahead of a meeting later in the day with its President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and Turkish President, Tayyip Erdoğan. Leaders will review UN-backed grain export deal and discuss “the need for a political solution to this conflict” as well as the situation at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

It’s 7:30 a.m. in Ukraine. Here’s everything you might have missed:

• A Russian strike on Kharkiv killed at least seven people and injured 16 others, Ukrainian state emergency services said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said a building had been “totally destroyed… We will not forgive, we will take revenge.”

• Russia has replaced the commander of its Crimean-based Black Sea Fleet after explosions rocked the peninsula this week. Russian news agency RIA quoted sources as saying Igor Osipov had been replaced by Viktor Sokolov. If confirmed, it would mark one of the most significant dismissals of a military official in the war so far.

• Chinese troops to visit Russia to participate in joint military exercises “unrelated to the current international and regional situation,” the Chinese Defense Ministry said. Other countries will include India, Belarus, Mongolia and Tajikistan. In July, Moscow announced its intention to hold “Vostok” exercises from August 30 to September 5.

• Ukrainian authorities conducted disaster response exercises near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant Wednesday. This followed repeated bombings at the Russian-occupied factory, the largest of its kind in Europe.

• The main bridge connecting Crimea to the Russian mainland must be “dismantled”, said Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak. The 19 km (12 mile) long Kerch Bridge is the main military and civilian land corridor from Moscow to the peninsula. “The bridge is an illegal object,” Podolyak said. It “must therefore be dismantled. No matter how – voluntarily or not,” implying that the bridge could become a military target for Ukrainian forces.

• The senior official in Russia-annexed Crimea claimed the FSB security service dismantled a six-person terror cell from a banned Islamist group. This followed a series of strikes on Russian bases and other infrastructure in the region that Russia has sought to blame on sabotage.

• At least 12 Russians reportedly killed in attack on base in occupied Nova Kakhovka, according to the Ukrainian army. Footage posted on Telegram by the State Border Guard Service showed numerous burnt-out trucks, collapsed buildings and debris.

• Ukraine did not lose any US-supplied Himars rocket launcherssaid Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, contradicting Russian claims. Ukraine received at least 20 of the US-made launchers and used them to attack Russian ammunition depots, command posts and air defenses.

• The mayor of the village of Verkhnyo Rogachytsk in the Kherson region was kidnapped, according to the vice-president of the regional council. Yuri Sobolevsky said Svitlana Ivanivna was taken from her home around 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

• The first wartime UN food aid shipment for Africa has reached the Bosphorus Strait on Wednesday as part of a UN-backed deal to restore Ukrainian grain deliveries across the Black Sea. Marine traffic sites showed the MV Brave Commander carrying its cargo of 23,000 tonnes of wheat through the heart of Istanbul to its final destination in Djibouti, Ethiopia next week.

• The Leaders of Ukraine, Turkey and UN to meet to review grain export deal in Lviv on Thursday. UN Secretary-General António Guterres Zelenskiy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will also discuss “the need for a political solution to this conflict” and the situation at Russia’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, said said UN spokesman Stéphane dit Dujarric.

• Canada has disbursed C$450 million ($348 million) in loans for the purchase of heating fuel before winter for Ukraine, announced the Minister of Finance in Ottawa, Chrystia Freeland.

• Russia expects 38% increase in energy export earnings this year due to higher oil export volumes, coupled with rising gas prices, according to an Economy Ministry document seen by Reuters. Russia’s revenue from energy exports is expected to reach $337.5 billion this year, a 38% increase from 2021.