Updated July 22, 2023 at 5:11 am EDT|Published July 22, 2023 at 2:27 am EDT
A person stands amid the rubble of an agricultural storage building destroyed in a Russian attack on Ukraine’s Odessa region on Friday. (Libkos/AP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that restoring the Black Sea Corridor, through which ships transport Ukrainian grain to the world, is “absolute priority”, according to the Ukrainian leader’s office. The Turkish Presidential Office confirmed that the two had held one phone called on Friday and discussed the grain deal that Russia pulled out of this week.
The deal, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations last year, allowed the safe passage of ships transporting grain from Ukraine, a major exporter. “As a result of Russia’s actions, the world is once again on the brink of a food crisis,” said Zelenskyy.
Here you will find the latest information on the war and its global impact.
UN Secretary General Martin Griffiths said millions were at risk of starvation after Russia’s withdrawal from the Grains Agreement. “Global grain prices have skyrocketed this week,” he told the UN Security Council. “This potentially threatens hunger and worse for millions of people.”
UNESCO condemned Russian attacks on ‘historic center of Odessa’ protected by the World Heritage Convention. The UN cultural organization reported damage to sites such as the Odessa Maritime Museum and the Odessa Literary Museum. Russian attacks have hit Ukrainian port areas on the Black Sea in recent days, where the Russian Navy also conducted a gunnery exercise. The attacks follow Moscow’s pledge to retaliate after Kiev’s attack on the Crimean Bridge earlier this week.
Zelenskyy described the Crimean bridge as a target of Ukraine that must be “neutralized”. “This is not just a logistical route, this is the route dedicated to supplying munitions to war,” he said at the Aspen Security Forum. “And any target that brings war and not peace must be neutralized.” Ukrainian forces attacked the bridge connecting mainland Russia to the Crimea peninsula — which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014 — in an attack on Monday, killing two people.
Radar images appear to show newly arrived vehicles and equipment in Belarus. at an alleged base for Wagner Group fighters. Images provided to the Washington Post by Maxar Technologies and Umbra show that “dozens, if not hundreds, of vehicles and equipment have recently arrived at the facility,” according to Stephen Wood, senior director at Maxar. The images show an increase in material compared to previous images from July 16.
Ukraine’s counteroffensive expected to ‘gain pace’ Zelenskyi told Aspen Security Forum participants that Ukrainian forces are trying to retake ground from well-entrenched Russian troops. “We are already searching some mine sites and clearing these areas,” said Zelenskyy.
The United States plans to announce a new $400 million military aid package for Ukraine. Portal reported, citing three unidentified American officials. The Post could not independently verify the report.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Ukraine’s use of cluster munitions had ‘impact’ about the Russian defense. Human rights groups have criticized the US supply of the largely banned munitions, and some NATO allies said they disagreed with the move. The Post reported this week that Ukraine has begun using US-provided munitions in the southeast.
President Biden has appointed CIA director William J. Burns to his cabinet. The symbolic move doesn’t give Burns any new authority, but it is seen as a victory for the CIA and reflects the central role the spy chief has played in the government’s foreign policy and his key role as a messenger to Russia, reports The Post’s Shane Harris.
Russia and China are conducting naval exercises in the waters between South Korea and Japan that end on Sunday. According to Russian news agencies, the exercises include anti-submarine maneuvers “ensuring the safety of communications in the waters and in the airspace” and joint artillery fire.
Zelenskyy fired Ukraine’s ambassador to Britain. according to the BBC. Kiev gave no reason for ousting Vadym Prystaiko, who criticized the president’s reaction after British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace suggested Ukraine should be grateful for the security aid. Zelenskyi replied: “We can wake up in the morning and thank the minister. He should write me and tell me how I can thank him.” Prystaiko had described the remarks as “unhealthy sarcasm”.
Russia arrests Igor Girkin, the former security guard who led operations in Ukraine: Girkin, a former Russian commander in Ukraine, has been arrested for promoting extremism. This is the first time Moscow has taken action against a pro-war advocate who has criticized the top leadership and their often botched military strategy, reports Mary Ilyushina.
Girkin is a former Federal Security Service (FSB) official and played a role in Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. He is now being accused of “public calls for extremist activity” online, Russian state news agencies reported.
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