Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow restarts gas supply to Europe via Nord Stream pipeline at reduced capacity – live | Russia

Ukraine’s central financial institution has devalued the hryvnia foreign money by 25% towards the US greenback due to the affect of the invasion by Russia. Reuters experiences it set the brand new hryvnia price at 36.5686 to the greenback.

The financial institution stated in a press release that it had acted “in view of the change within the elementary traits of Ukraine’s financial system throughout the battle and the strengthening of the US greenback towards different currencies.”

The financial institution additionally stated that the devaluation would assist the “competitiveness of Ukrainian producers … and help the steadiness of the financial system in wartime circumstances.”

The devaluation comes a day after Ukraine requested its collectors for a two-year fee freeze on its worldwide bonds in an try and focus its dwindling monetary assets on repelling Russia.

The mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, has posted to Telegram to say that “For the second day in a row and at about the identical time, the occupier hits public transport stops. In consequence, already one useless and 17 wounded, of which one is extraordinarily critical.”

The claims haven’t been independently verified.

Regional governor Oleh Synehubov stated these killed in Kharkiv yesterday included a person, a lady and a 13-year-old boy as he waited at a bus cease. Photographs of the boy’s father holding his hand whereas his son’s physique laid lined on the bottom have been extensively shared yesterday.

Samantha Lock

What may very well be a priceless Fabergé egg has been discovered on board a Russian oligarch’s superyacht seized by US authorities, one of many extra curious gadgets unearthed in sanctions-led investigations up to now.

US deputy legal professional normal Lisa Monaco advised the Aspen safety discussion board on Wednesday it was one of many extra “attention-grabbing” finds her staff has made.

“Let’s get to the juicy stuff: the yachts,” she advised the discussion board devoted to discussing legislation enforcement’s position in freezing and seizing Russian property. “We’ve been discovering some actually attention-grabbing issues … we recovered a Fabergé – or alleged Fabergé egg – on considered one of these [yachts] so it simply will get increasingly more attention-grabbing.”

Monaco didn’t specify precisely which yacht she was referring to however did say it was at present docked in San Diego Bay after it had been sailed from Fiji final month.

A $300m yacht known as the Amadea was sailed by US legislation enforcement officers from Fiji to San Diego late final month after an in depth authorized battle over which Russian oligarch owned it.

Fabergé eggs have develop into a byword for opulence and luxurious because the younger jeweller was commissioned by Tsar Alexander III of Russia in 1885 to make one as a present for his spouse, Maria. It turned a Romanov custom for the subsequent three many years. Fabergé created solely 50 eggs for the imperial household and never all survived.

Learn extra of Samantha Lock’s report: Suspected Fabergé egg discovered on Russian oligarch’s superyacht, US investigators say

Russian gasoline producer Gazprom stated its provide of gasoline to Europe via Ukraine through the Sudzha entry level was up barely on the day earlier than, as Russia additionally resumed vital gasoline provides to Europe via Germany, reopening the Nord Stream gasoline pipeline after 10 days.

Gazprom has reduce flows to Germany through the important Nord Stream 1 pipeline by 40% in latest weeks, blaming the absence of a Siemens gasoline turbine present process repairs in Canada. The German authorities has rejected Gazprom’s clarification.

Agence France-Presse experiences the Nord Stream 1 pipeline below the Baltic Sea has been shut since 11 July to bear annual upkeep. However the resumption of 40% of provides can be inadequate to thrust back an power disaster in Europe this winter, in accordance with specialists.

A complete shutdown of imports or a pointy discount within the stream from east to west might have a catastrophic impact on the European financial system, shutting factories and forcing households to show down the warmth.

Final yr, Russia accounted for 40% of the EU’s whole gasoline imports and any additional disruption to provide would additionally push shopper costs larger and lift the chance of a deep recession.

Ukraine’s authorities have repeatedly known as on Europe to boycott power provides from Russia, saying the continent is sending Russia a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of euros which may then be used to fund its assault on Ukraine.

America estimates that Russian casualties in Ukraine up to now have reached round 15,000 killed and maybe 45,000 wounded, CIA director William Burns stated.

“The most recent estimates from the US intelligence neighborhood can be one thing within the neighborhood of 15,000 (Russian forces) killed and perhaps 3 times that wounded. So a fairly vital set of losses,” Burns stated whereas talking on the Aspen Safety Discussion board in Colorado.

“And, the Ukrainians have suffered as properly – most likely rather less than that. However, you understand, vital casualties.”

Russia classifies army deaths as state secrets and techniques even in occasions of peace and has not up to date its official casualty figures often throughout the battle. On March 25 it stated 1,351 Russian troopers had been killed. Ukraine has additionally stated it won’t be releasing the numbers of Ukrainian casualties, nevertheless Kyiv stated in June that 100 to 200 Ukrainian troops have been being killed per day.

Russian and separatist forces proceed to try small scale assaults alongside the Donbas entrance line and are additionally closing in on Ukraine’s second greatest energy plant at Vuhlehirska, in accordance with the most recent British intelligence report.

Russian forces are additionally probably closing in on Ukraine’s second greatest energy plant at Vuhlehirska, 50km north-east of Donetsk, the UK Ministry of Defence stated.

Russia is prioritising the seize of vital nationwide infrastructure, akin to energy vegetation.

Nevertheless, it’s most likely additionally trying to interrupt via at Vuhlehirska, as a part of its efforts to regain momentum on the southern pincer of its advance in direction of the important thing cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.”

Russian forces destroyed two faculties within the Donetsk cities of Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka in a single day, Ukrainian officers say.

Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk regional army administration, shared images of the destruction in a Telegram publish early this morning.

“Russian occupiers destroyed two faculties at present – in Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka,” he stated, including that an industrial space in Kramatorsk was additionally hit.

America will ship 4 extra excessive mobility artillery rocket methods (Himars) to Ukraine, US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, earlier introduced.

“(We) will maintain discovering revolutionary methods to maintain our long-term help for the courageous women and men of the Ukrainian armed forces and we’ll tailor our help to make sure that Ukraine has the know-how, the ammunition and the sheer firepower to defend itself,” Austin stated at first of a digital assembly with allies on Ukraine.

In a press convention after the assembly, Chairman of the US joint chiefs of workers normal Mark Milley stated Ukraine had used Himars to hit Russian command and management nodes, logistic community and air defence websites inside Ukraine.

Himars have an extended vary and are extra exact than the Soviet-era artillery that Ukraine has had in its arsenal.

Austin stated the brand new bundle would additionally embody rounds for A number of Launch Rocket Programs in addition to artillery munitions.

The most recent bundle would carry the full variety of Himars the USA has offered to Ukraine to 16.

America has offered $8bn in safety help because the battle started, together with $2.2bn within the final month.

Russia additionally shut down the thought of resuming peace talks with Ukraine, accusing it of being undeserving of “critical consideration from critical individuals”.

Lavrov stated the earlier sit-down proved Ukraine had no “need to debate something in earnest”. He continued:

They merely won’t ever be capable to articulate something that might deserve the intense consideration of great individuals.” “[Peace talks] don’t make any sense within the present scenario.”

CIA director Invoice Burns responded to rumours about President Vladimir Putin’s well being, denied the Russian chief was unwell.

Burns, who speaks Russian and who has handled Putin over 20 years, was requested about periodic media experiences suggesting Putin is unwell on the Aspen Safety Discussion board on Wednesday. Burns retorted:

There are many rumours about President Putin’s well being and, so far as we will inform, he’s apparently too wholesome.”

Burns served as ambassador early in Putin’s tenure and was quietly despatched to Moscow final yr in an unsuccessful try and dissuade him from invading Ukraine, Agence France-Presse experiences.

Burns, noting that he has handled Putin over 20 years, described the Russian chief as having “a really flamable mixture of grievance and ambition and insecurity.”

“He’s not an enormous believer within the higher angels of the human spirit,” Burns stated.

“He’s satisfied that his future as Russia’s chief is to revive Russia as an awesome energy.”

The Russian Nord Stream 1 gasoline pipeline has restarted with gasoline flowing from Russia to Germany after upkeep, in accordance with information considered this morning.

Nominations on the pipeline for gasoline flows from Russia into Germany have been at 29,284,591 kwh/h for 6am – 7am CET, from zero beforehand, information from the operator’s web site obtained by Reuters confirmed.

Information for precise bodily flows for a similar time interval haven’t been up to date, and are at zero for the 4am – 5am CET interval.

Operator Nord Stream AG stated that gasoline began flowing once more Thursday morning however the stream would take some time to ramp up, German information company dpa reported.

“It’s working,” a Nord Stream spokesman advised Agence France-Presse, with out specifying the quantity of gasoline being delivered.

Fuel flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline into the OPAL and NEL connection factors in Germany stood at 0 kilowatt hours per hour on July 21 for the hour of 5am – 6am CET, information from the pipeline operator confirmed on Thursday.

The Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany had been closed since 11 July for annual upkeep work. German officers feared that the pipeline — the nation’s most important supply of Russian gasoline, which has accounted for round a 3rd of Germany’s gasoline provides — may not reopen in any respect.

Russia’s overseas minister has stated that Moscow’s army “duties” now transcend the japanese Donbas area to completely occupy broad swaths of southern Ukraine.

The feedback made by Moscow’s prime official, Sergei Lavrov, are the clearest sign but that the Kremlin is making ready to launch a brand new spherical of annexations.

In televised remarks on Wednesday night, Lavrov stated Moscow’s goals will develop additional extra territory alongside Ukraine’s frontlines if the west retains supplying Kyiv with long-range weapons such because the US-made Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket Programs (Himars).

Now the geography is totally different,” he stated, in a change of rhetoric from the Russian authorities.

It’s not simply Donetsk and Luhansk, it’s Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and quite a few different territories. And that is an ongoing course of, constant and insistent.”

In remarks to the RT editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonyan, Lavrov additionally stated Russia would search extra territory as a result of western army assist to Ukraine, specifically the supply of Himars missile methods which have destroyed quite a few Russian army command posts.

“The west … in a need to maximally exacerbate the scenario have pumped Ukraine with increasingly more long-range weapons,” he stated, citing a Ukrainian defence minister’s remarks that Ukraine was negotiating for munitions that might strike targets 300 km away. “Meaning our aim shall be to maneuver them again from the present line even additional.

“As a result of we will’t permit that in that a part of Ukraine which shall be managed by [Volodymyr] Zelenskiy or whoever replaces him, there have been weapons that might current a direct menace to our territory.”

Whats up and welcome again to the Guardian’s stay protection of the battle in Ukraine.

I’m Samantha Lock and I shall be bringing you all the most recent developments for the subsequent quick whereas.

CIA director Invoice Burns, who speaks Russian and who has handled Putin over 20 years, has responded to rumours about President Putin’s well being, saying: “So far as we will inform, he’s apparently too wholesome.”

Russia’s overseas minister has stated that Moscow’s army “duties” now transcend the japanese Donbas area to completely occupy broad swaths of southern Ukraine.

It’s 8.30am in Kyiv and right here is the place issues stand:

• Russia’s overseas minister has stated Moscow’s army “duties” now transcend the japanese Donbas area to completely occupy broad swaths of southern Ukraine. Sergei Lavrov stated Russia might search extra territory alongside the frontlines in Ukraine, calling it a buffer towards US-supplied Himars rocket artillery. “Now the geography is totally different,” Lavrov stated. “It’s not simply Donetsk and Luhansk, it’s Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and quite a few different territories.”

• Russia has shut down the thought of resuming peace talks with Ukraine, accusing it of being undeserving of “critical consideration from critical individuals”. Lavrov stated the earlier sit-down proved Ukraine had no “need to debate something in earnest”. He continued: “They merely won’t ever be capable to articulate something that might deserve the intense consideration of great individuals.” “[Peace talks] don’t make any sense within the present scenario.”

• Russian missile strikes within the japanese Ukrainian metropolis of Kharkiv killed three individuals on Wednesday, in accordance with native officers. Regional governor Oleh Synehubov stated these killed included a person, a lady and a 13-year-old boy as he waited at a bus cease.

• Ukrainian shelling badly broken the essential Antonivskiy bridge within the Russia-controlled Kherson area of southern Ukraine, Moscow-installed regional authorities stated. The bridge is considered one of solely two crossing factors for Russian forces to territory they’ve occupied on the western financial institution of the Dnieper river in southern Ukraine. It has been a key goal for Ukrainian forces in latest days.

• The Ukrainian first girl, Olena Zelenska, appealed to US lawmakers to offer extra weapons to struggle “Russia’s Starvation Video games” in an emotional 15-minute speech to members of the Home and Senate. “I’m asking for weapons, weapons that might not be used to wage a battle on any person else’s land, however to guard one’s residence and the appropriate to get up alive in that residence,” she stated, including that US weapons might assist guarantee a “joint nice victory”.

• The US will present 4 extra superior precision Himars rocket methods to Ukraine, the defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, has introduced. “Ukraine wants the firepower and the ammunition to resist this [Russian] barrage and to strike again,” he stated. As well as, the US will present extra guided a number of launch rocket system (GMLRS) ammunition, which may exactly strike targets as much as 80km (50 miles) away.

• The European Union will mobilise a fifth tranche of army help of €500m to additional help Ukraine. The EU overseas affairs chief, Josep Borrell, stated the area “stays centered and steadfast in its help for Ukraine, along with companions”.

• Lithuania will supply Ukraine extra army help, the Lithuanian ministry of defence introduced on Wednesday. Included within the bundle shall be M13 and M577 armoured personnel carriers, in addition to ammunition for reserve coaching.

• The European Union has set out emergency plans to cut back its gasoline use amid fears Russia might reduce off its provide in winter. It proposed a voluntary goal for nations to limit utilization by 15% from August till March, accusing the Kremlin of weaponising gasoline exports. “Russia is blackmailing us. Russia is utilizing power as a weapon,” the European Fee president, Ursula von der Leyen, stated in a information convention.

• South America’s Mercosur commerce bloc has declined Zelenskiy’s request to handle its upcoming summit. Bloc members Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay failed to succeed in an settlement on the request which he made to Paraguay final week, in accordance with the deputy overseas relations minister Raul Cano, who declined to say which states have been towards it.

• The European Union has agreed on a brand new spherical of sanctions towards Russia, this time concentrating on its gold exports, in addition to people and entities. The transfer marks the seventh bundle of penalties and can see property frozen at Russia’s largest financial institution, Sberbank, with a number of extra names added to the blacklist.

• Professional-Russian separatist forces have stepped up the compelled conscription of males within the occupied areas of Donbas. Video emerged of a Ukrainian lady confronting officers who tried to power her husband to affix pro-Russian fighters in Donetsk. “He doesn’t wish to go and struggle. No person desires to struggle. We’re so sick of you and your battle,” she stated.

• Russia’s communications watchdog has stated it’s taking steps towards the Wikimedia Basis, which hosts on-line encyclopedia Wikipedia, for violating Russian legal guidelines. The legal guidelines are aimed toward proscribing truthful reporting across the battle in Ukraine.