U.S. says Russia using ‘nuclear shield’ in Ukraine, risks terrible accident

UNITED NATIONS/KYIV, Aug 2 (Reuters) – The United States has accused Russia of using Ukraine’s greatest nuclear energy plant as a “nuclear shield” by stationing troops there, stopping Ukrainian forces from returning hearth and risking a terrible nuclear accident.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned the United States was “deeply concerned” that the Zaporizhzhia plant, which Russia was accused of firing shells dangerously near in March, was now a Russian army base used to fireside on close by Ukrainian forces.

“Of course the Ukrainians cannot fire back lest there be a terrible accident involving the nuclear plant,” Blinken advised reporters after nuclear nonproliferation talks on the United Nations in New York on Monday. learn extra

Russia’s actions went past using a “human shield” Blinken mentioned, calling it a “nuclear shield.”

At the New York talks, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Mykola Tochytskyi mentioned “robust joint actions are needed to prevent nuclear disaster” and referred to as for the worldwide group to “close the sky” over Ukraine’s nuclear energy vegetation with air defence methods.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine has sparked the most important battle in Europe since World War Two, killing 1000’s, displacing hundreds of thousands and leaving massive components of Ukraine in rubble.

The warfare has additionally precipitated a world meals disaster, with Russia and Ukraine producing a few third of the world’s wheat, whereas Western sanctions on Russia, a serious vitality supplier to Europe, have precipitated a world vitality disaster.

FIRST GRAINS SHIP

The first ship to hold Ukrainian grain by way of the Black Sea since Russia invaded 5 months in the past left the port of Odesa for Lebanon on Monday below a protected passage deal.

The crusing was made potential after Turkey and the United Nations brokered a grain and fertiliser export settlement between Russia and Ukraine final month – a uncommon diplomatic breakthrough in a battle that has turn out to be a drawn-out warfare of attrition.

The Sierra Leone-flagged ship Razoni will head to the port of Tripoli, Lebanon, after passing by way of Turkey’s Bosphorus Strait linking the Black Sea, which is dominated by Russia’s navy, to the Mediterranean. It is carrying 26,527 tonnes of corn.

But there are nonetheless hurdles to beat earlier than hundreds of thousands of tonnes of Ukrainian grain can depart its Black Sea ports, together with clearing sea mines and making a framework for vessels to soundly enter the battle zone and choose up cargoes. learn extra

The United Nations has warned of the danger of a number of famines this 12 months due to the warfare in Ukraine.

Known as Europe’s breadbasket, Ukraine hopes to export 20 million tonnes of grain held in silos and 40 million tonnes from the harvest now below approach, initially from Odesa and close by Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk, to assist clear the silos for the brand new crop.

Russia referred to as the Razoni’s departure “very positive” information, however it has denied duty for the meals disaster, saying Western sanctions have slowed its exports and accusing Ukraine of laying underwater mines at entrance of its ports.

Russia and Ukraine accuse one another of laying the mines that now float across the Black Sea.

Signalling a deepening vitality row between Russia and Europe, Russia on Monday mentioned there was little it may do to assist with pressing repairs to the Nord Stream 1 fuel pipeline, its major fuel pipeline to Europe, following additional falls in Gazprom manufacturing and exports. learn extra

Gas from Russia met about 40% of European wants earlier than Russia despatched troops into Ukraine. Russia lower fuel provides by way of Nord Stream 1 to simply 20% of capability final week, saying a turbine despatched to Canada for upkeep had not been returned and different gear wanted restore.

RUSSIAN ADVANCEMENT

Russia invaded Ukraine in what it referred to as a “special operation” to demilitarise its neighbour. Ukraine and Western nations have dismissed this as a baseless pretext for warfare.

After failing to seize the capital Kyiv early in the warfare, Russia now goals to seize the japanese Donbas area, made up of Donetsk and Luhansk, partially occupied by Russia-backed separatists earlier than the invasion, and seize extra of the south, having already annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych advised media about 22,000 Russian troops have been getting ready to advance on the cities of Kriviy Rih and Mykolaiv, the place a “sufficiently large” Ukrainian pressure lay in wait.

In Kherson area, which is usually below Russian management, Ukrainian troops had liberated some 50 cities, mentioned Yuri Sobolevsky, deputy head of the ousted Kherson regional council.

“Russian troop in Kherson region are sustaining considerable losses,” Sobolevsky wrote on Telegram.

Reuters was unable to confirm the battlefield report.

Serhiy Gaidai, governor of Luhansk area, which is sort of all below Russian management, mentioned international fighters have been arriving to assist Russian forces.

“We have noticed that more and more private military companies coming into the area – the Wagner group,” Gaidai advised Ukrainian TV, including that these irregular forces have been motivated by “money and looting”.

Russian non-public army agency Wagner has probably been given duty for sectors of the entrance line in japanese Ukraine, presumably as Russia is dealing with a scarcity of infantry, Britain’s Ministry of Defence mentioned final week.

Gaidai mentioned partisans have been destroying infrastructure, together with fuel and water networks, in battered Luhansk cities to gradual Russian forces.

Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Michael Perry; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore

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