Ukraine’s Zelenskiy warns of hard winter, reports war progress

KYIV, Sept 4 (Reuters) – European leaders on Sunday sought to ease the affect of excessive vitality costs throughout the continent, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned of a troublesome winter, whilst he reported progress in a counter-offensive towards Russian troops.

Zelenskiy thanked his forces in his nightly tackle on Sunday for taking two settlements within the south and a 3rd within the east, in addition to extra territory within the east, saying he had obtained “good reports” from his navy commanders and head of intelligence. learn extra

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the president’s workplace, earlier on Sunday posted a picture of troopers elevating the Ukrainian flag over a village he labeled as being within the southern space that’s the predominant focus of the counter-offensive.

“Vysokopillya. Kherson region. Ukraine. Today,” Tymoshenko wrote in a Facebook put up over a photograph of three troopers on rooftops, one of them fixing a Ukrainian flag to a put up.

Ukraine started a counter-offensive final week concentrating on the south, notably the Kherson area, which Russia seized early within the battle.

Zelenskiy’s remarks got here a day after he warned Europeans that Russia was getting ready “a decisive energy blow” in the course of the chilly months forward.

Moscow has cited Western sanctions and technical points for the vitality disruptions. European nations who’ve backed Kyiv with diplomatic and navy assist have accused Russia of weaponizing vitality provides.

Some analysts say the shortages and a surge in dwelling prices as winter approaches threat sapping Western assist for Kyiv as governments attempt to cope with disgruntled populations.

Separately, the U.S. embassy in Moscow stated John Sullivan, the ambassador since his appointment by former President Donald Trump in 2019, had left his put up and was retiring from the diplomatic service. A State Department official stated Sullivan had served a typical tour size. learn extra

Last week Moscow stated it might hold the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, its predominant gasoline channel to Germany, closed and G7 nations introduced a deliberate value cap on Russian oil exports.

The Kremlin stated it might cease promoting oil to any nations that applied the cap.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated on Sunday his authorities had been planning for a complete halt in gasoline deliveries in December, promising measures to decrease costs and tie social advantages to inflation.

“Russia is no longer a reliable energy partner,” Scholz instructed a information convention in Berlin.

In response, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev accused Germany of being an enemy of Russia. “In other words, it has declared a hybrid war on Russia,” he stated.

On Sunday, Finland and Sweden introduced plans to supply billions of {dollars} to energy firms to avert the menace of insolvency amid the disaster. learn extra

EYES ON ZAPORIZHZHIA NUCLEAR PLANT

Russian authorities stated the state of affairs across the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine was calm on Sunday, after U.N. inspectors stated on Saturday it had once more misplaced exterior energy.

The final remaining predominant exterior energy line was reduce off though a reserve line continued supplying electrical energy to the grid, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated in a press release. learn extra

Only one of its six reactors remained in operation, it stated.

Russian troops seized the plant shortly after President Vladimir Putin despatched his military over the border on Feb. 24. It has turn into a focus of the battle. Each facet has blamed the opposite for shelling that has raised fears of a nuclear catastrophe.

Speaking to Komsomolskaya Pravda radio, Russian official Vladimir Rogov stated there had been no shelling or incursions. IAEA specialists are anticipated to proceed working on the plant till at the least Monday, Rogov was quoted as saying.

An IAEA mission toured the plant, which remains to be operated by Ukrainian employees, final week and a few specialists have remained there pending the discharge of an IAEA report. learn extra

Russia has resisted worldwide calls to demilitarize the realm.

On different battlefronts, Ukrainian Telegram channels reported explosions on the Antonivsky bridge close to the southern metropolis of Kherson, which is occupied by Russian forces.

The bridge has been severely broken by Ukrainian missiles over the previous weeks, however Russian troops have been attempting to restore it or to arrange a pontoon crossing or barges to take care of provides to Russian items on the suitable financial institution of the Dnipro River.

Reporting by Tom Balmforth in Kyiv; Additional reporting by Michael Shields, Ron Popeski, Elaine Monaghan and Reuters bureaus; Writing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Angus MacSwan and Patricia Zengerle; Editing by William Mallard, Philippa Fletcher and Lisa Shumaker

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