Thousands of Russian troops retreated within the face of a lightning Ukrainian offensive within the Kharkiv area that threatens to derail the Kremlin’s bid to cement management of Ukraine’s east. Russia’s protection ministry confirmed the pullout, saying it was bolstering its forces within the jap Donetsk area.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned the nation’s military has recaptured “more than 30 settlements” within the Kharkiv area, with items of the National Police transferring in as Russian forces are expelled. The Institute for the Study of War estimates Ukraine has recaptured some 2,500 sq. kilometers (965 sq. miles) of territory round Kharkiv. Kyiv’s forces might have liberated Kupyansk and Izyum on Saturday.
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Key Developments
- Russia Confirms Flight of Troops From Ukraine’s Kharkiv Region
- Scholz Says Germany Is Prepared for Russia Gas Halt
- US Sees Economic Reasons for Russia to Comply With Oil-Price Cap
- Ukraine Military Breakthrough in North Threatens Russian Grip
- Russian-Occupied Reactor at Increased Safety Risk, UN Warns
- Russia Current-Account Surplus at Record Amid Signs Growth Slows
On the Ground
Kyiv’s forces are pushing back within the Kherson area to the south and round Kharkiv within the north. Ukrainian forces have liberated the city of Balakliya within the Kharkiv area, regional governor Oleh Synehubov mentioned on Telegram. The Ukrainska Pravda web site experiences that Kupyansk in Kharkiv area was additionally liberated. Kupyansk has been an vital logistics hub and ammunition depot for Moscow’s troops. In the previous day, Moscow’s forces launched 13 missile assaults and 22 air strikes, Ukraine’s General Staff mentioned in an replace.
(All occasions CET)
Zelenskiy Says Ukraine, Allies Face Hardest Winter (10 p.m.)
Ukraine and European allies ought to brace for a tough winter amid the power shortages engineered by Russian President Vladimir Putin and strain to chop assist to Kyiv, Ukraine’s president mentioned.
“It is the most difficult winter for the whole world,” Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned on the Yalta European Strategy Conference in Kyiv organized by Ukrainian businessman Victor Pinchuk. He termed choking off power to Europe Putin’s “last argument.”
Zelenskiy urged Ukraine’s allies to develop provides of anti-missile techniques to guard the nation’s power infrastructure, which he predicted could be a goal for Russian troops, and acknowledged the chance of international assist to Ukraine fading over time.
US Concerned About Russia-China Ties (10 p.m.)
The US is intently watching the deepening financial ties between Russia and China, mentioned Jake Sullivan, National Security Adviser to President Joe Biden.
China hasn’t supplied materials help to Russia, “something we were concerned about,” Sullivan informed the Yalta European Strategy Conference in Kyiv by video. The US hasn’t seen any main Chinese coverage resolution to “flatly violate US sanctions and export controls at systematic level,” he mentioned.
Still, Washington is watching “steps that China is taking through market transactions to provide services to Russia,” he mentioned.
Naftogaz Warns of Russian Gas Transit Risk (10 p.m.)
There’s a excessive danger Russia will absolutely cease pure fuel shipments to the European Union by way of Ukraine, mentioned Yuriy Vitrenko, chief govt officer of power big Naftogaz Ukrainy.
‘’I might estimate the chance at 70%,” Vitrenko mentioned in an interview throughout the Yalta European Conference in Kyiv.
Russia has shut off fuel provides to Germany and different European prospects by way of Nord Stream 1 after failing to restart the pipeline following upkeep.
Zelenskiy Meets With Top Commanders (6:12 p.m.)
Ukraine’s president had the most recent in a sequence of conferences along with his high army, intelligence and authorities officers on Saturday, in keeping with a press release on his web site.
The officers “listened to reports by military commanders of operative groups” on how the military is “de-occupying Ukrainian territories.” Decisions had been taken on “security in the liberated settlements,” in keeping with the assertion.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy additionally spoke earlier with French President Emmanuel Macron, with a lot fo the discuss targeted on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant.
Russia Confirms Flight of Troops From Ukraine’s Kharkiv Region (5:05 p.m.)
Russian troops retreated within the face of a lightning Ukrainian offensive within the Kharkiv area that threatens to derail the Kremlin’s bid to cement management of Ukraine’s east.
An area Moscow-backed official mentioned Saturday Kremlin forces had pulled out of Izyum, a staging submit for the marketing campaign in Donbas, to keep away from being encircled. Russia’s protection ministry confirmed the pullout.
The information got here hours after Ukrainian officers introduced the seizure of Kupyansk, a logistical and transit hub for Russian troops combating within the east, and the recapture of different occupied territory within the northern Kharkiv area earlier this week.
Ukraine Says Five More Grain Ships Sailed (10:18 a.m.)
Five ships carrying a complete of 90,000 tons of Ukrainian grains and agriculture merchandise left Ukrainian Black Sea ports early Saturday, in keeping with an emailed assertion. The ships are heading to locations in Africa and Europe, the federal government mentioned.
Ukraine has exported 2.6 million tons of agriculture merchandise because it reached a deal in July, brokered by Turkey and the UN, to unblock three ports within the Odesa area that had been closed since Russia’s invasion.
Scholz Says Germany Prepared for Russia Gas Halt (10 a.m.)
Europe is ready to climate the fallout ought to Russia resolve to halt fuel deliveries altogether, mentioned Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Germany has ready “for Russia to largely cut off gas supplies because of the war against Ukraine,” Scholz mentioned, including his nation has arrange terminals on the north German coast to import liquid fuel.
Germany’s Baerbock Visits Kyiv (8:50 a.m.)
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock arrived in Kyiv on Saturday on her second go to to the capital since Russia’s invasion in February. The purpose is to indicate that “that we will continue to stand by Ukraine as long as it takes — with the delivery of weapons, with humanitarian and financial support,” she mentioned.
Ukraine’s prime minister visited Berlin per week earlier. Baerbock mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin “is counting on us getting tired of sympathizing with the suffering in Ukraine” by choking off power provides. “This calculation must not and will not work,” she mentioned.
Ukraine Seeks $1.5 Billion From US for Gas (8:49 a.m.)
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal spoke with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen late Friday. They mentioned power safety, together with the upcoming heating season, in keeping with an emailed assertion.
Shmyhal mentioned Ukraine is in talks to get $1.5 billion from the US Eximbank to buy fuel. Ukraine might have 15 billion cubic meters of fuel in storage by Nov. 1, Ukrainian state-run power firm Naftogaz CEO Yuriy Vitrenko mentioned Friday.
Yellen careworn the necessity to determine “near-term, high-impact projects critical to rebuilding Ukraine’s economy.”
Ukraine Regains 2,500 Square Kilometers, ISW Estimates (7:30 a.m.)
Ukraine is “likely clearing pockets of disorganized Russian forces caught in the rapid Ukrainian advance to Kupyansk, Izyum, and the Oskil River,” according to the Institute for the Study of War, a US-based suppose tank. “Ukrainian forces will likely sever Russian ground lines of communication to Izyum within the coming days, possibly collapsing Russian positions in this area,” it mentioned.
ISW estimates Ukraine’s forces have captured 2,500 sq. kilometers (965 sq. miles) in Kharkiv area counteroffensives as of Friday. That’s double the latest estimate from Ukrainian officers together with Zelenskiy.
Moscow’s troops had been “likely taken by surprise” by Ukraine’s offensive operations within the Kharkiv area this week as a result of of their deal with Kherson, the UK protection ministry mentioned.