First, links to two explainers. In the first, a Berkshire Eagle columnist who reported for other news organizations for a dozen or so years while domiciled in Moscow and Kyiv elaborates on worldwide energy repercussions of the war. In about a thousand words, James Brooke summarizes realities that include perilous nuclear brinkmanship. (It appears not to be paywalled against non-subscribers to the Eagle.) The other is a National Public Radio report on another, not quite as major, economic consequence of the war. Then, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and Tass; other stories are accessible by clicking on their names below. — MCM
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Putin throws Europe into energy crisis, by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle If firewood prices rise this autumn in the Berkshires, blame Vladimir Putin. . . . [And] in the world’s increasingly integrated energy economy, Europe’s ballooning oil and gas prices will drag up prices in the U.S. With British and German home electricity bills expected to double this winter watch your National Grid and Berkshire Gas bills. READ MORE . . .
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Russia’s war in Ukraine pushes Ukrainian steel production to the brink. Reported by Jason Beaubien | NPR Iron and steel production remains Ukraine’s second-leading industry after agriculture. And prior to the Russian invasion this year, it was a major supplier of iron ore to Turkey, China and parts of the European Union. While the war with Russia has raised serious international concern about getting Ukraine’s vast production of wheat, corn and sunflower oil . . .to global markets, the invasion has been even more devastating to the country’s metalworks. Exports of bulk iron ore, for instance . . . have stopped entirely from Ukrainian ports. Click HERE to listen or read.
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Russian shelling, Ukrainian airstrike reflect broadening war, by Paul Byrne and Joanna Kozlowska | AP KYIV — Russian forces stepped up their battle to seize one of the dwindling number of cities in embattled eastern Ukraine not already under their control while continuing to fire on towns and villages in the country’s north and south, Ukrainian officials said today. Russian shelling collapsed balconies and blew out windows in the southern region of Mykolayiv, injuring at least nine civilians, authorities said. . . . Reflecting the broadening frontlines of the nearly 6-month war in Ukraine, a Ukrainian airstrike hit targets in the largest Russian-occupied city in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, according to . . . READ MORE . . .
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Blasts, fresh drone attacks rock Russian-held areas far from Ukraine war front, by Tom Balmforth and Max Hunder | Reuters * Half of Russia’s Black Sea aviation wiped out – Western official * Kyiv coy over incidents in Crimea and Russia * Ukraine fears Russia will decouple nuclear plant from grid * Washington prepares more military aid for Kyiv | KYIV — Russia reported fresh Ukrainian drone attacks on Friday evening, a day after explosions erupted near military bases in Russian-held areas of Ukraine and Russia itself, apparent displays of Kyiv’s growing ability to pummel Moscow’s assets far from front lines. The latest incidents followed huge blasts last week at an air base in Russian-annexed Crimea. In a new assessment, a Western official said that incident had rendered half of Russia’s Black Sea naval aviation force useless in a stroke. Russia’s RIA and Tass news agencies, citing a . . . READ MORE . . .
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European gas prices soar on planned Nord Stream closure. From AFP. European gas prices soared to a new record high at the close of trading on Friday after Russia’s Gazprom announced that the Nord Stream pipeline would be closed for maintenance at the end of the month. The Dutch TTF Gas Futures contract jumped to a closing high of 257.40 euros ($258.30) amid fears of winter energy shortages after Gazprom said deliveries via the Nord Stream pipeline would be halted from August 31 to September 2 due to maintenance work.
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UN working to overcome obstacles to exports of Russian food, fertilizers – Guterres. From Tass. ANKARA — It is crucial for global markets to ensure unimpeded exports of agricultural products from Ukraine and Russia, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at a news conference with Turkish Defense Ministry Hulusi Akar today. . . . In addition, he said that the United Nations is working with the United States and European Union to overcome “a certain number of obstacles” to Russian food and fertilizers, “which are not subject to sanctions,” reaching global . . . READ MORE . . .