Ukraine, 4-9-24

For today, links to reports from the the Associated Press, Tass, the Moscow Times, Agence France-Press, and Reuters, and to commentary from the Berkshire Eagle and the Moscow Times; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

   

NEWER  UN atomic watchdog says status of Ukrainian nuclear plant occupied by Russia is ‘extremely serious, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — The International Atomic Energy Agence said an explosion caused by an alleged drone attack at Europe’s largest nuclear plant in Ukraine today posed no direct threat to its safety but underscored the “extremely serious situation” at the facility that . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Russian troops destroy Ukrainian militants with smart munitions near Spornoye in DPR. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops used smart munitions to destroy Ukrainian militants at firing positions near the settlement of Spornoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry said today. READ MORE . . .

   

Drone strikes target flight school in Russia’s Voronezh region – reports. From the Moscow Times. Authorities in western Russia’s Voronezh region said today air defense systems had downed two drones overnight, with unconfirmed reports saying that a flight training school was damaged in the incident. Voronezh region Governor Alexander Gusev said . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Russia’s FM Lavrov slam’s West’s ‘unlawful sanctions’ in China talks. From AFP. Moscow’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov today slammed “unlawful sanctions” by the West against Russia and other countries as he met with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing. READ MORE . . .

   

Ukraine races to fix and shield its power plants after Russian onslaught, by Anastasiia Malenko | Reuters  UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, Ukraine — Avoiding energy system collapse depends largely on rapid repairs of facilities like the one visited by Reuters on Monday, where people in protective suits and hard hats worked in a vast hall filled with metal and concrete dislodged and twisted by an air strike. READ MORE . . .

   

UK’s David Cameron in Washington for Ukraine talks after meeting Donald Trump in Florida. From AP.  WASHINGTON — British Foreign Secretary David Cameron is in Washington today to press senior Republicans to unlock money for Ukraine, after meeting a skeptical Donald Trump in Florida. Cameron says victory for Ukraine is “vital for . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Ukraine bombs 3 Russian air bases, then vows to send drones deeper into Russia, by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle  Over the last two years, Ukraine has used drones and rockets to sink one-third of Russia’s warships in the Black Sea. Now, Ukraine is turning its drone power on land targets: air bases, refineries and military factories deep inside Russia. That reach was demonstrated last week when . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Are Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries hindering Russia’s war machine? From the Moscow Times. Ukraine has escalated its drone attacks on Russian oil refineries in an effort to cripple Russia’s economy and constrain fuel supplies to its military. Despite the increased intensity of these strikes, experts who spoke to The Moscow Times agree that their impact on the Russian economy has so far . . . READ MORE . . .