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7 mins ago
At least two injured in an explosion at an ammunition depot in Crimea, according to a Russian official
By Uliana Pavlova, Alex Stambaugh, Fred Pleitgen, Vasco Cotovio
Smoke rises over the area following a suspected explosion in the town of Maiskoye in Crimea's Dzhankoi district on August 16.
(Photo: Str/Reuters)
An explosion at an ammunition depot in annexed Crimea injured at least two people on Tuesday, the head of Russia-controlled Crimea's administration, Sergei Aksyonov, said on his Telegram channel.
Aksyonov said the explosion in the village of Maiskoye, near the city of Dzhankoi, was caused by a fire, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.
The detonations were in progress, he added.
"The evacuation of residents is underway, people are removed from the five-kilometer zone of the incident to ensure safety. The forces of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the Russian Guard and emergency services," Aksyonov said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Russian state news agency Ria Novosti said some 2,000 residents had been evacuated.
What Ukraine is saying
: Kyiv has not claimed any responsibility for the incident, but commenting on the explosions on Twitter, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podolyak said it was "demilitarization in action".
"The morning near Dzhankoi started with explosions. A reminder: the Crimea of ​​the normal country is all about the Black Sea, mountains, recreation and tourism, but the Russian-occupied Crimea is all about the explosions of the warehouses and the high risk of death for invaders and thieves," said Podolyak.
Some background
: Tuesday's explosion is the second security incident at a Crimean military facility in a week.
On Tuesday last week, a series of explosions rocked a Russian airbase in Novofedorivka on Crimea's western coast, destroying at least eight Russian military aircraft, satellite images reviewed by CNN showed.
The blasts also killed one person and injured 14, according to the Crimean Ministry of Health.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the incident was caused by the accidental detonation of ammunition.
Ukraine did not want to definitively confirm that it was responsible for an attack on the air base.
10 mins ago
Ship with wheat leaves Ukraine for Ethiopia
By Yulia Kesaieva
The UN-chartered bulk carrier Brave Commander, carrying more than 23,000 tonnes of wheat bound for Ethiopia, left the port of Yuzhnyi, Ukraine, on 16 August.
(Photo: Str/NurPhoto/Getty Images)
A freighter loaded with more than 23,000 metric tons of wheat bound for Ethiopia has left Ukraine, Kyiv Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Tuesday.
"The BRAVE COMMANDER has left the seaport of Pivdennyi (Yuzhnyi). I thank the United Nations and the World Food Program for their support and all the work they have done," Kubrakov tweeted.
The ship is headed for Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa, and the final destination for the wheat is neighboring Ethiopia, as part of the UN World Food Program's response to the drought in the East African country.
It is expected to arrive at its destination in two weeks.
Where do the grains produced in Ukraine go?
The UN said the "domino effect" of the war in Ukraine threatens to worsen a food crisis in Ethiopia caused by conflict and water shortages.
A bit of background
: Since an agreement was reached in Istanbul last month to unblock Ukrainian grain exports through Black Sea ports, 17 ships carrying more than 475,000 tons of agricultural exports have departed, according to the Infrastructure Ministry. ukrainian
13 mins ago
Zelensky calls for more sanctions against Russia for "nuclear blackmail" around the Zaporizhia plant
By Katharina Krebs
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday called for tougher sanctions in response to what he called Russia's "nuclear blackmail" over the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
"Provocative shelling continues on the territory of the plant. Under cover of the plant, the invaders bombard nearby cities and communities. The Russian military hides ammunition and equipment in the plant's facilities. The plant is de facto mined," he said. Zelensky during his evening video address.
"It is necessary to move from discussions and calls to new and tough sanctions against Russia, against 'Rosatom' and the entire nuclear industry of the terrorist state. All Russian forces must immediately withdraw from the territory of the station and neighboring areas without any condition".
Zelensky claimed that Russia "ignores" the security demands of the EU and 42 countries that have asked him to withdraw his forces from the station.
"Any radiation incident at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant can be a blow to the countries of the European Union, and to Turkey, and to Georgia, and to countries in more distant regions. It all depends on the direction and strength of the wind. If a catastrophe occurs due to Russia's actions, the consequences can hit even those who remain silent for the time being," Zelensky said.
"And if the world now lacks the strength and determination to protect a nuclear plant, it means the world will lose. It will lose to terrorists. Give in to nuclear blackmail."
Some background
: Kyiv has repeatedly accused Russian forces, who seized the plant in March, of storing heavy weapons inside the compound and using it as cover to launch attacks, knowing Ukraine cannot safely return fire. to hit one of the plant's six reactors, a mistake that would spell disaster.
Moscow, for its part, has claimed that Ukrainian troops are targeting the site.
Both sides have tried to hold the other responsible for the threat of nuclear terrorism.
15 mins ago
Russia is ready to supply its allies with military equipment and train foreign soldiers, says Putin
By Ulyana Pavlova
Participants listen to President Vladimir Putin during the opening ceremony of the Army-2022 international military-technical forum at Moscow's Patriot Exhibition and Congress Center on August 15.
(Photo: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)
Russia is ready to supply military equipment to its allies and Moscow is open to training foreign fighters, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the opening ceremony of a military exhibition on Monday.
"Russia sincerely appreciates the historically strong, friendly and truly trusting ties with the countries of Latin America, Asia and Africa. (We are) ready to offer our allies the most modern types of weapons, from small arms to armored vehicles and artillery, passing through combat aviation and unmanned aerial vehicles," Putin said during the opening speech of the Army-2022 forum.
"We highly value the fact that our country has many allies, partners, like-minded people on different continents."
Putin also highlighted the advantages of training foreign soldiers in Russia, saying that Moscow invites allies to hold joint military exercises.
"We also see great prospects in the training of foreign military personnel and their advanced training. Thousands of military professionals from around the world are proud alumni of our country's military universities and academies," Putin said.
Russia will continue to work vigorously in this important field, he said.
war in ukraine
