MSC continues to transport goods through the Black Sea
MSC, the world’s largest shipping company, said on Thursday it was continuing to transport goods through the Black Sea, avoiding too dangerous Ukrainian ports such as Odesa.
CEO Soren Toft told CNBC that while it “of course abides by the sanctions,” it also continues to ship food, humanitarian aid and medical supplies to Russia.
“I don’t think it’s my job to be political,” he said. “There are 150 million Russians, and I don’t think I want to take away the basics from them.
– Karen Gilchrist
Russia is about to launch a new offensive, Ukraine says
Zelenskyy said that citizens of the entire country will be able to freely use winter shelters with basic services, including heat, water and a first aid kit.
Handout | Getty Images News | Getty Images
According to top Ukrainian officials, Russia may launch a new offensive in Ukraine as early as January.
Ukrainian Armed Forces Chief General Valery Zaluzhn, President Volodymyr Zelensky and General Oleksandr Sirsky spoke to The Economist magazine on Thursday, detailing their predictions for the coming year.
“The Russians are training about 200,000 new soldiers,” Zaluzhn told the publication.
Read more here.
– Matt Clinch
At least 3 cities are under attack
The Associated Press is now reporting, citing Ukrainian authorities, that explosions rocked at least three Ukrainian cities — Kiev, southern Kryvyi Rih and the northeastern city of Kharkiv — on Friday morning.
“Explosions in Kharkiv for the second day in a row. The infrastructure object was previously attacked by rockets. There may be electrical problems… Be careful and take cover,” Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said via Telegram, according to Google Translate. .
– Matt Clinch
Explosions in Kiev, says the mayor
Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said explosions rocked the capital on Friday morning after air raid sirens sounded across the country.
“Explosions in the Desnyan district of the capital. All services are on the spot… Stay in shelters!” Klitschko said, according to a Google translation of his Telegram post.
– Another explosion in Kiev, Dnipro region.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko stands in front of a building damaged by Russian strikes in Kyiv in 2022. on April 29, after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Genia Savilov AFP | Getty Images
Air raid sirens sound across Ukraine
New Russian attacks were expected early Friday as Reuters reported that air raid sirens were wailing in places including the capital Kyiv.
Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of the presidential office, said via the Telegram messaging app: “Do not ignore air raid warnings, stay in shelters.”
– Matt Clinch
The US intends to expand the combat training of Ukrainian soldiers
The Pentagon will expand military combat training for Ukrainian forces, using the slower winter months to train larger units in more complex combat skills, US officials said.
The U.S. has already trained about 3,100 Ukrainian troops in the use and maintenance of certain weapons and other equipment, including howitzers, armored personnel carriers and a high-mobility artillery missile system known as HIMARS. But senior military leaders have debated expanding that training for months, citing the need to improve the ability of Ukraine’s company- and battalion-sized units to move and coordinate attacks on the battlefield.
A battalion can have as many as 800 soldiers; the company is much smaller, having a couple hundred forces.
According to officials, the training will take place at the Grafenwoehr training ground in Germany. The goal is to use the winter months to improve the skills of Ukrainian forces so that they are better prepared to counter any Russian offensive surge or efforts to expand Russian territorial gains.
– Associated Press.
EU approves new sanctions on Russia, diplomats say
President of the European Council Charles Michel and Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal in 2022. May 9 attends a press conference in Odesa, Ukraine, as Russia’s offensive against Ukraine continues.
Press Service of the Government of Ukraine | Reuters
The European Union has announced it has approved a new package of sanctions aimed at increasing pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine.
The package, the details of which have not been disclosed, was approved after several days of deliberations at a meeting of ambassadors of the 27-nation bloc.
The Czech Presidency of the EU Council said the package would be approved by written procedure on Friday. Details will then be published in the block’s legal records.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, last week proposed travel bans and asset freezes for nearly 200 more Russian officials and military officials as part of the new measures.
Government ministers, lawmakers, regional governors and political parties have been targeted in the latest recommended sanctions.
– Associated Press.
According to the Black Sea grain initiative, four ships leave Ukrainian ports
The Maltese-flagged bulk carrier Zante is transiting the Bosphorus to Belgium with 47,270 metric tons of rapeseed from Ukraine after being detained in the Bosphorus due to Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grains Agreement in 2022. November 2 in Istanbul. Turkey.
Chris Mcgrath | Getty Images
Four ships carrying wheat and vegetable oil left Ukrainian ports, the country’s agricultural export management organization reported.
The ships are destined for India and Turkey.
Thanks to the Black Sea Grains Initiative brokered by Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations in July, Ukraine’s three main ports have reopened after a Russian naval blockade halted exports for months. Since the entry into force of the agreement, more than 13.9 million goods have been exported from Ukraine. tons of grain and other products.
The agreement between the signatories will expire in about three months.
– Amanda Macias
