A “mysterious” explosion in occupied Crimea destroyed several Russian cruise missiles transported by rail that may have been poised to destroy Ukrainian cities, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry says.
Anton Gerashchenko, Adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Posted the video Outbreak on social media, in the town of Zhankoy in northern Crimea. Ukraine pointed to responsibility; Military spokeswoman Natalia Humenyuk described the strike as a signal for Russia to withdraw from the Black Sea peninsula it seized from Ukraine by force in 2014.
“Right now, the way forward is clear – they (Russian forces) should leave by train already,” he said on Ukrainian television on Tuesday.
Russia launches cruise missiles with a range of 1,600 miles or more from ships in its Black Sea fleet. A Defense Ministry statement said the bombing “continues Russia’s process of demilitarization and preparation for the occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.”
Russian state media made no mention of the missiles, but a 33-year-old man was injured by a drone that fell on Zhankoy. Mayor Igor Ivin said several drones were reported and the attack damaged power lines, a house, a shop and a college building.
‘Friendly Neighbour’:China’s Xi visits Moscow; Russia cites ‘bad consequences’ of Putin arrest warrant
Developments:
►NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance has no evidence that China is supplying Russia with weapons, but officials are aware that Russia has sought military equipment from Beijing, a German news agency reported. Deutsche Welle reports.
►Ukraine received an additional $1.6 billion from the EU’s $18 billion aid package. EU Commission President Ursula van der Leyen announced. “Our support helps Ukraine operate while defending itself,” he said. “Together we are writing Ukraine’s European future.”
►30,000 tonnes of wheat arrived in Kenya as part of Ukraine’s humanitarian programme. “Despite Russian aggression, we will not abandon our contribution to overcoming global challenges,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. He tweeted that.
Russia will begin releasing recruited criminals
Thousands of Russian criminals who fought with Wagner Group mercenaries will be pardoned and released in the next few weeks. Wagner inmate recruitment peaks in the fall of 2022, and inmates are offered reductions in their sentences six months later. The British Ministry of Defense said. Although about half of the recruited prisoners may have been killed or wounded, evidence suggests Russia is “following through on its promise” to free survivors, the ministry said in its most recent assessment of the war.
In the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, particularly in the stricken city of Bagmut, Wagner mercenaries led the Russian force. The region has been the scene of some of the war’s most brutal battles in recent months.
“With Wagner now prohibited from recruiting more inmates, this exodus will exacerbate its staffing problems,” the assessment states. “The sudden influx of often violent criminals with recent and often traumatic war experience will pose a significant challenge to Russia’s wartime society,” it added.
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida arrives in Kyiv
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday for a surprise visit, the last of a group of seven leaders to visit Ukraine since Russia’s invasion 13 months ago. Footage shown on Japanese television showed Kishida walking down a train station platform as he was escorted by what appeared to be Ukrainian officials. Kishida arrived hours after Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel Reported While Xi says he “stands with a war criminal,” Kishida stands for freedom.
“Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is making a historic visit to Ukraine to protect the Ukrainian people and promote the universal values enshrined in the UN Charter,” Emanuel said.
Contributed by: Associated Press
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