Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia advances on Ukraine city while Kyiv’s push slows

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a summit in India pushing forward a plan to end the war with Russia, according to Bloomberg.

People asking not to be identified said that Zelensky’s proposal was put to Modi during his visit to Ukraine last week.

The Indian prime minister has shown his willingness to play a “constructive role” in a peace process, even though it is too early to comment on specific modalities and pathways at this stage,” Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesman for India’s ministry of external affairs.

All nations of the Global South have insisted that without Russia’s inclusion at any proposed peace talks there can be no way ahead.

“The Ukrainian side hopes that the government of Mongolia is aware of the fact that Vladimir Putin is a war criminal,” the Ukrainian foreign ministry said on Telegram.

The Kremlin responded saying it was “not worried”.

At least 16,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine since April, according to a data project by the BBC’s Russia service and independent Russian media outlet Mediazona.

The project records deaths from official reports and media and satellite analysis of Russian graveyards.

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that a fire has broken out in the Moscow Oil Refinery following a drone attack from Ukraine.

The fire has been assigned the highest level of complexity, Russia’s state news agency TASS reported.

Earlier, the mayor had said that a Ukraine-launched drone was destroyed near the Moscow Oil Refinery, and no damage to the refinery’s production process had been caused.

Ukraine had launched several overnight drone attacks targeting power and refinery plants in Moscow and Tver.

The new consignment of Orlov Trotters, which are said to be the North Korean leaders’ favourite breed, were brought over the narrow land border on Sunday, according to an announcement made by the veterinary authorities in Primorsky Krai, which is the Russian Far East region connected by rail to North Korea, reported The Times.

The delivery of the 19 stallions and five mares is reported by South Korean media to be partial payment for North Korean artillery shells sent to Russia for use in its invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine launched several drone attacks targeting power and refinery plants in Moscow and Tver regions, Russian officials and local media reported today.

Loud blasts were heard near the Konakovo Power Station in the Tver region, posted the Baza Telegram news channel. The Konakovo Power Station is one of the largest energy producers in central Russia.

A Ukraine-launched drone was destroyed near the Moscow Oil Refinery, said Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin. He added that there was no damage to the refinery’s production process.

Ukraine also launched three drones at the Kashira Power Plant in the Moscow area, Kashira city district head Mikhail Shuvalov said on Telegram. No damage or casualties were caused, he said.

“Electricity is being supplied without problems,” Shuvalov said.

Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region is legitimate and covered by Kyiv’s right to self-defence, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told German weekly Welt am Sonntag in his first reaction to the advance into Russian territory.

“Ukraine has a right to defend itself. And according to international law, this right does not stop at the border,” Stoltenberg told the paper, adding that NATO had not been informed about Ukraine’s plans beforehand and did not play a role in them.

The NATO chief said Ukraine was running a risk with the advance onto Russian territory but that it was up to Kyiv how to conduct its military campaign.

“(Ukrainian) President (Volodymyr) Zelensky has made clear that the operation aims to create a buffer zone to prevent further Russian attacks from across the border,” he said.

“Like all military operations, this comes with risks. But it is Ukraine’s decision how to defend itself.”

Kyiv launched a major cross-border incursion into the Kursk region on Aug. 6, while Moscow’s troops keep pressing towards the strategic hub of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine.

Russia has called the Kursk operation a “major provocation” and said it would retaliate.

Russian shelling in the Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar on Saturday killed five people, when it hit a high-rise building and a private home, said regional governor Vadym Filaskhin.

The victims were men aged 24 to 38, he added.

“Normal life has been impossible in Chasiv Yar for more than two years. Do not become a Russian target — evacuate,” Filaskhin wrote on social media.

Two more died by Russian shelling in Kharkiv. One victim was pulled from rubble in Cherkaska Lozova, and a woman died of her wounds on the way to the hospital, said governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Businesses in the allied countries are expected to be boosted when the UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement (DTA) comes into force.

Ukraine launched five drones overnight in Russia’s Tver region just northwest of the Moscow region, said regional governor Igor Rudenya.

“According to preliminary information, there were no injuries. Emergency services are on the scene,” said Rudenya on Telegram, speaking of the Konakovo town. Russia claimed to have destroyed all five drones.

Reuters reported that multiple other Russian Telegram channels reported loud blasts near the Konakovo Power Station, one of the largest energy producers in central Russia.