Ukraine war – live: Putin threatens to stop Russian energy exports

Vladimir Putin has said the Kremlin will end oil and gas exports if global price caps on Russian energy are introduced.

The Russian president was referring to a potential EU move to limit Moscow’s funds during the Ukraine war.

“We will propose a price cap on Russian gas... We must cut Russia’s revenues which Putin uses to finance this atrocious war in Ukraine,” commission president Ursula von der Leyen said.

Speaking at an economic forum in Vladivostok on Wednesday, the 69-year-old dismissed the proposal as “stupid”.

“We will not supply anything at all if it contradicts our interests,” Mr Putin said. “We will not supply gas, oil, coal, heating oil – we will not supply anything.”

The long-serving leader also used his speech to criticise Western sanctions, describing them as a futile attempt to hold Russia in check.

It would be “impossible” to isolate Moscow, as the Kremlin can turn to new opportunities in the Middle East and Iran, he said.

Key Points

• Ukraine considering shutdown at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant amid safety fears

• Russia ‘will not lose anything’ from Ukraine war, claims Putin

• It will be ‘impossible’ to isolate Russia, Putin warns West

• Ukrainian nuclear power plant in ‘very grave danger’, says IAEA boss

• Putin threatens to end Russian energy exports

Ukraine’s counteroffensive has ‘tangibly degraded’ Russian logistics in southern Ukraine, says ISW

Tuesday 6 September 2022 07:31 , Rory Sullivan

Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian positions in southern Ukraine have “tangibly degraded” Russian logistics, a US military think tank has said.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) added that Ukraine’s counterattack had also limited Russian administrative capabilities in Kherson.

The analysis comes as Ukraine claimed to have recaptured Vysokopyllya, to the north of Kherson.

Russia says relations with Britain could get worse as Truss elected PM

Tuesday 6 September 2022 07:51 , Rory Sullivan

#icymi

Russian relations with Britain could worsen under Liz Truss’s premiership, Moscow has said.

Speaking before Ms Truss was named prime minister, Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused both Tory leadership candidates of competing in “anti-Russian rhetoric”.

“I don’t think that we can hope for anything positive,” he added.

Russia says relations with Britain could get worse as Truss elected PM

Wallace to travel to Germany for Ukraine fundraising talks

Tuesday 6 September 2022 08:17 , Rory Sullivan

The UK will continue to support Ukraine “beyond the here and now”, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.

As part of this, defence secretary Ben Wallace will travel to Germany this week to speak with partners about funding Ukraine.

France ‘prepared’ for winter despite energy concerns

Tuesday 6 September 2022 08:35 , Rory Sullivan

Russia’s decision to switch off its main gas pipeline to Europe drove the Euro to a 20-year low.

Amid fears about winter energy supplies, France has said it is well prepared for the months ahead.

“Today we have reached the maximum level for our gas reserves...These gas stocks represent 50 per cent of our winter consumption, so we are in the best conditions to go through the winter,” energy minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said on Tuesday.

Three killed by Russian shelling in Kharkiv region, says governor

Tuesday 6 September 2022 09:01 , Rory Sullivan

Three people have died from Russian shelling in the northeast Kharkiv region, its governor has said.

In a Telegram post, Oleh Synehubov said a 73-year-old woman died overnight in the city of Kharkiv, after the building she lived in was hit by a rocket.

“In the industrial district, a two-story building was damaged and a private residential building, in which a 73-year-old woman was staying, was destroyed. Unfortunately, she died,” he said.

Two men also died in the nearby village of Zolochiv, he added.

Navalny situation getting dangerous, ally warns

Tuesday 6 September 2022 09:20 , Rory Sullivan

Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny’s treatment in prison is getting “dramatically” worse, one of his friends has said.

Leonid Volkov, Mr Navalny’s chief of staff, said that although the 45-year-old was still “mentally and physically very fit”, his health was under threat.

The opposition leader has spent three stints in solitary confinement in quick succession, according to his social media posts.

“Suddenly, three weeks ago, they started to dramatically worsen his conditions, which actually poses an enormous threat to his health, because no normal person could spend a long time in that ‘special’ cell,” Mr Volkov said.

“The fact that Putin is losing (the war), and is getting less and less predictable, makes the situation more dangerous,” he added.

Kharkiv shelling

Tuesday 6 September 2022 09:56 , Rory Sullivan

As we mentioned earlier, three Ukrainians are thought to have been killed in Russian airstrikes in and around Kharkiv.

Here is one of the latest pictures from the northeast region:

Ukraine makes small gains in Luhansk, governor claims

Tuesday 6 September 2022 10:12 , Rory Sullivan

Ukrainian troops have gained a “foothold” in the eastern Luhansk province, its governor has claimed.

Without providing further details, Serhiy Haidai said Kyiv’s forces had thwarted Russian attacks and had made small gains in the region.

Almost 400 children killed in Russia’s war, says Ukraine

Tuesday 6 September 2022 10:37 , Rory Sullivan

At least 382 Ukrainian children have been killed in the war so far, Ukraine’s prosecutor general’s office has said.

A further 741 young people have been injured since 24 February, it added.

The true number of casualties is likely to be higher, as the figures do not include totals from Russian-occupied territory.

Putin inspects military drill in eastern Russia

Tuesday 6 September 2022 11:00 , Rory Sullivan

Russian president Vladimir Putin has travelled to the far east of his country to inspect a large military drill.

The “Vostok” military exercise, which involves Indian and Chinese troops, is taking place thousands of miles from Ukraine.

In a clip on Russian military TV, Mr Putin was seen smiling at the event beside his defence minister Sergei Shoigu. Both men were wearing military combat jackets.

The Kremlin says that 50,000 Russian troops are involved in this year’s drill, a far cry from the 300,000 who it said took part four years ago.

Western analysts believe both figures could be inflated.

Johnson says it has been a ‘privilege’ to work with Zelensky

Tuesday 6 September 2022 11:20 , Rory Sullivan

Shortly before he left office, the outgoing British prime minister Boris Johnson spoke to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky about the UK’s continued support for Ukraine.

“It’s been a privilege to work with you @ZelenskyyUa, and I look forward to staying friends,” Mr Johnson tweeted shortly afterwards.

He ended his message with “Slava Ukraini”, which means “Glory to Ukraine”.

Ukrainian counteroffensive has spread east, claims Zelensky adviser

Tuesday 6 September 2022 11:32 , Rory Sullivan

Ukraine’s forces have started counterattacks in the east and southeast of the country, a senior adviser to Ukrainian presidential Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

Writing on Telegram on Monday evening, Oleksiy Arestovych said: “Counteroffensive actions by the Armed Forces of Ukraine are taking place not only in the south of Ukraine, but also in the east and southeast.”

He said “the beginning of counteroffensive actions on different sectors of the front on our part speaks of a change in the situation as a whole”.

Truss won’t help Britain on world stage, claims Lavrov

Tuesday 6 September 2022 11:40 , Rory Sullivan

The Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has critised the new UK prime minister Liz Truss, saying her approach would not help Britain on the world stage.

Mr Lavrov accused Ms Truss of not being willing to compromise.

His criticism of her followed the Kremlin’s suggestion that she had been competing in “anti-Russian rhetoric” with her Tory leadership rival Rishi Sunak.

Russian journalist Ivan Safronov given ‘savage’ 22-year prison sentence

Tuesday 6 September 2022 12:00 , Rory Sullivan

A former Russian journalist has been sentenced to 22 years in prison in what his supporters say is another chilling crackdown on press freedom.

Ivan Safronov, an ex-defence reporter for the Kommersant newspaper, was detained in July 2020 for allegedly passing state secrets to the Czech Republic.

The 32-year-old, who strongly denies the charges, rejected a plea deal from authorities last month, which would have seen him serve 12 years in jail.

Last week, Mr Safronov called the accusations he faced “absurd” and the 24-year sentence requested by the prosecution “monstrous”, insisting that he never had access to any classified documents.

Read more here:

Russian journalist Ivan Safronov given 22-year prison sentence

Russia accuses US of fomenting European energy crisis

Tuesday 6 September 2022 12:25 , Rory Sullivan

Russia has accused the US of contributing to Europe’s energy crisis by encouraging its allies to take the “suicidal” step of cutting cooperation with Moscow.

“The dominance of Washington prevailed,” Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed.

“Political forces were brought to power in the European Union who are playing the role of ‘sheep-provocateurs’,” she alleged.

Europe is facing its worst ever energy crisis, with Russia limiting gas supplies to the continent.

Russian rabbis call for peace in Ukraine

Tuesday 6 September 2022 12:50 , Rory Sullivan

A group of Russian rabbis have claimed on the Kremlin to end the war in Ukraine.

They said the conflict had created tension for Jews living in Russia.

Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia, one of the country’s two largest Jewish organizations.“Relations between Russia and the rest of the world have rapidly deteriorated since the invasion began in February, resulting in economic uncertainty and, of significant concern to the Jewish community in particular, a sense of fear and isolation not felt in decades,” the Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia said. The group called “for peace and the cessation of the bloodshed”.

Moscow claims west not keeping export promises

Tuesday 6 September 2022 13:10 , Rory Sullivan

Moscow has claimed that the West is not keeping its promises to help Russian food and fertiliser exports reach international markets.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov suggested countries were refusing to abide by the terms of a UN-brokered agreement in July, which saw the lifting of a Russian blockade of Ukrainian grain exports.

“Our Western colleagues are not doing what we were promised by the U.N. secretary-general,” Mr Lavrov said in Moscow.

“They are not taking decisions to remove the logistic sanctions that prevent the free access of Russian grain and fertilisers to world markets.”

China to pay for Russian gas in roubles

Tuesday 6 September 2022 13:35 , Rory Sullivan

China has agreed to buy Russian gas in roubles to help reduce Moscow’s reliance on foreign currency.

Russia’s Gazprom confirmed the development on Tuesday, with the firm’s CEO Alexei Miller describing the arrangement as “mutually beneficial”.

“It will simplify the calculations, become an excellent example for other companies and give an additional impetus for the development of our economies,” he claimed.

Ukraine hits Russian positions in Kherson region

Tuesday 6 September 2022 13:57 , Rory Sullivan

Ukrainian troops hit several Russian positions in Kherson region as part of its wide-ranging counterattacks.

Kyiv’s targeted the Russian-held Chornobaivka and Hola Prystan, according to Serhii Bratchuk, a spokesperson for the Odesa Oblast Military Administration.

Russian newspaper runs letter in support of jailed ex-journalist

Tuesday 6 September 2022 14:28 , Rory Sullivan

A Russian newspaper has published a front-page letter in support of the former journalist Ivan Safronov, the day after he was jailed for 22 years on what human rights activists believe are trumped-up treason charges.

Mr Safronov used to work as a defence reporter at the Kommersant, the paper which ran the letter.

His former colleagues praised his talents as a journalist, adding that they had been lucky to work with him.

His imprisonment has sparked fears for the safety of other journalists.

Royal Navy warships shadow Russian vessels close to UK waters

Tuesday 6 September 2022 14:43 , Rory Sullivan

Three Royal Navy warships have been shadowing a Russian ship off British waters.

They tracked the Slava-class cruiser Marshal Ustinov, the sister ship of the Moskva, the vessel which sank in mid-April after it was hit by Ukrainian missiles.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: “The frigates and their helicopters used an array of cutting-edge sensors and modern naval technology to keep close watch in the Celtic Sea and through the English Channel.”

Royal Navy warships shadow Russian vessels close to UK waters

Russia sanctions Ben Stiller and Sean Penn for Ukraine support

Tuesday 6 September 2022 15:00 , Rory Sullivan

The Kremlin has banned Holywood actors Ben Stiller and Sean Penn from entering Russia, following their support for Ukraine.

The Russian foreign ministry included the stars on a list of 25 US citizens who it is placing under sanctions.

Both Stiller and Penn have visited Kyiv since the war started and have expressed their admiration for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

Russia buying weapons from North Korea, says US

Tuesday 6 September 2022 15:20 , Rory Sullivan

Russia is buying weapons from North Korea, in a sign that Moscow is struggling to cope under the weight of Western sanctions, US officials have said.

Declassified American military intelligence indicates that the Kremlin is purchasing large numbers of rockets and artillery shells from Pyongyang for use in Ukraine.

An unnamed official confirmed the development to Reuters, after the story first appeared in The New York Times.

Russia buying millions of weapons from North Korea, says US

Chimpanzee roams residential streets after escaping Kharkiv Zoo

Tuesday 6 September 2022 15:40 , Rory Sullivan

Breaking: UN calls for ‘security zone’ at Ukraine nuclear plant

Tuesday 6 September 2022 15:56 , Liam James

A UN watchdog has called for a “security zone” to be established around Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, shortly after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned of a potential “catastrophe” there (Rory Sullivan writes).

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) made the recommendation in a new report published on Tuesday.

A team of IAEA experts travelled to the Russian-held nuclear power plant last week, following weeks of talks with Moscow. While the majority of thems have already left Zaporizhzhia, two of its members remain at the site to oversee operations.

More to come on this:

UN watchdog calls for ‘security zone’ around Ukraine nuclear plant

France preparing disused pipeline to supply more winter gas to Germany

Tuesday 6 September 2022 16:09 , Liam James

France has decided to reactivate a disused pipeline to send Germany gas as part of a reciprocal arrangement that could see power travel in the opposite direction.

French president Emmanuel Macron unveiled the energy deal amid the worsening energy crisis.

“Macron is under pressure because of the electricity situation in France. So the signal ‘Germany and France support each other’ is important,” a German government source told Reuters.

“We do not expect that France will solve our gas problems. But every possible delivery of gas is a sign to the markets that we will pull through the winter.”

83 Putin’s troops killed, five Russian missiles downed in ‘tense’ southern Ukraine

04:39 , Arpan Rai

Ukrainian fighters shot down five Russian cruise missiles on Tuesday, of which most were targeted in the south, Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address.

“Five out of six Russian Kh-101 missiles were shot down only in the first half of the day. This is an expensive loss for Russia - and it saved many Ukrainian lives,” he said.

Four of these missiles, Mr Zelensky said, were shot down by servicemen of the air command south.

Russian fighters in Ukraine have continued to sustain heavy losses in the past 24 hours and 83 soldiers have been killed, Kyiv’s military officials said in a war update.

“Ukraine’s military destroyed five tanks, 12 Msta-B and Msta-s howitzers,” the country’s operational command “south” said on Tuesday, adding that the situation in southern Ukraine — battlefield of counterattack from Ukraine against Russia — remains “tense and dynamic”.

Ukraine’s forces have also downed a Russian Su-25 fighter jet, Orlan-10 drone, destroyed three Giatsint-B towed guns and three units of armoured vehicles, the military wing said on Tuesday.

Putin could be about to buy ‘millions’ of North Korean shells, rockets - White House

05:06 , Arpan Rai

Russia is likely set to buy “literally millions” of artillery shells and rockets from North Korea, the White House said yesterday, stating the purchase of artillery as further evidence of Moscow’s “desperation” amid supply shortages for its war in Ukraine.

Russia “is in the process of purchasing millions of rockets and artillery shells from North Korea for use in Ukraine,” US state department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told a news briefing.

The newly declassified US intelligence showed that Russia was making such purchases from its old Cold War ally.

However, there were “no indications that that purchase has been completed and certainly no indications that those weapons are being used inside of Ukraine,” White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said little later.

North Korea is among the handful of allies of Russia for invading Ukraine and is also looking to aid Moscow in terms of manpower, according to several reports.

Read the full story here:

Russia buying millions of weapons from North Korea, says US

Liz Truss accepts invite to visit Ukraine as PM

05:25 , Arpan Rai

Liz Truss has accepted an invitation to visit Ukraine from Volodymyr Zelensky during her first phone call as prime minister with a foreign leader last night.

The newly-inducted PM held the call with Mr Zelensky within hours of becoming prime minister.

It comes after US president Joe Biden congratulated Ms Truss on becoming prime minister and vowed to deepen the “special relationship” between the US and the UK.

Mr Zelensky tweeted: “I became the 1st foreign leader to have a conversation with the newly elected (British) PM @trussliz. Invited her to (Ukraine). Thanked (British) people for the major defense & economic aid for (Ukraine). It’s important that (Britain) is ready to further strengthen it. Attention was paid to security guarantees.

Russian equipment found on Zaporizhzhia by UN nuclear watchdog, says Zelensky

05:51 , Arpan Rai

Volodymyr Zelensky said that the report shared by the UN’s nuclear watchdog confirms presence of Russia’s military equipment on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

“The report notes the presence of Russian military equipment on the territory of the NPP, emphasizes pressure on our nuclear specialists, and makes clear references to the Russian military occupation. That’s good,” he said last night.

Reiterating his demand to expel Russian forces from the nuclear facility’s vicinity, Mr Zelensky said: “In any case, I believe that modern international organizations need a much broader mandate for their actions. I believe that the world not only deserves, but also needs the representatives of the IAEA to force Russia to demilitarize the territory of the NPP and return full control to Ukraine.”

“If Russia puts the world on the brink of a radiation disaster, the world must have adequate means to put Russia in the conditions where the terrorist state will be forced to stop the terror,” he said.

Video shows Ukrainian forces heading to southern region amid counterattack

06:18 , Arpan Rai

A 23-seconds long video has surfaced on social media showing Ukrainian soldiers heading to the country’s south where heavy fighting is underway.

The video showed dozens of Ukrainian soldiers aboard tankers headed in what is claimed to be the southern region’s Kherson.

Russia wants ‘explanations’ on UN nuclear squad’s Zaporizhzhia report

06:29 , Arpan Rai

Moscow had shot a request to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) just hours after the UN nuclear watchdog’s team released a report on the condition of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant post a visit this week, Russian defence minister Sergei Lavrov said.

The Kremlin has requested “additional explanations” on some areas in their report from a visit to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the Interfax news agency reported.

Ukrainian soldiers ‘enjoying some success’ in counter-attack - official

06:59 , Arpan Rai

Ukrainian soldiers fighting in the Russian-occupied town of Balakliia in Kharkiv have intensified their attack in counter-attack and are enjoying some advances, officials said.

Without citing locations, Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Gaidai said that Ukraine’s “counter-attack is underway and ... our forces are enjoying some success. Let’s leave it at that”.

However, top officials in Kyiv including president Volodymyr Zelensky have remained guarded about the progress in counter offensive.

A presidential adviser had earlier tweeted that there would be “great news” coming from the president on the operation in the northeastern Kharkiv region.

Ukrainian counterattack progress ‘won’t be quick’, says former British soldier

07:21 , Rory Sullivan

Ukraine is making gains in its counteroffensive against Russia but progress “won’t be quick”, a former British soldier who is fighting for Kyiv has said.

Mark Ayres, 48, was wounded by shrapnel on the second day of the counteroffensive near the southern city of Kherson.

“The fighting was pretty intense, lots and lots of shelling,” he told CNN. “We fought very hard, and we took the Russian positions that we were meant to take.”

Mr Ayres said his side was making some progress.

“It won’t be quick; it’s hard, slow fought, metre by metre, position by position, because we haven’t got the resources to do a massive blitzkrieg, with masses of artillery and armor,” he added. “So we have to do it smart, and try to do it (by) sustaining as (few) casualties as possible.”

Russian military equipment ‘compromising’ safety at nuclear power plant

07:40 , Rory Sullivan

#icymi

Yesterday, a UN watchdog released a report calling for a “security zone” around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) pointed out that safety at the Russian-held site was being compromised by the presence of military equipment there.

In response, Moscow has requested “explanations” from the IAEA, alleging that the West had put pressure on the organisation.

Ukraine launches counterattack in northeast Kharkiv region

08:00 , Rory Sullivan

Ukrainian forces have launched a counterattack against a Russian-held town in the eastern Kharkiv region, a pro-Moscow official has said.

In an unusually frank message, Daniil Bezsonov , of the breakaway Donetsk People’s Republic, said Ukraine was laying siege to the town of Balakliia. If they succeeded, pro-Russian troops in nearby Izyum would be vulnerable to attack from the northwest.

“The Ukrainian armed forces concentrated mass fire on the mobile groups of the Donetsk People’s Republic, which had taken up defensive positions in nearby forests,” he said on Telegram.

“At this time, Balakliia is in operative encirclement and within the firing range of Ukrainian artillery. All approaches are cut off by fire.”

Kyiv remains guarded about how its troops are faring in their counteroffensives. On Wednesday, Ukraine’s army said its troops had attacked seven Russian command points and 13 “objects of concentration of Russia’s manpower”.

It did not say where these attacks took place.

Putin warns West it will be ‘impossible’ to isolate Russia

08:20 , Rory Sullivan

It will be “impossible” for the West to isolate Russia because it will turn to new opportunities in the Middle East and Iran, Vladimir Putin has said.

In an appearance at an economic forum in Vladivostok on Wednesday, the Russian president struck a defiant tone, saying Russia had not lost anything from his war in Ukraine.

The 69-year-old hit out at Western sanctions, describing them as a futile attempt to hold Russia in check.

Casting the US and its allies as aggressors, he said: “I am speaking of the West’s sanctions fever, with its brazen, aggressive attempt to impose models of behaviour on other countries, to deprive them of their sovereignty and subordinate them to their will.”

Read more:

Putin warns West it will be ‘impossible’ to isolate Russia

Poor countries not benefitting from Russian-Ukrainian grain deal, claims Putin

08:47 , Rory Sullivan

Russian president Vladimir Putin has claimed that poor countries are not benefitting from a Russian-Ukrainian grain deal.

The agreement, brokered by the UN and Turkey earlier this summer, allows Ukrainian grain to be exported. Previously, a Russian blockade on Ukraine’s ports made this impossible.

Without providing evidence, Mr Putin suggested only two of 87 ships had been sent to poor nations.

“Once again, developing countries have simply been deceived and continue to be deceived. It is obvious that with this approach, the scale of food problems in the world will only increase ... which can lead to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe,” he said.

Russia ‘will not lose anything’ from Ukraine war, claims Putin

09:09 , Rory Sullivan

Russia has not and will not “lose anything” from its war in Ukraine, president Vladimir Putin has claimed.

Speaking in Vladivostok on Wednesday, the 69-year-old said the invasion had strengthened Russian sovereignty.

“We have not lost anything and will not lose anything,” he added, despite the high number of casualties Russian troops are thought to have suffered in Ukraine.

The Russian leader conceded that the war had caused “certain polarization, both in the world and within the country.”

Baltic states agree to restrict Russian tourist entries

09:33 , Rory Sullivan

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have agreed in principle to restrict Russian tourists travelling into their territories from Russian and Belarus.

Latvian foreign minister Edgars Rinkevics announced the development on Twitter on Wednesday.

Russia will be tested by Ukrainian counterattacks, says MoD

09:55 , Rory Sullivan

Ukrainian counterattacks will test Russia’s ability to reallocate resources, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.

Heavy fighting is currently taking place across the northern, eastern and southern fronts.

“Russia’s planned main effort is probably an advance on Bakhmut in the Donbas, but commanders face a dilemma of whether to deploy operational reserves to support this offensive, or to defend against continued Ukrainian advances in the south,” the MoD said.

“Multiple concurrent threats spread across 500km will test Russia’s ability to coordinate operational design and reallocate resources across multiple groupings of forces,” it added.

Ukrainian nuclear power plant in ‘very grave danger’, says IAEA boss

10:15 , Rory Sullivan

The safety of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is in “very grave danger”, the head of a UN watchdog has warned.

In his first television interview since travelling to the Russian-held site in Ukraine, Rafael Grossi, who runs the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told CNN’s Christine Amanpour that nearby shelling posed an enormous threat to the facility.

“The situation continues to be very worrying,” he said. “The shelling continues, so we are still facing a very grave danger.

“The mere fact there is continuity of attacks and shelling, deliberate or not, wittingly or unwittingly, people are hitting a nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe. So I must say that the danger continues.”

Mr Grossi called for a safety zone to be established around the plant.

Ukraine war in photos

10:35 , Rory Sullivan

Here are some of the latest pictures from Ukraine:

Putin says Truss victory in Tory leadership vote ‘far from democratic’

10:55 , Rory Sullivan

Vladimir Putin has criticised the appointment of Liz Truss as UK prime minister, calling it “far from democratic”.

Ms Truss was elected by Tory party members and not the wider British public.

Unsurprisingly, Mr Putin was quiet on his own record.

This is how Freedom House describes the political situation in Russia:

With loyalist security forces, a subservient judiciary, a controlled media environment, and a legislature consisting of a ruling party and pliable opposition factions, the Kremlin is able to manipulate elections and suppress genuine dissent.

Putin says Truss victory in Tory leadership vote ‘far from democratic’

Putin strikes defiant tone in Vladivostok speech

11:12 , Rory Sullivan

Russia claims to have taken Kodema

11:30 , Rory Sullivan

Russia claims its forces have captured the settlement of Kodema in east Ukraine.

The village in the Donetsk region has a population of less than 600 people.

Ukraine considering shutdown at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

11:50 , Rory Sullivan

Ukraine is considering switching off the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia power plant for safety reasons, amid fears that the diesel used to power back-up generators could run out.

The facility, the largest of its kind in Europe, is currently disconnected from the national power grid, following damage to external power lines.

Oleh Korikov, Kyiv’s top nuclear safety expert, said: “The option of switching off the station is being assessed, if conditions necessitating the station to be switched off arise.”

He added: “We could potentially reach a situation where the diesel runs out, which would cause an accident involving the damage of the active zones of the reactors, which would cause the expulsion of radioactive substances into the environment,” he said.

“This would have consequences not only for the territory of Ukraine, but also cross-border consequences,” he said.

Shutting down the plant would cause further energy shortages in Ukraine this winter.

European Commission to propose Russian gas price cap

12:20 , Rory Sullivan

The European Commission will suggest a price cap on Russian gas, its president Ursula von der Leyen has said.

The bloc will also propose a mandatory cut in electricity at peak times.

“We will propose a price cap on Russian gas... We must cut Russia’s revenues which Putin uses to finance this atrocious war in Ukraine,” Ms von der Leyen said.

The president said earlier on Wednesday that Moscow would cut off gas and oil supplies if a price cap is introduced.

Moscow sanctions EU military officials

12:40 , Rory Sullivan

Russia has imposed sanctions against EU military leaders and other senior security officials, the Kremlin has said.

Without naming the individuals affected, the Russian defence ministry said they would be banned from entering Russia.

Moscow accused them of backing the West’s “unfriendly anti-Russian” policy.

Russia has no say in Ukrainian grain exports, says Kyiv

13:00 , Rory Sullivan

Russia is in no position to complain about the destination of Ukrainian grain ships, Kyiv has said.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, made the comment after Russian president Vladimir Putin claimed the shipments were not reaching poor countries.

Referring to a UN-brokered deal struck in July, Mr Podolyak said: “The agreements signed in Istanbul...concern only one issue, and that is the transfer of cargo ships through the Black Sea.”

“Russia can’t dictate where Ukraine should send its grain, and Ukraine doesn’t dictate the same to Russia,” he added.

Russia using ‘outdated’ weapons, says Ukraine

13:24 , Rory Sullivan

Russia is using more and more outdated Soviet weapons in Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force has said.

Spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said the Kremlin’s low supplies meant its forces had to reply on less accurate S-300 systems, as well asKh-22 and Kh-59 missiles.

Ukraine says IAEA report fails to set out next steps

13:39 , Rory Sullivan

Ukraine has criticised a report released yesterday by the UN nuclear watchdog about the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, saying it fails to lay out the steps needed to make the facility safe.

The International Atomic Energy Agengy (IAEA) has already been rebuked by Russia for stating its military equipment at the site poses a danger.

Later on Wednesday, Mykhailo Podolyak, who advises Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, took aim at the report.

“There is no definite algorithm of what we must do,” he told Reuters.

“It says both sides have to negotiate, but it doesn’t say that Russian troops must vacate the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. It doesn’t mention a 10-15 km demilitarisation area,” he added.

Estonia to buy anti-aircraft missile systems from Poland

13:56 , Rory Sullivan

Estonia will buy Piorun anti-aircraft missile systems from Poland amid security fears sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

They systems are designed to target helicopters and drones.

The agreement was announced in Poland on Wednesday by the Estonian defence minister Hanno Pevkur.

“This is a historic moment...for our bilateral cooperation and for our cooperation in the defence field,” he said.

“It’s very important for us, for the region, for the region of the Baltic sea and especially for the NATO Eastern flank.”

Putin to meet Xi next week, reports suggest

14:17 , Rory Sullivan

Russian president Vladimir Putin will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping next week, a Kremlin official has said.

If the two see each other at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Uzbekistan, it will be their first in-person meeting since Moscow invaded Ukraine.

President Xi has not travelled outside China in two years due to the pandemic.

Andrei Denisov, the Russian ambassador to China, reported the scheduled meeting. “We are actively preparing for it,” he said.

Global wheat prices down due to resumption of Ukrainian grain exports, says UN

14:38 , Rory Sullivan

Global wheat prices dropped in August partly because of Ukrainian grain exports, a UN spokesperson has said.

Earlier this summer, a deal signed by Russia and Ukraine paved the way for the resumption of Ukrainian cereal exports. They had been stopped by a Russian blockade of Ukraine’s ports.

Threat of limited nuclear war ‘cannot be ignored’, says Ukrainian army commander-in-chief

15:02 , Rory Sullivan

The possibility of a limited nuclear war started by Russia “cannot be ignored”, Ukraine’s military chief has said.

“There is a direct threat of the use, under certain circumstances, of tactical nuclear weapons by the Russian Armed Forces,” Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, the Ukrainian army’s commander in chief, said.

“It is also impossible to completely rule out the possibility of the direct involvement of the world’s leading countries in a ‘limited’ nuclear conflict, in which the prospect of a Third World War is already directly visible,” he added.

Erdogan criticises ‘provocative’ West

15:23 , Rory Sullivan

Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan has described the West’s policies towards Russia as “provocative”.

“No need to list the names but I can clearly say that I do not find the stance that the West is adopting is correct,” he said in Belgrade.

“Because there is a West that is leading a policy based on provocation, it will not be possible to achieve a result there.”

The Turkish leader added that countries should not underestimate Russia.

His words followed an EU proposal to cap Russian gas prices.

Ukraine claims responsibility for Crimea strikes last month

15:43 , Rory Sullivan

Ukraine has claimed responsibility for a recent series of large explosions in Russian-annexed Crimea.

Although Kyiv was assumed to be behind the strikes, it had only previously hinted at its involvement.

Now, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, the head of Ukraine’s army, said his forces had hit targets including the Russian Saky military facility last month.

The “combined strike” on 9 August damaged ten Russian jets, he added.

Netherlands backs Russian energy price cap, says source

15:58 , Rory Sullivan

The Netherlands now supports a price cap on Russian gas, a source familiar with the issue has said.

The country had previously opposed the move, as Germany continues to do.

The Dutch also support making it compulsory for EU members to reduce natural gas demand by 15 per cent.

Ukraine calls for residents around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to evacuate

16:28 , Joe Middleton

Ukraine has called for the residents of Russian-occupied areas around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to evacuate for their own safety.

Moscow and Kyiv accuse each other of shelling the nuclear plant, Europe’s largest, risking a nuclear disaster.

“I appeal to the residents of the districts adjacent to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant .... evacuate! Find a way to get to (Ukrainian) controlled territory,” Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in a post on the Telegram messaging service.

The exiled Ukrainian mayor of Enerhodar, the main town serving the plant, said in a separate Telegram post that it was under fire from Russian forces and that the town had no electrical supply, reports Reuters.

Russia denies targeting civilians and accuses Kyiv of shelling the nuclear plant.

Russia ‘has not lost anything’ from Ukrainian conflict, claims Putin

17:00 , Joe Middleton