Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has traveled to Izyum, one of many largest cities just lately retaken from Russia in a lightning counteroffensive within the jap a part of the nation.
The Ukrainian army in a press release on social media stated Zelenskiy and army officers “took half” in a ceremony elevating the Ukrainian flag over the liberated metropolis, which was key for Russia’s ambitions to seize the Donbas area.
Photographs confirmed Zelenskiy greeting Ukrainian troopers taking part within the quickly advancing counteroffensive.
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Zelenskiy stated in his nightly handle on September 13 that Ukraine was in full management of greater than 4,000 sq. kilometers of territory recaptured from Russian forces and stabilizing one other 4,000 sq. kilometers.
“Our blue-yellow flag is already flying in de-occupied Izyum. And will probably be so in each Ukrainian metropolis and village,” Zelensky stated on Telegram.
“We’re transferring solely in a single route — ahead and till victory,” he stated in a put up on social media after his go to.
The Ukrainian army has pushed Russian forces out of a whole bunch of cities and cities within the northeast of the nation, and Zelenskiy stated the stabilization of the liberated communities was beneath method.
Zelenskiy additionally criticized Russia for missile strikes that hit a hydroelectric facility in Kryviy Rih, which he stated was an try to flood town and depart its folks with out water, electrical energy, warmth, and meals.
Russian troops fired eight cruise missiles at Kryviy Rih, hitting the power, stated Kyrylo Tymoshenko, a senior aide to Zelenskiy. No civilians have been injured, and the injury brought on is being repaired, he stated.
He stated the rockets have been geared toward vital amenities with the purpose of making an emergency state of affairs and panic among the many inhabitants.
“They want our panic,” Tymoshenko stated. “That is why we do not panic.”
Earlier on September 14, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who held a 90-minute cellphone name with Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 13, stated Putin hasn’t modified his considering on invading Ukraine.
“Sadly, I can not inform you that the impression has grown that it was a mistake to start this struggle. And there was no indication that new attitudes are rising,” Scholz informed a press convention on September 14.
The Kremlin, which has made little point out of the setbacks in current days, vowed to proceed combating. It additionally stated on September 14 that Putin had mentioned getting Ukrainian grain to nations most in want in a phone name with UN Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres.
The dialog “primarily centered on implementing the Istanbul agreements on exporting Ukrainian grain” from Black Sea ports, and the export of Russian meals and fertilizer, the Kremlin stated in a press release.
“Either side emphasised the significance of assembly the wants, as a precedence, of these in Africa, the Center East, and Latin America who want meals,” the Kremlin stated.
Guterres stated he was hopeful a UN-brokered deal can be maintained and expanded to incorporate Russian ammonia.
“To take away the obstacles that also exist in relation to the export of Russian fertilizers is completely important,” Guterres informed reporters shortly after chatting with Putin.
“There are…talks in relation to the potential for Russian ammonia exports by way of the Black Sea,” stated Guterres, including that there was a “dramatic state of affairs” on the world fertilizer market.
Facilitating Russia’s meals and fertilizer shipments is a central side of the deal brokered in July that additionally restarted Ukraine’s Black Sea grain and fertilizer shipments. Russia has just lately criticized the deal, complaining that its exports have been nonetheless hindered.
A pipeline transporting ammonia from Russia to a Ukrainian Black Sea port was shut down when Russia invaded Ukraine. The United Nations is now making an attempt to dealer a resumption of these ammonia exports.
In Strasbourg, European Fee chief Ursula von der Leyen stated she would journey to Kyiv afterward September 14. It is going to be von der Leyen’s third go to to Kyiv because the begin of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
