Ukraine says Russia poisoned two of its rivers in act of ‘ecological genocide’
Ukraine says that Russia isn’t just trying to kill its people with bombs and bullets but also through “ecological genocide,” according to a report published on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Kyiv claims that Russia intentionally poisoned the Seym River by dumping chemical waste from a sugar factory into the waterway in September. The waste reportedly included ammonia, magnesium and poisonous nitrates.
The Seym River flows into the Desna River, which connects with a reservoir in the Kyiv region that is used to supply water to millions of Ukrainians.
Ukraine’s Minister for Environmental Protection Svitlana Hrynchuk maintains the water is safe to drink in Kyiv, and that the agency is taking special steps to purify the water from nitrates and put nets across the Desna to catch contaminated fish.
Meanwhile, communities surrounding Kyiv report mass fish die-offs and have banned fishing and swimming in the river. Some regions have even been forced to use compressors to pump oxygen into the river to save any remaining fish and recent rains offers some hope. However, Serhiv Zhuk, the head of Chernihiv’s Ecology Inspectorate said that the outlook is bleak.
“There is a difference between a natural and man-made disaster,” Zhuk said. “Russia’s ecological genocide won’t stop until the war stops.”
Ukrainian officials say environmental destruction isn’t new for Russian forces, alleging that Russian troops have destroyed national parks, forests and killed animals. Explosions have also reportedly sparked wildfires, which have been made worse by hot weather.
“Ukraine is fighting for its future,” Hrnchuk said. “That future has to include nature. We need clean water, clean air, clean woods, everything. We have to a beautiful country. We have to save and protect it.”
White House announces $8 billion in aid to Ukraine to help Kyiv ‘win this war’
In an effort to help Ukraine “win this war,” President Joe Biden announced on Thursday, Sept. 26, $8 billion in military weapons and equipment is going to Kyiv. The announcement comes against the backdrop of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly.
The Biden administration held talks with U.S. Congress to allow it to use $5.6 billion in military aid for Ukraine before the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, which is when the White House’s authority is set to expire.
The White House was expected to notify Congress it intends to move ahead with the $5.6 billion “drawdown” from U.S. weapons stockpiles. Exactly which weapons and equipment will be sent is still reportedly “in flux.”
The White House also revealed an additional $2.4 billion in aid under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative Program, which allows the Biden administration to buy weapons for Ukraine from companies rather than pulling from U.S. inventory. The aid includes weapons to fight off drone attacks as well as material to help Kyiv ramp up its munitions production.
In addition to the aid announced, the United States is also sending a $375 million package that reportedly includes a “precision-guided glide bomb,” capable of traveling more than 80 miles.
Despite the announcements, the White House insists that it will look for even more help from the U.S. Congress in the coming months, seeking to approve more funding for Ukraine. So far, Congress has approved $175 billion in aid and military assistance for Ukraine and allied nations since Russia’s invasion more than two years ago.
Ukraine bans Telegram app for some as fears of Russian spying grow
Ukraine announced on Friday, Sept. 20, that it is banning the use of the Telegram messaging app for government officials and members of the military over fears Russia is using it to spy on Ukrainians. Ukraine’s security council said it has found evidence Russian special services accessed Telegram messages, including deleted ones, as well as personal information.
The head of Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov said the move is not a matter of supporting free speech but of protecting national security. Right now, the ban does not apply to personal devices.
It’s estimated that more than 70% of Ukrainians get their news from the app, including alerts for incoming missile attacks and evacuations, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regularly uses the app to broadcast announcements.
There are an estimated 33,000 Telegram channels in Ukraine alone, and it’s also been called “the last window into Russia,” as it’s one of the few platforms to circumvent a Russian crackdown with sources such as The New York Times and independent Russian outlets available on the app.
However, it’s also become a safe haven for terrorists and criminals, some of whom orchestrated terrorist attacks in Paris and Berlin. The lack of oversight also has Ukrainian officials worried.
The platform is reportedly teeming with pro-Russian propaganda, sparking concerns it could destabilize Ukrainian society as Russia is reportedly working on software to reveal the identities of anonymous users and access private chats
The platform was founded by Russian native Pavel Durov, who left the country in 2014 after refusing the Kremlin’s demands to shut down opposition communities on the app.
Durov was arrested in France in August on charges related to child pornography, drug trafficking and fraud transactions on the Telegram app, but was later released on bail. He was instructed not to leave the country.
1 million dead or wounded in Russia-Ukraine war: Report
The protracted conflict between Russia and Ukraine, now entering its third year, has inflicted approximately 1 million casualties, both killed and wounded, according to The Wall Street Journal. This toll has significantly impacted the demographic and economic stability of both nations, already suffering from population declines prior to the conflict.
Efforts to ascertain precise casualty numbers have been hampered by the reticence of both Moscow and Kyiv in disclosing their military losses.
Unofficial estimates reveal about 80,000 Ukrainian military deaths and 400,000 injuries. For Russia, Western intelligence sources suggest casualty figures could be as high as 200,000 dead and another 400,000 wounded.
The demographic consequences are particularly dire for Ukraine, where the pre-war population was only about a quarter of Russia’s.
The ongoing war has not only led to a devastating loss of life but also driven mass displacement, severely straining Ukraine’s demographic fabric.
In contrast, Russia has been deploying large numbers of less-trained conscripts to sustain its offensive efforts, indicating a potential depletion of its military manpower.
President Vladimir Putin’s 2022 invasion was partially motivated by a desire to bolster Russia’s declining demographic figures by integrating Ukrainians into the Russian populace, reaffirming historical claims over Ukraine.
Moscow has implemented forceful measures in occupied Ukrainian territories, including enforced citizenship and cultural assimilation, to secure its hold on these regions.
Russia’s annexation and occupation strategies have notably decreased Ukraine’s population. Since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, more than 6 million people have fled Ukraine, and Russia’s continued territorial encroachments have reduced the population under Kyiv’s control to between 25 and 27 million, down from 40 million at the beginning of 2022.
The war’s impact on Ukraine’s birth rate compounds these demographic challenges. In the first half of 2024 alone, there were 250,000 deaths but only 87,000 births, a 9% decrease from the previous year, underscoring the worsening population crisis. In comparison, there were over 130,000 births in 2021, the year before the invasion commenced.
Zelenskyy accuses Russia of attack on Ukrainian grain ship in Black Sea
In what Ukraine’s foreign minister called “a brazen attack on freedom of navigation and global food security” on Thursday, Sept. 12, Kyiv accused Moscow of striking a civilian grain vessel in the Black Sea with cruise missiles near Romania. It is reportedly the first time that a missile hit a civilian vessel transporting grains at sea since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, some ships have sustained damage while moored during the war.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the vessel carrying Ukrainian grain to Egypt was struck just after it left the country’s territorial waters on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The ship reportedly sustained heavy damage to its port side, including a cargo hold and crane. However, there are no reports of any deaths or injuries.
Meanwhile, traders said the incident is leading to concerns over a dwindling supply of wheat in the Black Sea export zone and resulted in higher grain prices.
The alleged attack from Russia came as NATO allies, including the United States, are considering allowing Kyiv to launch deeper strikes into Russia.
President Joe Biden is meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday, Sept. 13. The two reportedly plan to discuss the possibility of lifting weapons restrictions on Ukraine. However, Moscow warned if the green light is given to Kyiv, it will respond.
The United States accused Iran on Tuesday of supplying ballistic missiles to Russia. Those claims appeared to be correct on Wednesday after satellite imagery showed a Russian ship carrying Iranian ballistic missiles on Sept. 4. The revelations have prompted Ukrainian allies to reconsider their limits on Western-supplied weapons to Kyiv.
Fresh images appear to show Russian ship with Iranian missiles in Caspian Sea
New satellite imagery revealed on Wednesday, Sept. 11, shows what appears to be the Russian cargo ship that brought ballistic missiles to Russia from Iran. The vessel known as the Olya-3, was spotted in the Caspian Sea off of the coast of southwest Russia. The pictures are reportedly seen as further evidence to back up claims from the United States and Europe that Russia is receiving missiles from Iran for its war in Ukraine.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Tuesday, Sept. 10, that Moscow will use the weapons to strike Ukrainian forces, towns and civilian infrastructure in the coming weeks.
The images reportedly show Moscow’s first shipment of short-range ballistic missiles on Sept. 4. Olya-3 frequently transports cargo in the Caspian Sea between Russia and Iran, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. The department announced sanctions on the vessel as part of a larger effort to crackdown on Tehran for its weapons transfers to Moscow.
It’s unclear how many missiles Moscow received but the U.S. Treasury Department said Russia and Iran signed an agreement late last year for the supply of hundreds of missiles. However, Iran and Russia both deny the transfer of missiles.
Meanwhile, Britain, France and German called the delivery an “escalation by both Iran and Russia” and a “direct threat to European security.”
Iran previously supplied Russia with attack drones and North Korea gave Moscow ballistic missiles and artillery.
There are reports that Russia’s purchase of Iranian ballistic missiles will be the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back, and Washington, D.C., may finally lift its restrictions on Ukraine using U.S-supplied weapons to strike Russian targets deep behind the front lines.
President Joe Biden and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer are supposed to discuss the topic on Friday, Sept 13.
Blinken’s trip to Kyiv may bring a message Ukraine’s been hoping to hear
In what could lead to a major United States policy change, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged on Tuesday, Sept. 10, that he’ll be discussing the possibility of Kyiv using long-range weapons against Russia during his trip to Ukraine on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The revelation came during a joint press conference with Blinken and United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
A reporter asked whether the U.S. restriction on long-range weapons it supplied to Ukraine would be lifted for Kyiv to strike deep within Russian territory.
“So, I can tell you is we’ll be listening intently to our Ukrainian partners,” Blinken said. “We’ll be reporting back to the prime minister to President Biden in the coming days and I fully anticipate this is something they’ll take up when they meet Friday.”
While Blinken provided limited details, House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul did not take the same approach. He said that Blinken is traveling to Kyiv to tell Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy he can begin striking deep within Russia with Storm Shadows and ATACMS, which are ground-launched missiles.
Up to this point, the United States barred Ukraine from using the long-range missiles from being fired deep within Russian territory. However, the reported U.S. accusations that Iran supplied Russia with short-range ballistic missiles may have reportedly led to the U.S. possibly lifting the restrictions.
President Joe Biden had previously given the all-clear for Ukraine to fire U.S.-supplied weapons into Russian territory in self-defense and with limited range around the border. However, Biden stopped short of allowing them to use the weapons any further over fears it could escalate the conflict.
US says Iran is giving ballistic missiles to Russia to attack Ukraine
The United States and Britain accused Iran of supplying Russia with short-range ballistic missiles on Tuesday, Sept. 10, and warned that Moscow plans to use the weapons soon. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the comments alongside British Foreign Secretary David Lammy during a joint press conference.
“Russia has now received shipments of these ballistic missiles and will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine, against Ukrainians,” Blinken said.
“This development, and the growing cooperation between Russia and Iran, threatens European security and demonstrates how Iran’s destabilizing influence reaches far beyond the Middle East,” Blinken said.
Meanwhile, Iran has denied the accusations and said it has not supplied Russia with ballistic missiles.
According to Blinken, an announcement on sanctions against Iran would come later Tuesday.
The U.S. secretary of state’s comments come before a trip on Wednesday, Sept. 11, to Ukraine with Lammy. The pair will reportedly meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to talk about bulking up Kyiv’s defenses.
“I think it’s a critical moment for Ukraine,” Blinken said. “In the midst of what is an intense fall fighting season with Russia continuing to escalate its aggression. Its aggression against civilians, against critical infrastructure, and of course, against Ukrainian forces. We see it ramping up its attacks on cities, on people, in particular, targeting the energy infrastructure, electricity, in advance of the coldest months. Putin’s winter playbook of weaponizing energy and electricity.”
Zelenskyy’s chief of staff responded to Blinken’s statements, arguing that imposing sanctions on Iran is not enough. He urged Western allies to allow Kyiv to launch deep strikes into Russia using Western weapons.
However, it did not stop Kyiv from using its own weapons on Tuesday as it launched its biggest drone attack on Russian soil since the start of the war, striking multiple regions, including Moscow.
All of this is happening while Ukraine’s offensive in Kursk continues. Russia is still struggling to mount a defense against the invasion into its territory, the first since World War II.
Video reportedly shows Russians killing surrendering Ukrainian troops
Ukraine announced on Friday, Sept. 6, that it is launching an investigation into Russian forces allegedly killing three surrendering Ukrainian soldiers in southeast Ukraine last month. Video exclusively obtained by CNN, shows Ukrainian soldiers appearing to surrender to advancing Russian forces, getting down on their knees and placing their hands on their heads. Moments later, they fall to the ground, their bodies lie face down and motionless.
The Ukrainian military reportedly said that it’s just one of scores of similar incidents reported since the beginning of the war. Ukraine’s prosecutor general said Kyiv is investigating the alleged executions of 73 Ukrainian prisoners at the hands of Russian troops. The latest incident took place after Russian troops attacked a trench used by Ukrainian forces for cover on Aug. 27.
“This war crime is part of Russia’s ongoing gross violations of international humanitarian law. Russian barbarism is a disgrace to humanity,” said Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Spokesperson Heorhi Tykhyi, on social media.
A United Nations investigative source told CNN that they believe the killings may be war crimes and part of orders Russians soldiers received from commanders.
“There are many. There is a pattern. It suggests complacency, if not orders,” the source said.
They claim the alleged executions could be a sign of a Russian policy to show no mercy, adding “the killings are war crimes individually and together could amount to crimes against humanity.”
Russia launches largest air assault on Ukraine since start of war
Russia launches its largest air assault against Ukraine since the war began, targeting critical infrastructure in the country. And the Department of Justice is appealing a judge’s decision last month to toss out former President Donald Trump’s classified documents case. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.
Russia launches largest air assault on Ukraine since start of war
At one point the entirety of Ukraine was under air raid alerts and residents were warned to take cover. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, there were more than 200 drones and missiles launched at Ukraine’s “critical civilian infrastructure.”
The main target appears to have been Ukraine’s power grid. While one missile missed, another one hit a dam that was providing electricity to Kyiv, causing widespread power outages. The strike also puts millions at risk of devastating flooding.
Civilians’ homes were also hit. At least seven people were said to have been killed in the attack.
While Ukraine says its forces have advanced nearly two miles into the area and seized two more villages, Russia is also making gains in eastern Ukraine.
Moscow’s air assault on Ukraine was the largest seen in more than two and a half years since the war began.
Federal judge temporarily blocks Biden admin’s new ‘parole in place’ policy
A federal judge in Texas has temporarily blocked the Biden administration’s new “parole in place” policy. The ruling sides with 16 Republican-led states that challenged the policy.
Parole in place allows unauthorized immigrants to apply for temporary work permits and deportation protections under an immigration benefit known as “parole” if they’re married to U.S. citizens, have lived in the country for at least 10 years, and pass background checks. The policy also offers a path to citizenship for up to half a million undocumented immigrants who are married to U.S. citizens.
The judge said the Republican states’ complaint raised legitimate questions about the authority of the president to bypass Congress and set immigration policy.
The Biden administration can keep accepting applications for the program, but it can’t approve them, under the judge’s order. That order is set to remain in place for 14 days while both sides submit arguments in the case, but it could be extended.
DOJ appeals to revive Trump’s classified docs case tossed by judge last month
Special Counsel Jack Smith is pushing to revive the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump. This comes after judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case last month.
Smith is now arguing that Cannon’s decision was flawed and lacked merit.
In a new court filing, Smith contends that Cannon’s ruling — which claimed the prosecutors’ office did not have the constitutional authority to pursue the case — was incorrect. Judge Cannon had ruled that the Justice Department couldn’t appoint or fund special counsels like Smith without congressional approval.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is now reviewing this decision.
Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign has responded to the DOJ’s appeal, calling for all charges against Trump in different cases to also be dismissed.
1 killed in Alaska landslide; authorities concerned more landslides to come
So far, we know four homes were critically damaged, but homes next to where the landslide went through are still being assessed.
The National Weather Service said Ketchikan got more than 2.5 inches of rain in about 36 hours over the weekend, but rainfall totals at higher elevations ranged from 5 to 9 inches.
Australian airline accidentally sells first-class tickets 85% off
An airline accidentally sold hundreds of first-class tickets for about 85% cheaper than usual — and it wasn’t some sort of sale. A coding error that caused a glitch in its system and customers took advantage of it while they could.
Here’s how that happened: on June 26, Danny Jansen was on the Toronto Blue Jays and up to bat in their game against the Boston Red Sox when the game had to be suspended because of bad weather. On July 27, Jansen was traded from the Blue Jays to the Red Sox.
The unfinished June game finally picked up Monday after a two-month delay, with Jansen behind home plate playing catcher for the Red Sox. So, while it was months apart, it was technically still the same game, earning Jansen a spot in the MLB history books.