Ukraine Russia news – live: US to send depleted uranium weapons as blast reported near Rostov military base

Russia has criticised the Biden administration’s plan to send arms containing depleted uranium to Ukraine as the Pentagon announced a new security assistance package worth $175m (£140m) for the war-hit country. Russia’s deputy minister accused Washington of a ‘criminal act’ by adding contentious depleted uranium ammunition that can pierce tanks for Abrams tanks, while Moscow ‘s embassy in the US said the military aid is an ‘indicator of inhumanity’. Russia has, however, deployed hypersonic missiles and thermobaric weapons on civilian targets during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine that has continued for more than 20 months now. This morning, explosions rocked the Russian city of Rostov near a military base which has played a major role in Russia’s invasion. Russian officials said multiple drones were downed in southern Rostov, Bryansk in the early hours today. At least one person was injured as the attack damaged three buildings and several cars. Russian officials claimed its air defences shot down two Ukrainian drones targeting the city, just 100km from the frontline. Key Points One injured as ‘Ukrainian’ drones downed near Russian military base Russian attack on market kills 17 during Blinken’s Kyiv visit Kyiv ‘kills almost 50’ of Putin’s elite soldiers Situation remains ‘difficult’ along eastern front, Ukraine commander says Supplying depleted uranium weapons ‘criminal act’, claims Russia Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Danube ports to slow down grain exports-Romanian president 07:56 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Danube river ports will slow down the export of grains and other routes need to be enhanced, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said. Since July, when Moscow abandoned a deal that lifted a de facto Russian blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, it has repeatedly struck Ukrainian river ports that lie across the Danube from Romania. Romania’s Black Sea port of Constanta is Ukraine’s largest alternative export route, with grains arriving by road, rail or barge on the Danube. Ukraine is one of the world’s biggest grain exporters. President Iohannis, speaking late on Wednesday at a summit of Three Seas Initiative countries in Bucharest, said: ‘Of course the attacks on Ukrainian ports on the Danube are a huge problem. Of course it will in a way slow down exports.’ ‘We will enhance the other routes, we accepted Ukrainian maritime transports through our Romanian territorial waters off the Black Sea, we will continue to enhance exports on the rail and on the road.’ Russia says US supply of depleted uranium weapons to Ukraine is ‘criminal’ 07:39 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Thursday that the US supply of depleted uranium weapons to Ukraine was ‘a criminal act’, state media reported. The Pentagon on Wednesday announced a new security assistance package worth up to $175 million for Ukraine, including depleted uranium ammunition for U.S. Abrams tanks. A by-product of uranium enrichment, depleted uranium is used for ammunition because its extreme density gives rounds the ability to easily penetrate armor plating. Critics say there are dangerous health risks from ingesting or inhaling depleted uranium dust, including cancers and birth defects. ‘This is not just an escalatory step, but it is a reflection of Washington’s outrageous disregard for the environmental consequences of using this kind of ammunition in a combat zone. This is, in fact, a criminal act, I cannot give any other assessment,’ TASS quoted Ryabkov as saying. In a speech at a security seminar, he also reiterated previous warnings by Russia about the risk of a nuclear war, because of what he called Western ‘pressure’ on Moscow. ‘Now this pressure is dangerously balancing on the brink of direct armed conflict between nuclear powers,’ he said. Russia strikes damage port and grain silo in Odesa region 06:28 , Arpan Rai Russian drone strikes have damaged port infrastructure, a grain silo and administrative buildings in the Izmail district of Ukraine’s Odesa region, governor Oleh Kiper said. One person was injured in the attack, the fourth on the key Danube river port in the last five days, the governor said on his Telegram channel. Ukraine’s military reported shooting down 25 of the 33 drones it said were launched by Russia. Most were aimed at the Odesa region, but some also targeted the northern area of Sumy, it added. Russia has amped up its attacks on Ukraine’s grain export infrastructure as talks on resumption Black Sea grain deal to allow unhindered exports of grain from Ukrainian ports get underway. Supplying depleted uranium weapons ‘criminal act’, claims Russia 06:11 , Arpan Rai Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said Washington is committing a ‘criminal act’ by supplying depleted Uranium weapons to Ukraine shortly after the Pentagon announced a new batch of military aid for the war-hit country. The new security assistance package is worth up to $175m and includes depleted uranium ammunition for Abrams tanks, the first time the US is sending the controversial armour-piercing munitions to Kyiv. Depleted uranium is a byproduct of the uranium enrichment process needed to create nuclear weapons. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been continuing for more than 20 months now and has seen Russia deploy hypersonic missiles to thermobaric weapons on civilian targets. Nato member Romania says drone pieces from Russian attacks found 04:56 , Arpan Rai Romania’s defence minister has said pieces apparently of a drone from Russia’s recent attacks on Ukraine’s port on the Danube River have been found on the territory of his country. Angel Tilvar, the minister, told local news channel Antena 3 CNN that parts of what was most likely a drone were discovered in the eastern Tulcea county, an area of the Danube that forms a natural border between Romania and war-torn Ukraine. ‘I confirm that in this area, pieces that may be of a drone were found,’ he said, adding that the pieces didn’t pose a threat. It’s unclear if Romania has determined when or from where the drone was launched. There has been a series of recent attacks by Russia on Danube ports in Ukraine, which are close to Romania, a Nato member since 2004. Russian attack on market kills 17 during Blinken’s Kyiv visit 04:29 , Arpan Rai At least 17 people were killed and 32 wounded in a Russian attack on a crowded market in eastern Ukraine’s Kostiantynivka city yesterday. The attack coincided with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said. Footage widely circulated online by Volodymyr Zelensky and other presidential officials showed people falling to the ground or running for cover after a huge explosion rocked the busy market in front of them, seconds after some look up to the sky when they hear what sounds like a missile approaching. Mr Zelensky condemned the attack, saying a market, shops and a pharmacy had been struck in the industrial city close to the battlefield. ‘This Russian evil must be defeated as soon as possible,’ he said. ‘When someone in the world still attempts to deal with anything Russian, it means turning a blind eye to this reality. The audacity of evil. The brazenness of wickedness. Utter inhumanity.’ He later told a press conference in the capital Kyiv that he believed it had been a deliberate attack on ‘a peaceful city’. Russia decries US plan to send arms with depleted uranium to Ukraine 04:12 , Arpan Rai Russia denounced Biden administration’s plan to provide Ukraine with arms containing depleted uranium and said it is an indicator of ‘inhumanity’. ‘The administration’s decision to supply weapons with depleted uranium is an indicator of inhumanity,’ Russia’s embassy in Washington said on Telegram. ‘Clearly, with its idea of inflicting a ‘strategic defeat’, Washington is prepared to fight not only to the last Ukrainian but also to do away with entire generations.’ The Pentagon announced a new security assistance package worth up to $175m for Ukraine, including depleted uranium ammunition for Abrams tanks. This is the first time the US is sending the controversial armour-piercing munitions to Kyiv. Around 11,000 children detained in re-education camps – says MOD 04:00 , William Mata Around 11,000 Ukrainian children being detained at 43 re-education camps across Russia, the British ministry of defence has said. ‘Their simple right to life and liberty is being impacted.,’ the department said on Twitter on Wednesday morning. The government also published a map showing the latest territorial gains from either side. One injured as ‘Ukrainian’ drones downed near Moscow 03:58 , Arpan Rai A Ukrainian drone was downed near Moscow and two over the southern Rostov region in the early hours today, the Russian defence ministry said. Three buildings were damaged in the city of Rostov-on-Don and one person was injured when one of the drones crashed in the downtown area, Russian news agency TASS reported. The other drone in the Rostov region fell outside the city. One of the 17 who died ‘was a child’ 03:00 , William Mata Ukraine’s ministry of defence Twitter account has said that one of the 17 civilians who was killed in the Kostyantynivka attack was a child. The update on Wednesday evening said that 34 have now been confirmed to be injured. ‘Terrorist attacks against civilians are the Kremlin’s preferred approach,’ the statement added. ‘We must put a stop to this evil in Ukraine so that it does not spread.’ ‘Grateful’ message from Volodymyr Zelensky 02:00 , William Mata ‘I am grateful to the American people, both parties of the US Congress, and personally to Joe Biden for their unwavering support,’ Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky said. The US secretary of state Antony Blinked visited Kyiv on Wednesday. Mr Zelensky’s tweet added: ‘Ukrainian forces are advancing on the battlefield and we discussed steps to ensure their further successes.’ Pictures from the day: Ukraine on August 6 01:00 , William Mata Police officers and rescuers inspect the site of a Russian military strike in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region (via REUTERS) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures as he talks with Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen prior to a press conference outside the Presidential Palace following their meeting in Kyiv (Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima) Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attend a joint press conference (via REUTERS) Burnt cars are seen at the site at of a Russian strike at a market in Kostyantynivka (AFP via Getty Images) Headlines at midnight Thursday 7 September 2023 00:00 , William Mata Here are some of the key stories to have emerged from the day on September 6. Russian commander ‘used two military helicopters to transport his pet cat’ Cubans face ‘human trafficking’ over Russian deals luring them into Ukraine war: ‘A great way to make money’ Antony Blinken in talks with other European leaders Wednesday 6 September 2023 23:00 , William Mata Rust Umerov was approved as Ukranian defence minister on Wednesday, the same day that US secretary of state Antony Blinken visited Kyiv. Mr Umerov has taken over from Oleksii Reznikov in the post although officials have not confirmed if he will meet with Mr Blinken as part of the visit. During his train ride to Kyiv, Mr Blinken held talks with Danish prime minister Mettle Fredericks, who was visiting the same day. Mr Blinken thanked Mr Fredericks for Denmark’s donation of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine and its leadership of a coalition of nations to train Ukrainian pilots, a State Department spokesperson said. Denmark and the Netherlands announced last month they would supply more than 60 U.S.-made F-16s as soon as pilots are trained to fly them – the first countries to offer the jets. More detail given about aid to Ukraine Wednesday 6 September 2023 22:30 , William Mata US secretary of state Antony Blinken has announced new aid for Ukraine totaling more than $1 billion in a visit to Kyiv, including over $665 million in new military and civilian security assistance and millions of dollars in support for Ukraine’s air defenses and other areas. On Wednesday, the Pentagon said the military aid would also include anti-armour systems, tactical air navigation systems and additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). It will also see depleted uranium ammunition for Abrams tanks being given, the first time the US is sending the controversial armor-piercing munitions to Kyiv. Blinken hails Kyiv’s pushback against Russia in visit clouded by attack Wednesday 6 September 2023 22:00 , William Mata Antony Blinken said in his visit to Kyiv that Ukraine has made important progress in its counteroffensive against Russia’s invasion. While the US secretary of state’s visit was overshadowed by the Russian attack on Kostiantynivka which has killed at least 17 people. After a day of meetings Mr Blinken and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky held a briefing on Wednesday. Mr Zelensky said: “This Russian evil must be defeated as soon as possible.’ “In the ongoing counteroffensive, progress has accelerated in the past few weeks. This new assistance will help sustain it and build further momentum,” Mr Blinken added. He also described the progress as important and “very, very encouraging”. President Zelensky greets US Secretary of State Blinken in Kyiv (Brenden Smialowski via Reuters) EU: Russia is ‘terrorising Ukraine’s civillian population’ Wednesday 6 September 2023 21:30 , William Mata The European Union has denounced Russia’s attack on eastern Ukrainian city of Kostyantynivka as ‘heinous and barbaric’. The EU released the statement on Wednesday after at least 17 died in the attack. An statement by the EU’s diplomatic service said Russia ‘continues terrorising Ukraine’s civilian population’ and said those behind the attack would be held to account. At least 17 have died in the attack on Kostyantynivka (EPA) Romanian defence minister says Russia drone fragments found in Danube Wednesday 6 September 2023 21:00 , William Mata Romania’s defence minister has said that pieces apparently of a drone from Russia’s recent attacks on Ukraine’s port on the Danube river have been found in Romania. Angel Tilvar told local news channel Antena 3 CNN that parts of what was most likely a drone were discovered in the eastern county of Tulcea, an area of the Danube that forms a natural border between Romania and war-torn Ukraine. ‘I confirm that in this area, pieces that may be of a drone were found,’ he said, adding that the pieces did not pose a threat. It is unclear if Romania has determined when or from where the drone was launched. US makes £150 milion pledge for Ukraine security assistance Wednesday 6 September 2023 20:30 , William Mata The US has pledged £150 million in security assistance to Ukraine, including depleted uranium ammunition for US Abrams tanks. The secretary of state Antony Blinken made the gesture on a visit to Kyiv on Wednesday. His