Ukraine’s natural gas pipeline operator has cut off Russian supplies through a key hub in the east.
Wednesday’s move was the first time natural gas supplies have been affected by the war, which began in February. This could force Russia to shift its gas flows through Ukrainian-controlled territory to reach its customers in Europe.
Russia’s state energy giant Gazprom initially said it could not divert gas, although preliminary flow figures suggest higher tariffs passing through a second station in Ukrainian-controlled territory.
The pipeline operator said Russian supplies through its Novopskov hub, in an area controlled by Moscow-backed separatists, would be cut off due to interference from “occupying forces”, including the apparent suction of gas.
the ukrainian pipeline operator said the hub handles about a third of russian gas passing through ukraine to western europe. Russia’s state-owned natural gas giant Gazprom has set the figure at about a quarter.
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KEY DEVELOPMENT OF THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
– Ukrainians are making profits in the east, stopping Russian gas in a hub
– Birth during the war among the air raid sirens in a hospital in Ukraine
– The United States and Western Europe are worried about the uncertain end of the war in Ukraine
– Fighters call for evacuation of the wounded from the Mariupol mill
– The Chamber approves $ 40 billion in aid to Ukraine, reinforcing Biden’s request
– Leonid Kravchuk, the first president of independent Ukraine, dies
– The nominee for Ambassador of Ukraine wants a quick opening of the embassy
– Follow all AP stories about Russia’s war against Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
The British military says directing Ukraine against Russian forces on Snake Island in the Black Sea is helping to thwart Moscow’s attempts to expand its influence in the Black Sea.
In a daily intelligence briefing posted on Twitter on Wednesday, the British Ministry of Defense said that “Russia is repeatedly trying to strengthen its open garrison stationed there.”
It added: “Ukraine has successfully struck at Russia’s air defenses and supplied ships with Bayraktar drones. Russia’s supply ships have minimal protection in the western Black Sea following the withdrawal of the Russian fleet to Crimea following the loss of Moscow.
This is in line with satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press this weekend showing the fighting there.
The British military warned: “If Russia consolidates its position on (Snake Island) with strategic air defenses and cruise missiles for coastal defense, they could dominate the northwestern Black Sea.
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WASHINGTON – The US House of Representatives strongly approved a new $ 40 billion aid package for Ukraine on Tuesday, when lawmakers stepped up President Joe Biden’s initial request, signaling an increased bipartisan commitment to thwart Russian President Vladimir Putin’s bloody three-month invasion.
The measure was adopted with a unilateral margin of 368-57, providing $ 7 billion more than Biden’s request in April and splitting the increase equally between defense and humanitarian programs.
The bill will provide Ukraine with military and economic aid, help regional allies, replenish weapons the Pentagon has sent abroad, and provide $ 5 billion to tackle global food shortages caused by the crippling war of normal stable production. of many cultures in Ukraine.
The new legislation will bring US support for the effort to nearly $ 54 billion, including $ 13.6 billion in support passed by Congress in March.
That’s about $ 6 billion more than the United States spent on all its foreign and military aid in 2019, according to a January report from Congress’s nonpartisan research service, which is investigating lawmakers.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quoted some good news from the front on Tuesday, saying the Ukrainian military was gradually pushing Russian troops out of Kharkiv.
The Ukrainian General Staff said its forces had driven the Russians from four villages northeast of Kharkiv as they tried to push them back to the Russian border.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities said on Tuesday that Russian missiles had hit the vital port of Odessa, apparently as part of efforts to disrupt supply lines and arms supplies, which are crucial to Kyiv’s defense.
Ukraine’s ability to stop a larger, better-armed Russian army surprised many who expected a much faster conflict.
With the war already in its 11th week and Kyiv burying Russian forces in many places and even organizing a counter-offensive in others, Ukraine’s foreign minister seems confident that the country can expand its goals beyond simply pushing Russia back to areas where she or her allies held on the day of the invasion on Feb. 24.
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