July 21, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

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Igor Girkin sits behind a glass wall of an enclosure for defendants before a court hearing in Moscow, Russia, on Friday, July 21.

Lawyer Alexander Molokhov spoke to his client, Igor Girkin, according to a Friday night post by Molokhov to the Angry Patriots Club Telegram account, an ultra-nationalist political group Girkin co-founded.  

Lubyanka serves as the headquarters of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and is also the location of a Moscow prison. 

Some background. Girkin is a Russian military blogger and former official in the self-declared, Russian-occupied Donetsk People’s Republic who suggested after the Wagner insurrection that Russian President Vladimir Putin may have to step aside, according to messages posted on his Telegram account and Russian news reports.

Girkin, who also goes by the nom de guerre Igor Strelkov, is a figure of the far-right who has been openly critical of Russia’s military in Ukraine and even Putin himself. He was arrested in Moscow on Friday, according to Russian state media and a Telegram message attributed to his wife. He has been remanded in custody until September 18 by a judge at the Meshchansky District Court in Moscow, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported Friday. 

The leadership of the British foreign intelligence service “can be forgiven” for making a plea to Russian spies to share secrets and work with MI6, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said Friday, according to state news agency TASS. 

The SVR was responding to remarks by MI6 chief Richard Moore on Wednesday, in which he appealed to Russians “wrestling with their conscience” to take a stand against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime and “share secrets with MI6.” 

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service went on to say that “anyone who knows a little bit about this subject can remember that the Anglo-Saxons’ long-standing tradition is to eliminate well-worn traitors and defectors,” adding “this has not been done professionally for a long time, as there would be a clear trail.”

The SVR said during World War II, British intelligence officers sacrificed many lives and dedicated a lot of effort to the fight against Nazism, and that they did it in a courageous, professional, and subtle manner while fighting alongside their Russian allies, according to TASS.  

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service made a reference to Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, saying the mysterious M., who is James Bond’s boss in the series, “commands beautifully” and “intelligently.”

The SVR also referenced the Cambridge Five spy ring and George Blake — a double agent who used his position as an MI6 officer to spy for the Soviet Union.

Speaking in Prague on Wednesday, Moore said “there are many Russians today who are silently appalled” by the actions of the Russian military in Ukraine. 

CNN’s Nick Paton Walsh and Katharina Krebs contributed to this report.

Putin speaks at the SPIEF 2023 St.Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 16, in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

US intelligence officials have no reason to doubt Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that he has moved a batch of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, senior officials with a division of the US Defense Department said Friday.

Putin said last month at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that “the first (Russian) nuclear warheads were delivered to the territory of Belarus,” adding that they were placed there for “deterrence.” 

Russia has about 4,477 deployed and reserve nuclear warheads, including around 1,900 tactical nuclear weapons, according to the Federation of American Scientists.

It is not clear how much of that arsenal Putin intends to move, and Western officials have never publicly confirmed that any weapons have been transferred to Belarus.  

But senior officials with the US Defense Intelligence Agency told a small group of reporters Friday that analysts have “no reason to doubt” Putin’s claims about the transfer.

The officials would not disclose why they believe that. They acknowledged that the weapons are difficult for the US intelligence community to track, even through satellite imagery.

What we know so far: US and Western officials told CNN earlier this month that it did not appear Belarus had finished upgrading the necessary storage facilities to house tactical nuclear weapons, and that available satellite imagery had not shown any signs of the kind of preparations and security that would be standard at a Russian nuclear facility. 

Other sources told CNN, however, that there are various facilities in Belarus, dating back to the Soviet era, that could feasibly house some of the weapons. 

Asked last week whether he had seen signs that Russia had moved the weapons, UK Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace told CNN that the UK had “seen signs of this progressing,” and noted that Putin “doesn’t always lie.” When pressed, however, Wallace also declined to elaborate on the signs he had seen.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller similarly declined to answer questions earlier this month about where the weapons actually are located.

What role is Belarus playing? Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said last month that in the face of aggression, he would show “no hesitation” in using the Russian tactical nuclear weapons stationed on his country’s soil.

But the senior DIA officials said they do not believe Lukashenko would have any control over the arsenal. It would most likely be entirely controlled by Russia, the official said. 

They also said that DIA does not believe the movement of the weapons to Belarus would alter the global nuclear landscape or increase the risk of a nuclear incident, because they would be in storage rather than forward deployed, and because they will be controlled by Russian forces.

Miller said the US has “not seen any reason to adjust our own nuclear posture nor any indication Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenky says his country’s counteroffensive is progressing slower than anticipated because the operation started later than initially expected. 

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the West is disappointed with the results of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Since it began in June, the fighting has proved tougher than some anticipated, with progress being measured in hundreds of meters as opposed to tens of kilometers.

Here’s what else you should know:

Men bag grain to sell at Dawanau International Market in Kano Nigeria, Friday, July 14, 2023. By halting a landmark deal that allowed Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea, Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken a risky gamble that could badly damage Moscow's relations with many of its partners that have remained neutral or even supportive of the Kremlin amid the war in Ukraine. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he “coordinated efforts” on restoring the Black Sea grain deal in a phone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Zelensky said he thanked his Turkish counterpart “for the fruitful meeting” held in Istanbul earlier this month as well as for Turkey’s “principled position regarding [Ukraine’s] NATO membership.”

The Ukrainian leader also said he requested Erdogan’s assistance with prisoner-of-war swaps and discussed his peace plan.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that the Kerch Bridge connecting Russia to Crimea serves as a lifeline for Moscow’s invasion and must be neutralized.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 in a move that Ukraine, its allies and various international bodies condemned as illegal. Zelensky characterized the bridge as an extension of that Russian offense, calling it “an enemy facility built outside the law, outside international laws and all applicable norms.”

“So understandably this is our objective,” he continued. “Any target that is bringing war, not peace, must be neutralized.” 

The Ukrainian president also reiterated his government’s objective is to “reclaim the whole of the Crimea.”

“It’s our sovereign territory, an unalienable part of our nation,” he said.

More background: Ukraine has claimed responsibility for an attack that killed two people and wounded a third on the Crimean bridge earlier this week.

The nearly 12-mile crossing is the longest in Europe and holds huge strategic and symbolic importance for Moscow.

Monday’s attack was the second on the bridge since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, after a fuel tanker exploded while crossing it in October.

A source in Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) told CNN the most recent attack was a joint operation of the SBU and Ukraine’s naval forces. And earlier this month, Ukraine’s deputy defense minister made what appeared to be the clearest admission yet that Ukrainian forces were also responsible for the October attack.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy listens to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol during a joint statement, Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Kyiv, Ukraine. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenky says his country’s counteroffensive is progressing slower than anticipated because the operation started later than initially expected. 

“We did have plans to start it in spring, but we didn’t, because frankly, we had not enough munitions and armaments and not enough properly trained brigades — I mean, properly trained in these weapons,” Zelensky told the Aspen Security Forum via video on Friday. “Because we started a bit late, it can be said — and it’s the truth, shared by all experts — that it provided Russia was the time to mine all our land and build several lines of defense.”

The Ukrainian president said despite the difficulties, his country was making progress. 

“We didn’t want to lose our people, our personnel and our servicemen, we didn’t want to lose equipment and because of that, they were quite careful about the offensive actions,” he said. “I would say that we are approaching a moment when relevant actions can gain pace because we are already going through some mine locations and we are demining these areas.”

Two children were killed by Russian artillery in the village of Druzhba in the eastern Donetsk region Friday, according to a regional official.

“At about 3 p.m., the Russians shelled the village with artillery — one of the shells hit the yard where the children were staying — a 10-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl,” the head of the Donetsk region military administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko, wrote on his Telegram channel. “They were brother and sister.”

“In addition, an elderly woman was wounded in the same village during the shelling — she was taken to hospital,” he added.

Kyrylenko called on residents to evacuate to areas further from the front line, especially if they have small children.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wait before a working session on Ukraine at the NATO summit, in Vilnius on July 12, 2023.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he will hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss grain-related issues, on Friday.

“Tonight I plan to hold talks with Turkish President Erdogan,” Zelensky said in his nightly address. “On the Black Sea region, food security, and other important topics.”

Zelensky also said he had convened a Supreme Commander-in-Chief Staff meeting to discuss Russian strikes on Ukrainian ports and promised a response. 

Erdogan said earlier today that Turkey will “not hesitate” to take the initiative needed to prevent the “harmful effects” of Russia pulling out of the deal, according to Turkish state media

The president hailed the grain deal as a “vital initiative” for humanity, outlining Turkey’s commitment to shoring up its future, according to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu agency.

Zelensky also said he had convened a Supreme Commander in Chief staff meeting to discuss Russian strikes on Ukrainian ports and promised a response. 

Speaking about Russian strikes not just on the port city of Odesa but other Ukrainian communities, Zelensky once again criticized Russia. 

“Only absolute evil can inflict such attacks. There will be a response,” he said. “In addition, there will be even more consolidation of the world for protection and joint action, even more energy for victory, even more desire for justice, fair punishment of Russia for all the crimes of this war.”

“And there will be such punishment,” he added.

CNN’s Niamh Kennedy contributed reporting to this post.

Well-known Russian military blogger and former official in the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic Igor Girkin has been remanded in custody until September 18 by a judge at the Meshchansky District Court in Moscow, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Friday. 

Girkin, who also goes by the nom de guerre Igor Strelkov, has been openly critical of Russia’s military in Ukraine and even Russian President Vladimir Putin himself, calling the leader a “lowlife” and “cowardly bum.”

Girkin had asked the judge to place him under house arrest, arguing he is not a flight risk and claiming he has a heart condition.

“Recently, I was diagnosed with angina pectoris of the 2nd degree, unfortunately I did not manage to get any certificates,” Girkin told the court in a statement, according to Russian outlets and audio leaked on social media. “But I take the necessary drugs daily. Therefore, naturally, I would like to ask for house arrest.”

The prosecution asked for Girkin to be remanded in custody, saying he was a flight risk and citing his connections to law enforcement agencies, Russian media also reported. In his statement to court, the prominent blogger argued he could not flee abroad.

Last year, a Dutch court found Girkin guilty of mass murder for his role in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 — which resulted in the death of the aircraft’s 298 passengers — and he was sentenced in absentia to life in prison.

“I am by no means going to hide from the investigation and am ready to defend my rights in court,” Girkin added. “I ask the court to take into account that I have been living permanently in Moscow for nine years and have never hidden from the Federal Security Service or other law enforcement agencies of Russia. That’s all I wanted to say.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, not pictured, at the Department of State in Washington, DC, on July 20, 2023.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin should be worried about his safety, pointing to the history of mysterious deaths of Kremlin challengers. 

Blinken added that it is difficult to know how weakened Russian President Vladimir Putin has been by Prigozhin’s short-lived rebellion last month, but he reiterated that there are “cracks” in Putin’s power. 

Regarding the Ukrainian counteroffensive, Blinken said that it is still relatively early days and he believes “they have what they need to be very successful.”

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius speaks during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon on June 28, 2023 in Arlington, Virginia.

Germany has pledged to support its NATO ally Poland in defending its eastern flank in case of a potential attack from Wagner fighters in neighboring Belarus.

During a news conference in Prague on Friday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius responded to a question about whether Germany was concerned by the Wagner group’s presence in Belarus and the prospect of an attack along Poland’s border.

Fighters from Wagner arrived in Belarus following a short-lived rebellion by the private military company last month. On Wednesday, Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was apparently seen in a video greeting his troops in the country. Belarus’ defense ministry said Thursday that Belarusian forces will hold joint military exercises with the fighters near the Polish border.

Poland’s national news agency PAP reported Friday that Poland will move its military formations from the west to the east of the country, citing the head of Poland’s security committee, Zbigniew Hoffmann.

Hoffmann said the decision was made by Minister of National Defence Mariusz Blaszczak, after the security committee analyzed “possible threats presented by the Wagner Group’s presence in Belarus,” the agency reported. 

Pistorius added Friday that he could “confidently say” that the two NATO allies are “prepared” if an attack were to take place.

Putin’s claims about Poland: Russian President Vladimir Putin also made a series of unsubstantiated allegations on Friday, accusing Poland of harboring plans to “directly intervene” in the war and “tear off” parts of Ukraine for itself, also claiming Warsaw has aspirations to annex parts of Belarus.

CNN’s Alex Stambaugh, Uliana Pavlova and Niamh Kennedy contributed reporting to this post.

Igor Girkin attends a press conference of a Russian nationalist group in Moscow, Russia, on May 12.

A prominent Russian military blogger who has been critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin was arrested in Moscow, according to Russian state media and a Telegram message attributed to his wife, in the latest example of Moscow’s crackdown on dissent.

Igor Girkin, a former official in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in Ukraine, was charged with inciting extremist activity, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Friday, citing the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow. If found guilty, Girkin could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.

Girkin — also known by the nom de guerre Igor Strelkov — was reportedly taken from his apartment by Russian security officials Friday morning.

Russian state news agency TASS said Reginskaya informed them about the extremism charge and that law enforcement agencies confirmed Girkin’s detention.

“I do not know anything about my husband’s whereabouts and he has not contacted me,” her statement read.

Girkin’s criticism of Putin: The reported arrest suggests the Kremlin’s patience with dissent has grown thinner in the wake of the private military company Wagner’s short-lived rebellion last month. The far-right figure, who cofounded an ultra-nationalist political group called The Angry Patriots Club this spring, has been openly critical of Russia’s military in Ukraine and even President Vladimir Putin himself.

The day after the Wagner rebellion in Russia ended, on June 25, Girkin said that if Putin “is not ready to take the leadership over the creation of war ready conditions” in Russia, “then he really needs to transfer the powers, but legally, to someone who is capable of such hard work.”

A second update on his Telegram account attributed to his “associates” said that his arrest coincided with an attempt to split The Angry Patriots Club over differing opinions about Wagner and its attempted insurrection.

Girkin also apparently called Putin a “lowlife” on his Telegram channel three days before his arrest. “The country will not be able to withstand another six years of this cowardly bum in power,” Girkin had said.

Some background: Girkin is a former colonel in Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and served as defense minister in the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine. A Dutch court last year found Girkin guilty of mass murder for his role in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, and he was sentenced in absentia to life in prison. According to the court, Girkin also participated in conflicts in Chechnya, Transnistria and Bosnia.

Ukraine’s reaction: The Ukrainian defense intelligence agency claimed Girkin’s arrest signals that there could be internal confrontation inside the Kremlin. A representative for the agency, Andriі Yusov, told Ukrainian broadcasters on Friday it was “paradoxical” that Girkin had been arrested but not Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin.  

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said the option of having Turkey escort grain ships through the Black Sea is not a viable alternative to the collapse of the grain deal, after Russia suspended its participation in the pact earlier this week.  

“I think that this option is dangerous and impossible,” Vershinin said during a press briefing on Friday.

He said that his country’s return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative was in the hands of Moscow’s “foreign partners” and that currently there are no negotiations on another deal.

Vershinin said Russia was working on alternative export routes for its agricultural exports, holding “serious contacts with African countries on the delivery of Russian cargo, including grain,” as well as with Turkey.

More background: The agreement — which is vital for global food supplies — was first brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in July 2022 and renewed three times. Russia has repeatedly threatened to withdraw from the deal, doing so for the first time in October 2022 and then rejoining a few days later.

Russia’s objections to the deal centered around claims that obstacles to their ability to export foods and fertilizers had still not been eased.

According to the UN, Ukraine normally supplies the world with around 45 million tons of grain every year. It ranks among the top five global exporters of barley, corn and wheat. It’s also by far the biggest exporter of sunflower oil, accounting for 46% of the world’s exports.

A total of 21 people have been injured by Russian strikes on the southern port city of Odesa over the past five days, the head of the regional military administration, Oleh Kiper, said on Friday.

“Over the period of July 17-21, 21 people were injured as a result of Russian missile and drone attacks on the territory of Odesa region, 14 of them were hospitalized in hospitals of the city and region, including 2 children,” he wrote on his Telegram channel. 

According to Kiper, four of those injured remained in the hospital on Friday, with moderate injuries. 

“I wish all the injured a speedy recovery,” he said.

Russia has been bombarding the city this week. Moscow pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative on Monday following an attack on a key bridge linking the Crimean Peninsula to the Russian mainland.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said the strikes were in retaliation for the bridge attack, and claimed that it targeted facilities associated with Ukraine’s seaborne attack drones. But Ukraine said Russia has been striking civilian infrastructure associated with grain exports.  

A Ukrainian artilleryman fires a 152 mm towed gun-howitzer D-20 towards Russian positions on the front line near Bakhmut, Ukraine, on July 20.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the West is disappointed with the results of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.

“Today it is obvious that the Western curators of the Kiev regime are clearly disappointed with the results of the so-called counter-offensive,” Putin said, using the Russian name for Ukraine’s capital, during a televised portion of a meeting of Russia’s Security Council.

Putin said the counteroffensive did not bring any results. 

“Nothing helped – neither the colossal resources that were ‘pumped into’ the Kiev regime, nor the supply of Western weapons – tanks, artillery, armored vehicles, missiles – nor the sending of thousands of foreign mercenaries and advisers, who were most actively used in attempts to break through the front of our army,” Putin said. 

“At the same time, the whole world sees that the hyped-up Western military equipment, supposedly invulnerable equipment, is burning down on the front lines.”

Some context: Since the Ukrainian counteroffensive began in June, the fighting has proved tougher than some anticipated, with progress being measured in hundreds of meters as opposed to tens of kilometers.

Ukraine had hoped to use the push to expel a significant amount of Russian forces from Ukrainian soil and turn the tide of the war.

Andriy Yermak, a key adviser to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, told journalists earlier this month that he accepted the counteroffensive is “not going that fast; it is slow.”

Claims about Poland: Putin also claimed, without providing evidence, that Moscow is aware of plans to create a Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian military unit to protect territories in the western part of Ukraine.

Putin accused Poland of harboring plans to “directly intervene“ in the war and “tear off” parts of Ukraine for itself, also claiming Warsaw has aspirations to annex parts of Belarus.

“This is not about some kind of gathering of mercenaries — there are enough of them, and they are being destroyed — but about a regular, well-knit, equipped military formation that is planned to be used for operations on the territory of Ukraine,” Putin said during an operational meeting of the country’s Security Council on Friday.

“Unleashing aggression against Belarus will mean aggression against the Russian Federation,” Putin added. “We will respond to this with all the means at our disposal.” 

Poland is a key NATO ally currently housing thousands of American troops that also serves as a hub for Western weapons transfers to Ukraine.

CNN’s Katharina Krebs, Vasco Cotovio and Niamh Kennedy contributed reporting to this post.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a news conference on the closing day of the annual NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12.

Turkey will “not hesitate” to take the initiative needed to prevent the “harmful effects” of Russia pulling out of the Black Sea grain deal, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday, according to Turkish state media. 

The president hailed the grain deal as a “vital initiative” for humanity, outlining Turkey’s commitment to shoring up its future, according to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu agency.

On Monday, the head of the Ukrainian Grain Association Nikolay Gorbachov told CNN’s Isa Soares that Turkey’s fleet could help move grain from Ukraine without Russia. 

According to Anadolu, Erdogan expressed his belief that discussing the “issue in detail” with Russian President Vladimir Putin will “ensure the continuation of this humanitarian movement.” 

Some context: Turkey played a pivotal role alongside the UN in brokering the landmark agreement, which, according to UN data, facilitated the export of nearly 33 million tons of grain from Ukrainian ports. 

Referring to Putin’s expectations from Western countries on the grain deal, Erdogan remarked: “Western nations need to take action in this regard,” according to Anadolu.

Putin has accused Ukraine of failing to uphold the deal’s main objective: supplying grain to countries in need. 

The Turkish leader also refuted claims that Turkey’s role as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine has diminished. 

“On the contrary, we are currently maintaining our relations with Russia. Both Foreign Minister Hakan (Fidan) and (National Intelligence Organization) MIT head Ibrahim (Kalin) continue their negotiations,” Erdogan told reporters.

For a fourth consecutive night, Russian forces targeted the southern port city of Odesa, hitting grain warehouses and destroying tons of crops. The sustained attack comes after Moscow pulled out of the Black Sea grain deal earlier this week.

Elsewhere, the director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has warned that Russia could be preparing a false flag operation attacking a ship in the Black Sea. Bill Burns also said he believes Russian President Valdimir Putin is simply “trying to buy time” to determine whether and how to act against Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Here are the latest developments:

Russia on Friday morning launched seven missiles at an unspecified “infrastructure facility” south of Odesa city.

“The terrorist country continues to attack Odesa region,” Oleh Kiper, head of Odesa regional military administration, said on Telegram. “The target is an important infrastructure facility. The Russians fired 7 missiles on it. Unfortunately, there is damage.”

 The Ukrainian military said that it was “clarifying the extent of the damage” in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi. 

“So far, there is no information about the casualties,” Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian military in the south said during a press conference. “But this is yet another demonstration that the enemy will not stop, it will continue terrorist attacks.”

Some context: Russia has been bombarding the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa with sustained attacks.

Russian missiles struck grain warehouses in Odesa overnight on Thursday, destroying tons of crops in storage, a Ukrainian military official said.

The attacks come after Moscow pulled out of a critical grain deal that allowed Ukrainian grain exports a safe way out of the country’s Black Sea ports. The UN secretary-general has warned that attacks on port cities will have an impact “well beyond Ukraine” when it comes to food prices.