Day 540: A German ship has passed Ukrainian waters in the Black Sea. Kiev sees no F-16 fighter jets coming for 2023. All information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Ukraine guarantees no use of Western weapons in Russia
09:39: According to Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine has pledged not to use weapons supplied by Western allies on Russian territory. “If our partners ask us to give a guarantee that this or that weapon will only be used on the territory of Ukraine, then we give this guarantee and honor it,” Kuleba said in an interview with the AFP news agency on Wednesday. Kyiv has given such guarantees a number of times and kept them, said Kuleba.
Freighter launched in Ukraine expected in Istanbul in the evening
8:54 a.m.: A container ship that started in Odessa, Ukraine, is expected in Istanbul on Thursday. The ship, managed by the German company Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), is currently steering through Romanian territorial waters, a company spokeswoman said on Thursday. The “Joseph Schulte” is expected to arrive at its destination in Istanbul later in the evening. The “Josef Schulte” had been stuck in the Ukrainian port city since February 23, 2022 and left on Wednesday. It belongs to a Chinese bank and the Hamburg company Bernhard Schulte. BSM is grateful to the various parties involved for enabling the ship’s safe passage.
Last week Ukraine announced the establishment of a “humanitarian corridor” in the Black Sea. Cargo ships that have been stuck in ports since the beginning of the war should be able to leave the country through this passage.
London: Ukraine has enough energy reserves for winter
8:37 a.m.: According to British estimates, despite the war, the energy supply in the Ukraine is secured for the coming winter. Ukraine will probably have sufficient fuel reserves, the Ministry of Defense said in London on Thursday. In addition, the Ukrainian government has “effectively mobilized” the mining sector and can manage a continuous supply of coal for thermal power plants and combined heat and power plants. “Substantial gas supplies” are also available.
“Although Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure are expected to continue this winter, Ukraine proved last winter that it has the skilled workforce and expertise needed to operate and maintain the power grid even in wartime conditions “, it was said in London.
Ukrainian forces report success on the south-eastern front
08:00 Ukrainian forces report successes on the south-eastern front. Military spokesman Andriy Kovaliov explained that they advanced south of Uroschaine. He did not give details. On Wednesday, Ukraine announced the capture of Uroschaine.
Ukrainian General Staff: 16 drones shot down
5.50 a.m.: The Ukrainian military counted 82 Russian airstrikes and eight incoming missiles on Wednesday. There were dead and injured. Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk and Cherson were particularly affected. In return, the Ukrainian air defense shot down two missiles and 16 Shahed drones, according to the morning situation report. There have been battles between ground forces in several regions. Russian advances were fended off in Bakhmut, and Ukrainian troops continued the counter-offensive in Melitopol. The information cannot be independently verified.
Kyiv: No talks with Moscow on gas transit
3.17 a.m.: The government in Kiev does not want to take part in talks with Russia on the transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory. “We will definitely not participate in talks with the Russians, that’s absolutely clear,” Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko told the Ukraine service of the US government-funded broadcaster Voice of America (VOA). “The next year will show whether Europe can do without Russian gas.”
Ukraine buries hopes of F-16 fighter jets this year
12:27 a.m.: According to Ukraine, it will not be able to use US-made F-16 fighter jets this year. “It is already clear that we cannot defend Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets this fall and winter,” Air Force spokesman Yuri Ihnat told Ukrainian television at a fundraising gala. “We had high hopes for this plane to become part of our air defenses and protect us from Russian missile and drone terrorism.”
