Ukrainians hail Russia’s retreat from Kherson, with Kiev working to de-mine the strategic southern city and restore power across the region as fighting enters its 263rd day. A local resident hugs Ukrainian serviceman as people celebrate after Russia’s retreat from Kherson, in central Kherson, on November 12, 2022. (Reuters) Sunday, November 13, 2022

Zelenskyy: Battles in eastern Donetsk 'hellish'

Russian forces destroyed the critical infrastructure in the southern city of Kherson before fleeing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said, adding that local authorities were starting to stabilise the city.

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“Before fleeing from Kherson, the occupiers destroyed all the critical infrastructure: communications, water, heat, electricity,” Zelenskyy said in a video address

Ukrainians hail Russia’s retreat from Kherson, with Kiev working to de-mine the strategic southern city and restore power across the region as fighting enters its 263rd day. A local resident hugs Ukrainian serviceman as people celebrate after Russia’s retreat from Kherson, in central Kherson, on November 12, 2022. (Reuters) Sunday, November 13, 2022

Zelenskyy: Battles in eastern Donetsk 'hellish'

Russian forces destroyed the critical infrastructure in the southern city of Kherson before fleeing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said, adding that local authorities were starting to stabilise the city.

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“Before fleeing from Kherson, the occupiers destroyed all the critical infrastructure: communications, water, heat, electricity,” Zelenskyy said in a video address.

“Police have launched stabilisation measures. Stabilisation measures are also underway in Kherson,” he said, noting that almost 2,000 mines, trip-wires and unexploded shells had been dealt with so far.

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But pro-Moscow forces are putting up a much stiffer fight elsewhere and Zelenskyy said the battles in the eastern Donetsk region were “hellish.”

For live updates from Saturday (November 12), click  here

Source: Reuters

Moscow starts Kherson pullout

Moscow has begun retreating from Ukraine's southern city of Kherson as Kiev said it had recaptured a dozen villages in the strategic Black Sea region.

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“The Russian troop units are manoeuvring to prepared position on the left bank of the Dnipro river in strict accordance with the approved plan,” the Russian defence ministry said.

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Ukrainian officials have remained wary since Moscow first signalled late Wednesday that it was pulling forces from the west bank of the Dnipro river in Kherson, in what would be major Russian setback in a region Vladimir Putin claimed to have annexed.

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Ukraine retakes 12 villages in Kherson

Ukraine said its forces had reclaimed a dozen towns and villages in the southern Kherson region after Russian forces announced they were pulling back troops from the strategic territory. 

Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhny said that in the last day Kiev's forces had recaptured six settlements after fighting near the Petropavlivka-Novoraisk front.

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He added that another six were taken in the Pervomaiske-Kherson direction and that his forces had captured more than 200 square kilometres from Russian forces in total in that time. 

Russian retreat from Kherson would be another Ukraine victory: NATO chief

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said he was waiting to see how Russia's withdrawal from Kherson played out, but if confirmed, it would be “another victory for Ukraine“. 

“We have to see how the situation on the ground develops in the coming days. But what is clear is that Russia is under heavy pressure and if they leave Kherson, it would be another victory for Ukraine,” he said after talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome

Over 100,000 Russian soldiers killed, wounded in Ukraine war: Top US general 

Russia has suffered more than 100,000 killed and wounded soldiers as a result of the offensive in Ukraine, the top US general said

Speaking at an event at The Economic Club of New York, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Alexander Milley discussed geopolitical tensions and what is on the horizon

“You’re looking at well over 100,000 Russian soldiers killed and wounded,” CNN quoted Milley as saying

“Same thing probably on the Ukrainian side,” he added. 

Norway contributes $144 mln to UK-led fund for Ukraine

The Norwegian government said it was preparing to contribute approximately 1.5 billion Norwegian crowns ($144.30 million) to the British-led International Fund for Ukraine. 

“Russian troop units are manoeuvring to prepared position on the left bank of the Dnipro river in strict accordance with the approved plan,” Russian defence ministry says. Dasha Chernyshova reports pic.twitter.com/NBQkCav4hW

— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) November 10, 2022 Ukraine cautious as Russia orders troops out of Kherson

Kiev has reacted sceptically to Moscow announcing its retreat from the southern city of Kherson, urging continued resistance against the Russian incursion

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refrained from overblowing the significance of Moscow's evacuation from Kherson, even as US President Joe Biden suggested it was evidence that eight months into the war, Russia has “real problems” on the battlefield

Zelenskyy has suggested that rather than experiencing a major setback, Russia could be strategically feigning

Mazda pulls out of Russia joint venture

Japanese carmaker Mazda said it is pulling out of its joint venture in Russia because of the war in Ukraine, having ceased operations in the country earlier this year

Mazda stopped shipping parts to Russia in March and ended operations the following month “due to the situation in Ukraine that arose in February 2022″, it said in a statement

The company said it signed an agreement last month to transfer all of its equity interest in the Russian business to its joint venture partner Sollers

Russia's military orders its troops to pull out of the Ukrainian city of Kherson, a significant setback for the Kremlin as Kherson was the only regional capital to fall to Russia after it attacked in February pic.twitter.com/JnPr0nkYud

— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) November 10, 2022 Ukraine boosts Southeast Asia ties with peace accord

Ukraine signed a peace accord with Southeast Asian nations, a largely symbolic act that comes as Kiev seeks to shore up international support in isolating Russia

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba signed the “Treaty on Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia” as the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations got underway in Phnom Penh

The ASEAN summit comes as Russia seeks new markets for its energy products to avoid Western sanctions following its incursion into Ukraine

Britain freezes $20.5B worth of Russian assets

The British government said that it had frozen assets together worth $20.5 billion (18 billion pounds) held by Russian oligarchs, other individuals and entities sanctioned for Moscow's offensive in Ukraine

“We have imposed the most severe sanctions ever on Russia and it is crippling their war machine,” Andrew Griffith, a junior government minister in the Treasury said. 

Russia has passed Libya and Iran to become Britain's most-sanctioned nation, according to the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, part of the finance ministry

Top US general: Military casualties almost same for Russia, Ukraine

America's top general has estimated that Russia's military had suffered more than 100,000 soldiers killed and wounded in Ukraine, and added Kiev's armed forces “probably” suffered a similar level of casualties in the conflict

“You're looking at well over 100,000 Russian soldiers killed and wounded. Same thing probably on the Ukrainian side. A lot of human suffering,” Army General Mark Milley told the Economic Club of New York

He added 40,000 Ukrainian civilians were also probably killed in the conflict since Russia began its attacks in February

Biden expects Ukraine aid to continue uninterrupted

US President Joe Biden has said Russia's order to evacuate troops from the west bank of the Dnipro River near the Ukrainian city of Kherson showed Moscow was having “real problems” with its military

Biden told reporters it was interesting that Russia had waited until after the US congressional election to announce the withdrawal. “It's evidence of the fact that they have some real problems with the Russian military,” he said

He said the withdrawal would allow both sides to recalibrate their positions over the winter, but it remained to be seen whether Ukraine was prepared to compromise with Russia. 

Biden said he expects US aid to Ukraine to continue without interruption despite skepticism expressed by Republicans who appear poised to take control of the House of Representatives

For live updates from Wednesday (November 9), click  here

Source: TRTWorld and agencies

Seoul confirms talks are going on over an unspecified number of 155-millimetre artillery shells but says Washington would be the “end user” of the lethal weapons. Ukraine was burning through as many as 7,000 rounds of ammunition a day, while Russia was firing as much as 20,000 rounds daily, US officials say. (AP) The US will buy 100,000 rounds of howitzer artillery from South Korean manufacturers to provide to Ukraine, a US official has said, in a deal the two governments have been working on for some time.

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The agreement comes as Ukrainian leaders press for more weapons and aid to take advantage of a counteroffensive that is pushing Russian forces out of some areas they had taken over earlier in the conflict. And it relieves concerns within the US military — particularly the Army and the Marine Corps — who are worried that persistent transfers of the Pentagon's howitzer ammunition to Ukraine are eating into their stockpiles.

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Other defence officials confirmed the broad outlines of the contract and said it would help with stockpile pressures, specifically involving the howitzer ammunition, which Ukrainian forces have been using at a high rate. 

South Korea's Defence Ministry in a statement acknowledged ongoing talks over exporting an unspecified number of 155-millimetre artillery shells to shore up diminishing US inventories. However, the ministry said the negotiations were proceeding under the presumption that the US would be the “end user” of those rounds and that Seoul maintains its principle of providing only non-lethal support to Ukraine

Last week in a defence official briefing reporters said Ukraine was burning through as many as 7,000 rounds of ammunition a day, while Russia was firing as much as 20,000 rounds daily

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the deal had not been made public

READ MORE:  Train from North Korea returns to Russia amid arms transfer claims

Non-lethal supplies

Until now, South Korea had previously limited its support for Ukraine to non-lethal equipment and supplies. In April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pressed South Korea to provide lethal arms after Russia’s attack on Mariupol. 

Seoul's Defence Ministry confirmed at the time that it had rejected the Ukrainian request for anti-aircraft weapons

In a statement, Army Lieutenant Colonel Marty Meiners, Pentagon spokesperson, said the US government has been in discussions to buy ammunition from South Korea's non-government defence industrial base. The ammunition would not come from South Korean military stocks. He declined to provide details

Meiners said any potential sales always take into account the South Korean military's readiness and requirements and “will not detract from our defensive posture or readiness to respond against regional threats.” He added that South Korea's defence industry regularly sells military equipment and weapons systems to allies and partners, including the US

READ MORE:  What is Iran's involvement in the Ukraine conflict?

No scheduled time for deliveries

South Korea has also inked several recent arms deals with European countries eager to bolster their defences in the wake of Russia's assault on Ukraine, including almost $9 billion in multiple contracts with Poland to provide F-16 fighter jets, training aircraft, tanks and howitzers

The ammunition deal was first reported by the Wall Street Journal

Seoul confirms talks are going on over an unspecified number of 155-millimetre artillery shells but says Washington would be the “end user” of the lethal weapons. Ukraine was burning through as many as 7,000 rounds of ammunition a day, while Russia was firing as much as 20,000 rounds daily, US officials say. (AP) The US will buy 100,000 rounds of howitzer artillery from South Korean manufacturers to provide to Ukraine, a US official has said, in a deal the two governments have been working on for some time.

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The agreement comes as Ukrainian leaders press for more weapons and aid to take advantage of a counteroffensive that is pushing Russian forces out of some areas they had taken over earlier in the conflict. And it relieves concerns within the US military — particularly the Army and the Marine Corps — who are worried that persistent transfers of the Pentagon's howitzer ammunition to Ukraine are eating into their stockpiles.

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Other defence officials confirmed the broad outlines of the contract and said it would help with stockpile pressures, specifically involving the howitzer ammunition, which Ukrainian forces have been using at a high rate. 

South Korea's Defence Ministry in a statement acknowledged ongoing talks over exporting an unspecified number of 155-millimetre artillery shells to shore up diminishing US inventories. However, the ministry said the negotiations were proceeding under the presumption that the US would be the “end user” of those rounds and that Seoul maintains its principle of providing only non-lethal support to Ukraine

Last week in a defence official briefing reporters said Ukraine was burning through as many as 7,000 rounds of ammunition a day, while Russia was firing as much as 20,000 rounds daily

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the deal had not been made public

READ MORE:  Train from North Korea returns to Russia amid arms transfer claims

Non-lethal supplies

Until now, South Korea had previously limited its support for Ukraine to non-lethal equipment and supplies. In April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pressed South Korea to provide lethal arms after Russia’s attack on Mariupol. 

Seoul's Defence Ministry confirmed at the time that it had rejected the Ukrainian request for anti-aircraft weapons

In a statement, Army Lieutenant Colonel Marty Meiners, Pentagon spokesperson, said the US government has been in discussions to buy ammunition from South Korea's non-government defence industrial base. The ammunition would not come from South Korean military stocks. He declined to provide details

Meiners said any potential sales always take into account the South Korean military's readiness and requirements and “will not detract from our defensive posture or readiness to respond against regional threats.” He added that South Korea's defence industry regularly sells military equipment and weapons systems to allies and partners, including the US

READ MORE:  What is Iran's involvement in the Ukraine conflict?

No scheduled time for deliveries

South Korea has also inked several recent arms deals with European countries eager to bolster their defences in the wake of Russia's assault on Ukraine, including almost $9 billion in multiple contracts with Poland to provide F-16 fighter jets, training aircraft, tanks and howitzers

The ammunition deal was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Meiners said he could not provide information on how quickly the ammunition could get to Ukraine. He said the Pentagon has regular conversations with South Korea and other allies around the world about how best to support Ukraine in the fighting

The revelation of the agreement came as Russia said it was beginning to withdraw its forces from the key city of Kherson. Ukrainian officials acknowledged Moscow’s troops had no choice but to flee Kherson, yet they remained cautious, fearing an ambush

READ MORE:  Russian pullout from Ukraine's Kherson region is 'positive' move: Erdogan

Source: AP