Russia-Ukraine updates: IAEA seeks ‘permanent presence’ at plant
IAEA nuclear inspectors arrived in southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia ahead of visit to Russian-held nuclear plant.
- An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team that has set off from Kyiv to visit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to inspect for damage has arrived in the city.
- The UN’s nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi says he wants the mission to establish a ‘permanent presence’ at the site.
- An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team that has set off from Kyiv to visit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to inspect for damage has arrived in the city.
- The UN’s nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi says he wants the mission to establish a ‘permanent presence’ at the site.
- Russia halted gas deliveries to Germany and the rest of Europe via Nord Stream 1, meaning no gas will flow to the country between August 31 and September 3.
- Iran has delivered a so-called “peace initiative” for ending the Ukraine war, proposed by a European leader, to Russia.
- Top European Union diplomats agree to make it more expensive and lengthier for Russians to get visas to travel to the bloc, but stopped short of imposing an outright visa ban that Ukraine and several member states had called for.
This live blog is now closed, thank you for joining us. These were the updates on the Ukraine war on Wednesday, August 31:
Do not underestimate Russia’s military strength, German defence chief warns
Germany’s chief of defence has warned that the West must not underestimate Moscow’s military strength, saying Russia has the scope to open up a second front should it choose to do so.
“The bulk of the Russian land forces may be tied down in Ukraine at the moment but, even so, we should not underestimate the Russian land forces’ potential to open a second theatre of war,” General Eberhard Zorn, the highest-ranking soldier of the Bundeswehr, told Reuters in an interview.
Beyond the army, Russia also has a navy and air force at its disposal, he added, “Most of the Russian navy has not yet been deployed in the war on Ukraine, and the Russian air force still has significant potential as well, which poses a threat to NATO, too.”
Zorn, speaking before the start of a Ukrainian offensive in the south, stressed that Russia continued to have substantial reserves.“As concerns its military, Russia is very well capable of expanding the conflict regionally,” the general said. “That this would be a very unreasonable thing for Russia to do is a different story.”
Referring to the military situation in Ukraine, Zorn said the dynamic of Russia’s attack had slowed down but Russia was still pressing steadily ahead.
Estonia aims to stop most Russians from entering country within weeks
Estonia aims to stop most Russians from entering the country within weeks, if possible acting in concert with its regional partners, Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu has said.
“It takes some time, but I think timing is also critical, looking at these vast numbers of Russian citizens entering,” Reinsalu told Reuters in Prague.
The minister’s comment came after European Union foreign ministers decided to make it more expensive and complicated for Russians to obtain visas to travel to the bloc, but stopped short of agreeing to the EU-wide visa ban that Ukraine and several member states had called for.It is not clear, though, what unilateral measures Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Finland, which have land borders with Russia, could take to restrict access to Russian visitors.
Reinsalu said Estonia was going to work out a solution in its region through cooperation and based “on our national competence on the grounds of national security”.
German economy ministry officials flagged for possible Russia ties: Die Zeit
The German economy ministry has asked the country’s domestic intelligence agency BfV to look into two senior ministry officials over concerns about their possible ties to Russia, Die Zeit weekly reports.
Die Zeit, citing its own research, said economy ministry officials had approached the BfV earlier in the year about the officials’ allegedly pro-Russian stance on issues such as utility Uniper’s bailout or state intervention in Gazprom Germania. Die Zeit did not name the officials.
The BfV looked into the officials’ backgrounds, personal relations and travel records, and found no solid evidence so far of spying or corruption, Die Zeit reported.
The economy ministry, which said it does not comment on specific cases, said it has maintained close contact with the BfV since the start of the legislative period as the ministry’s work is under particular scrutiny due to its responsibility for energy security.
“In addition, the new administration has completely overhauled the previous government’s Russia-friendly policy,” a ministry spokesperson said.
“All efforts of the new administration are aimed at reducing dependence on Russian gas; this policy is rigorously implemented,” the spokesperson said.
Sweden sends Ukraine artillery rounds in new aid package
Sweden has provided Ukraine with a new defence aid package containing artillery rounds, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov says.
“Great news from Sweden: 7th military package with artillery ammo will strengthen #UAarmy,” Reznikov wrote on Twitter, thanking Sweden’s foreign and defence ministers. “Together we will restore peace and security in Europe,” he added.
Great news from Sweden: 7th military package with artillery ammo will strengthen #UAarmy.
Together we will restore peace and security in Europe.
🇺🇦🤝🇸🇪
Thank you @AnnLinde Peter Hultqvist @ForsvarsdepSv— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) August 31, 2022
Russia bans entry to 55 Canadian military and political officials
Some 55 military and political officials from Canada have been banned from entering Russia, the Russian foreign ministry has said.
The tit-for-tat move came in response to sanctions from Canada against Russian nationals, it added.
‘It took me decades to realise what Gorbachev gave me’
Kyiv, Ukraine – Mikhail Gorbachev’s perestroika reforms began when I was 10, and I saw their course as part of my teenage transformations.
What made me an adult killed the USSR, the country I was born in and used to be proud of. I hated Gorbachev for that – because he destroyed my home and hopes, and annulled my parents’ careers and life savings.
In the West, they lovingly called him “Gorby“. But most of the adults around me – who found themselves disillusioned and destitute, clinging to the smouldering ruins of the Communist dystopia – called him “Gorbach”, a humpback.
It took me decades to realise that Gorbachev gave me and almost 300 million Soviet citizens freedom – to say, write, watch, read and believe in what we want; to choose a career or a place to live in, to travel abroad – and not to be brainwashed by boring, mind-numbing propaganda.
Read the full story here.
IAEA’s visit to nuclear site to last a few days, mission chief says
IAEA’s chief Rafael Grossi says the UN nuclear watchdog’s mission to the Zaporizhzhia plant will last a few days, but could be extended.
“The mission will take a few days. And if we are able to establish a permanent presence or a continued presence, better said, then it’s going to be prolonged, but this first segment, so to speak, is going to take a few days,” Grossi told reporters at a hotel in Zaporizhzhia.
The team’s work on the site, Grossi added, will include a physical inspection of the place, the functioning of the safety system and interviews with the nuclear plant’s staff.
The weight of war
Al Jazeera correspondent Teresa Bo shares her experience of reporting in Ukraine after six months of the war, where she has witnessed both grief and defiance.
Is Ukraine’s counteroffensive progressing?
Ukraine’s armed forces claim to have launched a long-awaited ground operation to take back territories in the Kherson region in the 27th week of the war, striking in eight directions simultaneously.
The offensive comes after weeks of pummelling Russian supply lines, command posts, equipment and ammunition warehouses and airbases with high-precision rocket artillery and drones to weaken resupply capabilities to the front lines. Russian forces had responded by creating pontoon crossings on the Dnieper River.
But a local resident told Al Jazeera that the counteroffensive which had some initial success was becoming bogged down.
Read the full story here.
Iran delivers European ‘peace initiative’ on Ukraine to Russia
Tehran, Iran – Iran has delivered a so-called “peace initiative” for ending the Ukraine war, proposed by a European leader, to Russia.
Standing next to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a news conference in Moscow on Wednesday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian confirmed that he had handed over the European proposal that he said was given to Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi.
“There are ideas to help establish peace and stop the fighting in Ukraine, and I shared these ideas with Mr Lavrov,” Amirabdollahian said.
Read the full story here.
EU foreign ministers agree on suspending Russian visa facilitation deal
EU top diplomats have agreed to suspend a 2007 visa facilitation agreement for Russian citizens, a decision that comes after some Eastern and Nordic member states had pushed for an outright travel ban.
“We have seen a substantial increase of border crossings from Russia into neighboring states. This is becoming a security risk,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on social media.
“We therefore agree today with EU Foreign Ministers on Full Suspension on the EU-Russia visa facilitation agreement,” he added.
We have seen a substantial increase of border crossings from Russia into neighbouring states. This is becoming a security risk.
We therefore agree today with EU Foreign Ministers on Full Suspension of the EU-Russia visa facilitation agreement. pic.twitter.com/zdowgdOa8F
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) August 31, 2022
The suspension of the agreement means that Russians will face longer and more costly procedures to get a visa to enter the European bloc, Borrell said.
Diplomats said the EU ministers could not agree immediately on a blanket ban of travel visas for Russians as member states were split on the issue.
IAEA team reaches Zaporizhzhia on the way to nuclear plant
A team of International Atomic Energy Agency or IAEA nuclear inspectors have arrived in the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia before a visit to a Russian-held nuclear power plant on the front line.
A convoy of some 19 cars with at least 10 white vehicles marked “UN” on the side, could be seen entering Zaporizhzhia just before 2:00pm (11:00 GMT), an AFP news agency correspondent said.
The 14-strong team led by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) left Kyiv in the morning.
The day has come, @IAEAorg's Support and Assistance Mission to #Zaporizhzhya (ISAMZ) is now on its way. We must protect the safety and security of #Ukraine’s and Europe’s biggest nuclear facility. Proud to lead this mission which will be in #ZNPP later this week. pic.twitter.com/tyVY7l4SrM
— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) August 29, 2022
Russia cannot meet gas supply obligations due to sanctions: Kremlin
Russia remains committed to its gas supply obligations but is unable to fulfil them due to Western nations’ economic sanctions, the Interfax news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.
Russia welcomes idea of permanent IAEA presence at Zaporizhzhia plant
Russia welcomes the idea that IAEA experts could stay at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on a permanent basis, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s representative to the international organisation in Vienna, has said.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said the agency hoped to set up a permanent mission at the plant. UN nuclear inspectors set off for the plant earlier on Wednesday and according to Russian media are expected to arrive on Thursday morning.
Ukraine southern offensive has ‘successes’ in Kherson region: local official
Ukrainian forces have had “successes” in three areas of the Russian-occupied region of Kherson, a Ukrainian regional official said, two days after Kyiv announced the start of a southern counteroffensive to retake territory.
Yuriy Sobolevskyi, the deputy head of Kherson’s regional council, told Ukraine’s national news broadcaster that Ukrainian troops had had successes in the Kherson, Berislav and Kakhovka districts, but declined to give details.
Al Jazeera’s Teresa Bo said that it is worth noting that the front line has been very stable for the past weeks.
“None of these [Russian and Ukrainian] forces have been able to make any major accomplishments, so we’re going to have to see whether Ukraine has enough weapons and manpower to be able to liberate many of those cities that have been occupied by Russia,” she said.
Russia says Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the south has failed
Russia’s defence ministry said that Ukraine’s attempts to mount a counteroffensive in the south of the country had failed, with their forces suffering heavy losses in equipment and men.
In its daily briefing, Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had shot down three Ukrainian helicopters and that Ukraine had lost four fighter jets during two days of fighting around the Mykolaiv-Kryvyi Rih front line and in other areas of southern Ukraine.
The Reuters news agency and Al Jazeera were unable to verify the battlefield reports.
Kyiv accuses Russia of shelling town by nuclear plant
Ukraine has accused Russian forces of firing on a town by the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant as IAEA inspectors were en route to inspect the facility.
“The Russian army is shelling Enerhodar,” said Yevhen Yevtushenko, head of Nikopol district military administration, which is located on the northern bank of the Dnieper river opposite Enerhodar town where the nuclear plant is located.
“These provocations are dangerous.”
Germany ramps up military exports, mainly to arm Ukraine
German exports of military equipment have surged this year as Berlin supplies arms to Ukraine to help it defend itself against Russia’s attack, the economy ministry said.
By August 24, the value of authorised military exports totalled just under 5.1 billion euros ($5.11bn), up from some 2.9 billion euros at the same time last year, the ministry said.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised on Monday that Germany would keep up its support for Ukraine “for as long as it takes”.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 189
Here is the situation as it stands on Wednesday, August 31.
Fighting
- Ukrainian troops have attacked Russian positions along the entire front, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
- The United Kingdom, an ally of Ukraine, said Ukrainian formations in the south had pushed Russian front-line forces back some distance in places, exploiting relatively thin Russian defences.
Nuclear plant
- An International Atomic Energy Agency convoy has set off from Kyiv towards the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine.
- Russia’s defence ministry said the radiation level at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remains normal.
Read more here.
IAEA mission to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to arrive on Thursday
Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are expected to arrive at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine on Thursday morning, the TASS news agency reported, citing Russian-installed authorities in the region.
The inspection will take one or two days and six to eight IAEA experts are expected to stay at the plant following the visit, according to the Russian-installed officials in Energodar, the town where the plant is based.
Top diplomat says EU must not appear fragmented about Russian visa ban
The European Union must not appear to be at discord about eastern European demands for a visa ban on Russian tourists, the bloc’s top diplomat warned, urging member states to find common ground.
“We will have to reach an agreement and a political decision,” Josep Borrell told reporters as he arrived for the second day of an EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Prague.
“I will be working for unity … We cannot afford to appear disunited in such an important thing, which is the people-to-people relations, between the Russian society and the European people.”
France says it is prepared for Gazprom’s ‘pretext’ to switch off gas
Gazprom is using a mere excuse to switch off natural gas deliveries to its French contractor, the energy minister in Paris said but added that the country had anticipated the loss of supply.
“As we anticipated, Russia is using gas as a weapon of war and is using Engie’s way of applying the contracts as a pretext to further reduce French supplies,” Agnes Pannier-Runacher said in a statement.
The comments came hours after Russia’s Gazprom announced that from Thursday it would fully suspend gas deliveries to Engie, a French utility, citing a dispute over payments. The move will deepen concerns about Europe’s winter energy supply.
Reports of shelling around Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Al Jazeera’s Teresa Bo said several people were injured after explosions were heard in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Nikopol near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
“Ukrainian officials are saying that Russian forces have been shelling all around the area where the IAEA team is expected to pass by,” Bo said, speaking from the capital Kyiv.
It is also not yet known whether the IAEA inspectors will stay in Nikopol or in Energodar, the town that houses the power plant and is under the control of the Russians.
“It is interesting what they are going to do once they arrive there: control the damage that has been caused in the plant; talk to Ukrainian technicians who are under control of Russian soldiers and who are handling the everyday operations of that plant; and that the safety systems are in place,” Bo said.
Germany better prepared for Nord Stream 1 outage now, regulator chief says
Germany is now better prepared for outages of gas pipeline Nord Stream 1 as its gas storage is nearly 85 percent filled, Klaus Mueller, the president of Germany’s network regulator, said on Twitter.
“We can take gas from the storage in the winter, we are saving gas (and need to keep doing so!), the LNG terminals are coming, and thanks to Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway (and soon France), gas is flowing,” Mueller said on Twitter.
Russian gas deliveries to Europe halted
Russian gas deliveries to Europe via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline have been halted, its operator Entsog said, raising the prospects of recession and energy rationing in some of the region’s richest countries.
Russian energy giant Gazprom had said that it would stop deliveries for three days between 01:00 GMT on August 31 until 01:00 GMT on September 3 for maintenance work, further raising tensions in an already taut electricity market.