Russia-Ukraine latest updates: Explosions heard in Kharkiv
Mayor Ihor Terekhov said an infrastructure facility was hit and authorities were working to restore power quickly.
- Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calls recent leaks to the Nord Stream pipeline a “terrorist attack”.
- Internationally unrecognised referendums in occupied regions of Ukraine are set to close, with British intelligence suggesting Russia could soon declare annexation.
- Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calls recent leaks to the Nord Stream pipeline a “terrorist attack”.
- Internationally unrecognised referendums in occupied regions of Ukraine are set to close, with British intelligence suggesting Russia could soon declare annexation.
- Kazakhstan, traditionally a Moscow ally, says it will ensure the safety of Russians fleeing mobilisation.
- Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warns that Moscow has the right to defend itself with nuclear weapons, and that this is “certainly not a bluff”.
This live blog is now closed, thank you for joining us. These were the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war on Tuesday, September 27:
Chinese envoy says isolation, sanctions will lead to ‘dead end’
China’s Ambassador to the United Nations Zhang Jun told a Security Council meeting that isolation and sanctions would only “lead to a dead end” after the United States called for the body to condemn Russia’s referendums in occupied regions of Ukraine.
“Bloc confrontation, political isolation, sanctions and pressurization will only lead to a dead end,” Zhang told the council.
China has given Russia diplomatic support since Moscow’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, and Zhang repeated Beijing’s call for negotiations that “include the respective legitimate concerns” to end the conflict.
Sweden’s PM says Nord Stream leaks likely caused by deliberate acts
Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has said that two blasts had been detected in relation to the leaks of the Nord Stream pipelines with information suggesting likely sabotage, though this did not represent an attack on Sweden.
Andersson told a news conference the Swedish government was in close contact with partners including NATO, and neighbours, such as Denmark and Germany, concerning the developments.
Explosions heard, power out in Ukrainian city of Kharkiv
Three explosions were heard, and then electricity cut out in Ukraine’s second city of Kharkiv.
“There are no lights in some parts of the city. Information about casualties is being specified,” Kharkiv’s mayor, Ihor Terekhov, said on his Telegram channel. He also reported a fourth attack.
Terekhov said an infrastructure facility was hit and said authorities were working to restore power as quickly as possible.
CIA warned Berlin about possible attacks on gas pipelines: Spiegel
The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had weeks ago warned Germany about possible attacks on gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, German magazine Spiegel has said, after gas leaks in Russian pipelines to Germany were reported.
The German government received the CIA tip, and Berlin assumes a targeted attack on Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, Spiegel reported, citing unnamed sources.
A German government spokesperson declined to comment, Spiegel added.
Ukraine will not be swayed by Russian nuclear threats, annexation votes: Kyiv
Ukraine will not be swayed by any nuclear threats from Moscow or annexation votes held on its territory and will press ahead with its plan to wrest back all its occupied land from Russia, a Ukrainian presidential adviser has said.
The official, Mykhailo Podolyak, said in an interview that Kyiv wanted the world’s nuclear powers to warn Russia that any use of strategic or tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine would be met with concrete action – and not just a UN Security Council resolution.
No change to US nuclear posture due to Russia threats, Pentagon says
Despite Russian threats to Ukraine and NATO about the use of nuclear weapons, the Pentagon has not seen any changes that would lead it to alter the posture of American nuclear forces, a spokesman has said.
“We obviously take these threats seriously. But at this stage, we’ve not seen anything that would cause us to adjust our own nuclear posture at this time,” Brigadier General Patrick Ryder told a news briefing.
Pressed on whether there had been any new Russian movements of its nuclear forces, Ryder declined to elaborate beyond saying the United States did not “have any reason to adjust our posture at this stage”.
An ally of President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday outlined the scenario of a nuclear attack on Ukraine, saying that the US-led NATO military alliance would be too scared of a “nuclear apocalypse” to directly enter the conflict in response.
Blasts near North Stream were explosions, not earthquakes, Swedish seismologist says
A Swedish seismologist has said he was certain the seismic activity detected at the site of the Nord Stream pipeline gas leaks in the Baltic Sea was caused by explosions and not earthquakes nor landslides.
Bjorn Lund, seismologist at the Swedish National Seismic Network at Uppsala University, said seismic data gathered by him and Nordic colleagues showed that the explosions took place in the water and not in the rock under the seabed.
White House: US welcomes Russians seeking asylum
The United States welcomes Russians seeking asylum from President Vladimir Putin’s “unpopular” war, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has said.
“We believe that regardless of their nationality, they may apply for asylum in the United States and have their claim educated on a case by case basis,” she said.
NATO warns Russia of ‘severe consequences’ in case of a nuclear strike
Any use of nuclear weapons by Russia is unacceptable and would have severe consequences, NATO said after an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin issued another stark nuclear warning to Ukraine and the West.
“Any use of nuclear weapons is absolutely unacceptable, it will totally change the nature of the conflict, and Russia must know that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.
“When we see that kind of nuclear rhetoric again and again from Russia, from President Putin, it is something that we have to take seriously – and therefore we are conveying the clear message that this will have severe consequences for Russia.”
Gas bubbles from Nord Stream 2 pipeline will continue for several days
Gas bubbles from the damaged Nord Stream 2 pipeline measure more than 100m in diameter, the Danish Energy Authority has said.
The leak will continue for several days and perhaps even a week, the authority’s head told Reuters news agency.
Poland said the leaks were caused by sabotage, while Denmark and Russia, which slashed its gas deliveries to Europe after Western sanctions, said sabotage could not be ruled out.
None of the countries said who might be behind any foul play.
Blinken says West will ‘never recognise’ pro-Russia annexation votes in Ukraine
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has vowed that the West will never recognise Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territory after Kremlin-installed authorities started claiming victory in annexation votes in regions under Moscow’s control.
“We and many other countries have already been crystal clear. We will not – indeed, we will never – recognise the annexation of Ukrainian territory by Russia,” Blinken told reporters.
Norway to strengthen security at oil, gas installations
Norway will strengthen security at its oil and gas installations in the wake of the gas leaks in the Baltic Sea and the reports of drone activities in the North Sea, the Nordic country’s oil and energy minister told news agency NTB.
Germany plans to put two nuclear plants on standby until April 2023
Germany plans to designate two of its last nuclear power plants, Isar 2 and Neckarwestheim, as reserves until April 15, 2023 and will decide whether to extend their lives this year, depending on the nuclear power situation in France, the economy ministry has said.
“Today, I have to say that the data from France suggests that we will then call up and use the reserve,” Economy Minister Robert Habeck said.
Blinken says Nord Stream leaks won’t have huge impact on Europe’s energy resilience
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said his understanding was that leaks detected in the Nord Stream gas pipelines would not have a significant impact on Europe’s energy resilience.
Blinken said the United States had not yet confirmed initial reports that the leaks could be the result of an attack or sabotage, but said if they were due to sabotage, that would not be in anyone’s interests.
Zelenskyy says he discussed further military assistance with NATO chief
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had discussed further support of Ukraine’s armed forces by NATO member states, in a call with the bloc’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
The phone call came in the wake of votes staged in four occupied regions of Ukraine on annexation by Russia. Zelenskyy thanked Stoltenberg for his condemnation of the votes, which Ukraine and its western allies call illegal shams.
“We discussed current battlefield developments and further support of the Alliance’s member states to the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” Zelenskyy wrote.
Annexation vote ‘a blatant violation of international law’, says NATO chief
The votes in four occupied regions in Ukraine on annexation by Russia are a “sham” and “a blatant violation of international law,” NATO’s chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday.
Stoltenberg tweeted that he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “and made clear that NATO Allies are unwavering in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and right to self-defence”.
“The sham referenda held by Russia have no legitimacy and are a blatant violation of international law. These lands are Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said.
Just spoke with President @ZelenskyyUa & made clear that #NATO Allies are unwavering in our support for #Ukraine’s sovereignty & right to self-defence. The sham referenda held by #Russia have no legitimacy & are a blatant violation of international law. These lands are Ukraine.
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) September 27, 2022
Number of Russians crossing into the EU up by 30 percent: Frontex
Following a partial mobilisation ordered by Moscow, the EU border agency Frontex said illegal crossings are likely to increase should Russia decide to close the border to potential conscripts.
“Over the past week, nearly 66,000 Russian citizens entered the EU, more than 30 percent compared to the preceding week. Most of them arrived to Finland and Estonia,” Frontex said in a statement.
During the last four days alone, 30,000 Russian citizens arrived in Finland, according to Frontex.
Nord Stream leaks a ‘terrorist attack’, says Zelenskyy adviser
Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has tweeted about recent leaks to the Nord Stream pipeline and called them a “terrorist attack”.
The leaks, in parts of the pipeline running through the Baltic Sea, are being investigated by Denmark, Sweden and Germany.
“‘Gas leak’ from NS-1 is nothing more than a terrorist attack planned by Russia and an act of aggression towards EU,” Podolyak wrote. “Russia wants to destabilize [the] economic situation in Europe and cause pre-winter panic. The best response and security investment – tanks for Ukraine. Especially German ones.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that “No option can be ruled out right now” about possible sabotage. Peskov said the Kremlin was very concerned about the damage to the pipeline.
"Gas leak" from NS-1 is nothing more that a terrorist attack planned by Russia and an act of aggression towards EU. 🇷🇺 wants to destabilize economic situation in Europe and cause pre-winter panic. The best response and security investment — tanks for 🇺🇦. Especially German ones…
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) September 27, 2022
Partial ‘referendum’ results show over 96 percent in favour of joining Russia: RIA
First partial voting results from four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine showed 96 percent of residents in favour of joining Russia, the Kremlin-backed Russian news agency RIA said.
The so-called referendums were denounced as a “sham” by Kyiv and the West.
Moscow’s annexation plans could be announced as early as Friday.
Ukraine has repeatedly warned that Russian annexation of additional territories would destroy any chance of peace talks.
Ukraine urges EU to impose sanctions on Russia over ‘referendums’
Ukraine urged the European Union to impose economic sanctions on Russia as punishment for staging annexation votes in four occupied regions.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, after talks in Kyiv with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, said: “The softer the reaction to the so-called referendums, the greater the motivation for Russia to escalate and annex further territories.”
“In the content of the eighth [EU] sanctions package, we will see just how seriously the EU takes the problem of referendums.”
Colonna said French support for Ukraine was “massive” and included humanitarian aid, financial aid and military or diplomatic assistance totalling more than $2bn.
“Everybody can see Russia is sinking further into an impasse,” Colonna said, “whether militarily or vis-a-vis its own people.”
Annexation referendum ‘results’ may be known by Wednesday: AJ correspondent
Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Vall, reporting from Moscow, said it appears “very likely” that the results of the annexation referendums will be known by Wednesday evening.
Ukraine and its Western allies refuse to recognise the polls, which they have described as an illegal Russian move designed to intensify the war.
“The ballots will be counted tomorrow, and it’s very likely the answer will be known by tomorrow evening, when the two chambers of the Russian parliament, the Duma, will meet,” said Vall.
Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine are “very optimistic about the exercise and talk about a huge turnout”, Vall added, citing rates shared by Kremlin-backed media outlets – 87 percent in Donetsk, 83 percent in Luhansk, 63 percent in Kherson and 66 percent in Zaporizhia.
11 civilians killed and 18 others wounded by shelling in Kharkiv: Ukrainian official
Ukraine’s presidential office says at least 11 civilians have been killed and 18 others wounded by the latest Russian shelling.
An attack on the town of Pervomaiskyi in the northeastern Kharkiv region killed eight people, including a 15-year-old boy, Ukrainian officials said.
Kharkiv Governor Oleh Synyehubov said in televised comments that “the senseless shelling looks like an attempt to scare civilians.”
In the eastern Donetsk region, Russian shelling focused on the cities of Kramatorsk, Sloviansk and Toretsk, killing three and injuring13 in 24 hours.
The region is one of four where Moscow-installed authorities are conducting referendums on making the areas part of Russia.
Farmers to be drafted into the military: Putin
Farmers are among Russians being drafted into the military, Putin told a meeting with officials on Tuesday, signalling potential additional risks for the 2023 grain crop.
“I would also like to address regional heads and the heads of agricultural enterprises. As part of the partial mobilisation, agricultural workers are also being drafted.
“Their families must be supported. I ask you to pay special attention to this issue,” Putin told the televised meeting.
Putin also told the meeting that Russia is on track to harvest a record grain crop of 150 million tonnes, including 100 million tonnes of wheat, in 2022.
Russia is the world’s largest wheat exporter, but rains have significantly delayed the winter grain sowing.
‘We must take care of them’: Kazakh president on Russians fleeing mobilisation
As many flee Russia after a partial troop enlistment order was announced, Kazakhstan is struggling to accommodate tens of thousands of people, officials say.
But the Almaty government has no plans to close its border.
The sudden influx of Russians, almost 100,000, have crossed the border since the mobilisation announcement, the government said, has left hotels and hostels full and rent skyrocketing.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, whose administration has refused to support what Russia calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine, urged patience and tolerance.
“A lot of people from Russia have come here over the last few days,” he said in a speech on Tuesday.
“Most of them were forced to leave by the desperate situation.”
“We must take care of them and ensure their safety. This is a political and humanitarian matter,” Tokayev said.
Kazakhstan, home to a significant ethnic Russian minority and where the Russian language is spoken widely, does not require Russians to have a visa or a passport to enter the country.
Who controls what in Ukraine?
As annexation voting enters its last day, here are three maps that Al Jazeera updates daily that chart out who controls what in Ukraine.