Drones damage Russia oil facility

An explosion from two drone attacks in Russia’s Pskov region near Belarus damaged an oil pipeline facility with no casualties reported.
Iran accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of “anti-Iranian propaganda” after he called on Tehran to halt the supply of drones to Moscow, saying his comments were designed to attract more arms and financial aid from the West.Ukraine claims Russia planning ‘massive’ incident at nuclear site
Ukraine’s defence ministry has warned that Russia plans to simulate a major accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, which is under the control of Russian forces, in a bid to thwart the expected counteroffensive by Ukraine to retake its territory captured by Moscow.The Bottom Line: On China and Ukraine, does the G7 have the world’s support?
In the past, the G7 countries could make the rules, and most others would fall in line. We ask if those days are gone.
Three months ago, United States President Joe Biden insisted that Ukraine does not need F-16 fighter jets, but last week in Japan, he joined the F-16 coalition.

The reason? Political risk analyst Ian Bremmer says the US and its allies are trying to put Ukraine in a stronger position for an eventual negotiated settlement with Russia, even if it means escalating the war over time.Russian forces intercept two British Storm Shadow missiles: RIA
Russian forces intercepted two long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles supplied to Ukraine by Britain, the RIA news agency cited the defence ministry as saying.

The ministry also said it had intercepted shorter-range US-built HIMARS-launched and HARM missiles, and shot down 19 drones in the last 24 hours, RIA reported.

Play VideoRussia accuses Japan of ‘cynical speculation’
Russia has accused Japan of “cynical, unscrupulous speculation” over Tokyo’s comments about the nuclear threat Moscow poses.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno condemned Russia’s plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, saying it would further inflame the situation.

“The desire to attribute the non-evident intention to use nuclear weapons in relation to events in Ukraine to Russia is nothing more than cynical, unscrupulous speculation,” the foreign ministry said.

The ministry also took issue with Matsuno’s casting of Russia as engaging in “nuclear blackmail”.

Construction worker killed in shelling in Russian village: Governor
A construction worker was killed near the Russian village of Plekhovo, a few kilometres from the border with Ukraine after shelling from the Ukrainian side, Roman Starovoit, governor of the Kursk region said on Telegram.

Works were being carried out not far from Plekhovo on fortifying defensive lines for the state border, the governor said.

Al Jazeera could not independently verify the governor’s claims.Russian forces ease attacks on Bakhmut to regroup: Kyiv
Russian forces have temporarily eased their attacks on the besieged eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut to regroup and strengthen their capabilities, a senior Kyiv official has said.

Russia’s Wagner private army began handing over its positions to regular Russian troops this week after declaring full control of Bakhmut following the longest and bloodiest battle of the war.

In a statement on Telegram, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Russian forces have continued attacking but that “overall offensive activity has decreased”.

China to make efforts for political solution: Envoy
China will make concrete efforts for a political solution to the Ukraine crisis, the Chinese foreign ministry quoted special envoy Li Hui as saying.

China has always adhered to an objective and fair position on Ukraine, argued for peace and promoted talks, Li was quoted as telling Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Li, China’s special representative for Eurasian affairs and former ambassador to Russia, held meetings and talks with Lavrov, and Deputy Foreign Ministers Andrey Rudenko and Mikhail Galuzin.Iran slams Zelenskyy comments on drone supply to Russia
Tehran has accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of anti-Iranian propaganda in his call for Iran to halt the supply of drones to Moscow.

“The Ukrainian president’s repeat of delusional claims against the Islamic Republic of Iran is in line with the anti-Iranian propaganda and media war aimed at attracting as many arms and financial aid as possible from Western countries,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said in a statement carried by Iranian media.