Russia-Ukraine war live: US alleges Iran sent ballistic missiles to Russia
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in comments made during a visit to London, accuses Iran of supplying short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine. Iran has previously denied such allegations.
- Ukraine has launched a massive drone attack on the Moscow region, killing at least one woman and wounding several people, according to Russian officials.
Russia close to signing new treaty with Iran: Official
Russia has nearly completed the required procedures to sign a new treaty with Iran soon, the state news agency TASS quoted top security official Sergei Shoigu as saying.
“We look forward to the imminent conclusion of a new basic interstate treaty. We are completing the internal procedures necessary for the preparation of documents for signing by the presidents,” Shoigu said.
Russia has cultivated closer ties with Iran and other states hostile towards the United States, such as North Korea, in the two and a half years since the start of the Ukraine war.
US Secretary of State Blinken said earlier that Russia received ballistic missiles from Iran and was likely to use them within weeks. An Iranian official on Monday denied that.
Iranian missiles allow Russia to conserve long-range arsenal: White House
Speaking to reporters, John Kirby – the White House national security spokesperson – echoed comments early in London by US Secretary of State Blinken who said Russia has received ballistic missiles from Iran and will likely use them in Ukraine within weeks.
“The supply of these Iranian missiles, which have a maximum range of about 75 miles [120km], could allow Russia to use more of its arsenal for targets beyond the front line while employing Iranian warheads for closer-range targets,” Kirby said.
Kirby said it would also be dangerous for the Middle East that Iran would now be able to avail itself of Russian technology, including on nuclear issues. He said new sanctions would show Iran it will face economic costs and warned the US would impose further measures if warranted.
Ukraine reports 76 combat clashes since dawn
The most difficult situation is near the cities of Kurakhove and Pokrovsk, according to the general staff of Ukraine’s army.
Artillery fire was reported from Russia in the Ukrainian areas of Mykolaivka, Malushyne, Halahanivka, Popivka, Tolstodubov and Oleksandrivka, the military report said.
A total of 20 aerial bombs were dropped in the settlements of Gremyach, Pustohorod, Glukhiv, Richki, Pavlivka and Mykolaivka.
Continuing ground battles were reported near Kharkiv, Kramatorsk, Toretsk, as well as Pokrovsk and Kurakhove.
US urges EU to raise disquiet about China-Russia defence ties
US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell has called on his country’s European partners to be more forceful in expressing their disquiet about China’s growing defence collaboration with Russia.
Campbell, who has met Belgian, NATO and EU officials since Monday, said today that he had provided allies with details of China’s “substantial support” to Russia’s military-industrial base and the consequences on the battlefield in Ukraine.
US national sentenced in absentia by Russia for fighting in Ukraine
Michael Paul Maldonado, also known as Zafer Ronin, has been found guilty by Russia of being a mercenary and sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison, according to the country’s Investigative Committee cited by the state-owned TASS news agency.
Maldonado, who arrived in Ukraine in July 2022 and served as a volunteer reconnaisance officer in the Ukrainian army until February this year, was placed on the international wanted list, the report said.
France, Germany, UK to sanction Iran Air over alleged missile transfers to Russia
The governments of France, Germany and the United Kingdom have strongly condemned alleged Iranian transfers of ballistic missiles to Russia and will work towards imposing sanctions on Iran Air as a result, according to the German Foreign Ministry.
“This act is an escalation by both Iran and Russia, and is a direct threat to European security,” said a joint statement from the three countries shared by the ministry.
The three countries will take immediate steps to cancel bilateral air services agreements with Iran, it added, calling on Iran to immediately halt all support for Russia in its war with Ukraine.
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Here are the latest developments:
- The US and the UK have formally accused Iran of supplying short-range ballistic missiles to Russia to use in the war in Ukraine and will take measures to punish those involved. Iran denies such accusations.
- Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff has said sanctions against Iran is “a positive step” but it was not enough for Ukraine’s struggle against Russia.
- Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu says the Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk region is an attempt by Kyiv “to force [Moscow] into a negotiation process, negotiations on their terms”.
- Russia’s Defence Ministry says its forces have captured the town of Krasnohorivka in eastern Ukraine, as well as three villages in different parts of the Donetsk region.
- Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says a large-scale drone attack on the Moscow region shows that Russia needs to keep fighting Ukraine.
