The latest news on the war between Russia and Ukraine | Wilnesh News

Floods are threatening Russia’s southern Kurgan region, putting the lives of more than 19,000 people at risk, the state news agency said on Tuesday. Days earlier, unprecedented flooding displaced thousands of people and submerged a city in the Ural region.

At least 4,000 households may also be affected, the TASS news agency quoted the local branch of Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry as saying. Emergency measures have been taken in the region, the statement added.

A series of regions in Russia’s Ural Mountains and Siberia, as well as parts of neighboring Kazakhstan, have been hit by the worst flooding in decades in recent days after Europe’s third-longest river burst a dam.

In the city of Orsk in the Orenburg region, angry residents turned to President Vladimir Putin for help, complaining that local officials were not doing enough to help cope with the worst flooding on record.

Alexander Kulenkov, head of Russia’s emergencies ministry, said on the Telegram messaging app that the minister flew to the region on Tuesday to monitor the situation on Putin’s behalf.

The ministry added that Kulenkov will also visit the Kurgan and Tyumen regions of the Ural region.

“Precautionary measures have been taken there, rescue teams have been strengthened, and the forces and means of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry are also on high alert,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The Ural river, which rises in the Ural Mountains and flows into the Caspian Sea, rose several meters in just a few hours due to meltwater on Friday, breaching a dam embankment in the city of Orsk, 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) east of Moscow.

— Reuters

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday after talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that relations between Russia and China had reached “unprecedented levels.”

Lavrov said: “We have seen that with the efforts of the leaders of the two countries, the comprehensive partnership and strategic coordination between Russia and China have reached an unprecedented level, which is no exaggeration.” Russian news agencies reported.

“With the re-election of Vladimir Putin, the continuity of the line of comprehensive strengthening has of course been additionally guaranteed,” he said on Tuesday during an official visit to Beijing.

Lavrov said that cooperation between the two countries “goes beyond the military-political alliance of the Cold War and is not directed against any third party, as our leaders have said more than once.”

In recent years, relations between Russia and China have become increasingly close, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping stating that a deep friendship has been forged between the two countries.

However, China is seen as a senior partner in the relationship and seen as one of the few countries that can exert influence on Moscow over the war in Ukraine. Despite this, China has refused to condemn Russia’s 2022 invasion and has taken no steps to facilitate peace talks.

— Holly Elliot

The Russian-controlled Zaporizhia nuclear power plant claimed on Monday that a Ukrainian drone was shot down over its reactor, a day after Russia accused Ukraine of three drone attacks on the plant.

Russia has also accused Ukraine, without evidence, of assisting last month’s terror attack in Moscow that killed 140 people.terrorist organization ISIS-K claimed responsibility.

Kyiv denied any connection with Sunday’s attack or terror attacks, and Ukraine’s state nuclear energy company on Monday accused Moscow of orchestrating a “provocative campaign”.

Lieutenant Andrei Kovalenko, director of Ukraine’s Counter-Disinformation Center, said on Monday that Russia’s attempts to blame terrorist attacks on Ukraine were “propaganda.”

He added: “At the same time, Russia is attacking the ZNPP with drones, pretending that the threat to nuclear power plants and nuclear security comes from Ukraine.”

– Elliot Smith

According to Reuters, Russia’s central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina told members of the lower house of Russia’s parliament that the country’s production was limited due to a shortage of workers.

Nabiullina reportedly told the State Duma that the Russian economy continues to grow at an impressive rate.

— Elliot Smith

The U.N.’s atomic energy watchdog sounded the alarm after drones struck a nuclear reactor at the Russian-controlled Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine on Sunday.

International Atomic Energy Agency explain Europe’s largest nuclear power plant has been directly targeted by military strikes for the first time since November 2022. This serious incident “endangered nuclear safety.” However, it added that there were no signs of serious damage at this stage.

Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said: “This is a major escalation of the nuclear safety and security risks faced by the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant. This reckless attack greatly increases the risk of a major nuclear accident and must be stopped immediately.”

Russian nuclear power company Rosatom said the Ukrainian military was behind the attack but did not provide any evidence. Ukraine denies any involvement and claims Russia launched the drones.

— Elliot Smith