Ukraine’s top fencer granted place at Olympics after disqualification for Russia handshake snub
From CNN's Svitlana Vlasova, Victoria Butenko and Tim Lister
Ukraine's fencer Olga Kharlan speaks during a press conference within the FIE Fencing World Championships at the Fair Allianz MI.CO (Milano Convegni) in Milan, on July 28, 2023. Andreas Solaro/AFP/Getty Images
The Ukrainian fencing champion banned from the world championships in Italy for refusing to shake hands with a Russian opponent has been readmitted to the tournament and given an automatic place at next year’s Paris Olympics.
Olga Kharlan, leader of Ukraine’s national fencing team, was earlier disqualified at the tournament after she refused to shake hands with the Russian rival Anna Smirnova she defeated. Smirnova then walked away before staging a sit-down protest for about 45 minutes.
An athlete’s refusal to shake hands after a contest results in a black card and expulsion, according to International Fencing Federation rules.
The symbolic move, made as her country fights back against Russia’s invasion, was risky for Kharlan because her disqualification looked set to also scupper the four-time individual world champion and four-time Olympic medalist’s chances of racking up enough points to qualify for Paris next year.
But the International Fencing Federation said on Friday that while it stands “fully behind the penalty’, it would allow Kharlan to participate in the women’s team sabre competition.
What Ukraine must do to win in its southern push – and what Russia has in reserve
From CNN's Tim Lister
The Ukrainian military is doubling down on efforts to break through thick Russian defenses in its counteroffensive in the south, which has struggled to gain momentum since being launched at the beginning of June.
Ukrainian officials have said little about what fresh units are being committed to the offensive, but the military has clearly added recently-minted units equipped with western armor in at least one important segment of the southern front.
The challenges faced by the Ukrainians are perhaps less to do with numbers and more to do with capabilities, training and coordination, factors that are critical when an attacking force is faced with such an array of defenses.
The commitment of new units this week does appear to have enabled the Ukrainians make modest advances south of the town of Orikhiv, edging closer to the important Russian hub of Tokmak some 20 kilometers to the south of the current frontline.
There are other modest successes further east, but the few frontline accounts to have emerged speak of unceasing Russian aviation and artillery strikes.
At least 9 injured in Dnipro attack, Ukrainian military official says
From CNN's Svitlana Vlasova and Mariya Knight
A residential building was partially destroyed after a missile strike in Dnipro, Ukraine, on Friday, July 28, 2023. Vitalii Matokha/AFP/Getty Images
A Russian missile strike on an apartment block in central Dnipro has left at least nine people injured, according to Serhii Lysak, the head of the region's military administration.
Two teenagers were among those hurt. Doctors say the injured victims are in "satisfactory condition" and will be treated at home.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that another of the buildings hit in the missile strikes was that of the Security Service, although the building was largely empty.
“Dnipro. Friday evening. A high-rise building and the Security Service of Ukraine's building were hit. Russian missile terror again.”
Zelensky added on Telegram: “Promptly held conversations with the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Emergency Service, and the military administration head. All necessary services are on site.”
He concluded: “We will do everything to bring Russia to full punishment for aggression and terror against our people. These bastards will answer.”
Some context: Dnipro has seen several serious attacks. In May at least two people died when a hospital and veterinary clinic were hit.
And in January, at least 40 people were killed in a strike on an apartment block.
1 hr 7 min ago
Moscow vows to retaliate for attack on Russian city that wounded over a dozen people
From CNN’s Uliana Pavlova
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova attends a news conference in Moscow, Russia, on April 4, 2023. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters/FILE
Moscow reserves the right to take tough measures in response to a missile attack that wounded more than a dozen people in the Russian border region of Rostov on Friday, a foreign ministry spokesperson said.
The official, Maria Zakharova, said the strike on the southwestern Russian city of Taganrog was "directed against the civilian population and peaceful infrastructure. They obviously had no military meaning."
Zakharova called on the international community to condemn the attack. "The Russian side reserves the right to take tough retaliatory measures," she said.
Russia has frequently hit Ukrainian civilian targets throughout the conflict.
What we know about the strike: Earlier on Friday, air defenses shot down a missile over Taganrog. The missile’s remnants fell on the center of the city, leaving 14 people wounded, according to the Russian defense ministry.
The ministry says air defense systems also intercepted a second missile in the Rostov region Friday, but that it "fell in a deserted area." Rostov's governor confirmed the second attack.
Friday's strike on Taganrog is believed to be the first time the city – some 40 kilometers (nearly 25 miles) from the border with Ukraine — has been hit since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine has not commented on the attack, which if conformed would mark a rare case of Kyiv using missiles inside Russia.
1 hr 24 min ago
EU Council imposes sanctions on Russians over "digital information manipulation campaign"
From CNN’s Zahid Mahmood and Martin Goillandeau
The European Union Council said on Friday that it imposed sanctions on seven Russian individuals and five entities.
Those sanctioned are accused of conducting a "digital information manipulation campaign" called 'RRN' (Recent Reliable News), aimed at distorting information and disseminating propaganda in support of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine," the council said in a statement.
The statement said the campaign to which “government bodies or bodies affiliated to the Russian state have participated” does rely on “fake web pages usurping the identity of national media outlets and government websites, as well as fake accounts on social media.”
“This coordinated and targeted information manipulation is part of a broader hybrid campaign by Russia against the EU and the member states,” the statement added.
The impacted entities: The sanctioned entities include Infornos — an online outlet “closely linked to the Russian military intelligence (GRU) and is responsible for setting up more than 270 media proxy online outlets that disseminate propaganda in support of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine," according to the council.
They also include the Kremlin-linked non-profit ANO Dialog, the Institute of the Russian Diaspora, as well as Social Design Agency and Structura National Technologies —two Russian IT companies and prominent representatives of the above-mentioned entities.
The statement said the EU sanctions toward Russia’s war on Ukraine now apply to about 1,800 individuals and entities altogether.
14 min ago
African Union chairman says Putin is willing to "find a solution" to end war, but needs to convince Ukraine
From CNN’s Zahid Mahmood and Mariya Knight
President of the Union of Comoros Azali Assoumani gestures a joint press conference with other African leaders and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 16, 2023. Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to engage in “dialogue and find a solution” to end the war in Ukraine, according to Azali Assoumani, the African Union chairman and president of the Union of the Comoros.
Now the union needs to convince Ukraine to hold negotiations with Russia, he said Friday. Assoumani said the African Union will “act as an intermediary.”
“We need to achieve a ceasefire, because war is always something unpredictable, and the longer it goes on, the more unpredictable it becomes,” he said.
Some background: In mid-June, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and several other African leaders traveled to Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and present a 10-step peace initiative that several African countries have agreed to participate in.
At his Russia-Africa summit, Putin has said the Kremlin is “carefully” considering the African leaders’ proposal.
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out any peace negotiations with Russia until Moscow’s troops withdraw from his country’s territory. Zelensky said allowing any negotiations while another nation's military is occupying Ukraine would only "freeze" the war, pain and suffering caused by Putin's invasion.
Nine people were injured after Russian missiles struck an apartment block in Dnipro, with images showing part of the building reduced to rubble. A Ukrainian security service building was also hit but largely empty at the time.
Russia says it has the right to a tough response after shooting down missiles over a southern Russian city, an apparent rare example of Ukraine using missiles inside Russian territory.
Ukraine is escalating its counteroffensive after months of sluggish progress. But it is facing several challenges and will need momentum to succeed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to meet South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa in St. Petersburg. Putin has been hosting African leaders who have been concerned by Russia pulling out of a key grain deal.
Ukraine's fencer Olga Kharlan speaks during a press conference within the FIE Fencing World Championships at the Fair Allianz MI.CO (Milano Convegni) in Milan, on July 28, 2023. Andreas Solaro/AFP/Getty Images
The Ukrainian fencing champion banned from the world championships in Italy for refusing to shake hands with a Russian opponent has been readmitted to the tournament and given an automatic place at next year’s Paris Olympics.
Olga Kharlan, leader of Ukraine’s national fencing team, was earlier disqualified at the tournament after she refused to shake hands with the Russian rival Anna Smirnova she defeated. Smirnova then walked away before staging a sit-down protest for about 45 minutes.
An athlete’s refusal to shake hands after a contest results in a black card and expulsion, according to International Fencing Federation rules.
The symbolic move, made as her country fights back against Russia’s invasion, was risky for Kharlan because her disqualification looked set to also scupper the four-time individual world champion and four-time Olympic medalist’s chances of racking up enough points to qualify for Paris next year.
But the International Fencing Federation said on Friday that while it stands “fully behind the penalty’, it would allow Kharlan to participate in the women’s team sabre competition.
The Ukrainian military is doubling down on efforts to break through thick Russian defenses in its counteroffensive in the south, which has struggled to gain momentum since being launched at the beginning of June.
Ukrainian officials have said little about what fresh units are being committed to the offensive, but the military has clearly added recently-minted units equipped with western armor in at least one important segment of the southern front.
The challenges faced by the Ukrainians are perhaps less to do with numbers and more to do with capabilities, training and coordination, factors that are critical when an attacking force is faced with such an array of defenses.
The commitment of new units this week does appear to have enabled the Ukrainians make modest advances south of the town of Orikhiv, edging closer to the important Russian hub of Tokmak some 20 kilometers to the south of the current frontline.
There are other modest successes further east, but the few frontline accounts to have emerged speak of unceasing Russian aviation and artillery strikes.
A residential building was partially destroyed after a missile strike in Dnipro, Ukraine, on Friday, July 28, 2023. Vitalii Matokha/AFP/Getty Images
A Russian missile strike on an apartment block in central Dnipro has left at least nine people injured, according to Serhii Lysak, the head of the region's military administration.
Two teenagers were among those hurt. Doctors say the injured victims are in "satisfactory condition" and will be treated at home.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that another of the buildings hit in the missile strikes was that of the Security Service, although the building was largely empty.
“Dnipro. Friday evening. A high-rise building and the Security Service of Ukraine's building were hit. Russian missile terror again.”
Zelensky added on Telegram: “Promptly held conversations with the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Emergency Service, and the military administration head. All necessary services are on site.”
He concluded: “We will do everything to bring Russia to full punishment for aggression and terror against our people. These bastards will answer.”
Some context: Dnipro has seen several serious attacks. In May at least two people died when a hospital and veterinary clinic were hit.
And in January, at least 40 people were killed in a strike on an apartment block.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova attends a news conference in Moscow, Russia, on April 4, 2023. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters/FILE
Moscow reserves the right to take tough measures in response to a missile attack that wounded more than a dozen people in the Russian border region of Rostov on Friday, a foreign ministry spokesperson said.
The official, Maria Zakharova, said the strike on the southwestern Russian city of Taganrog was "directed against the civilian population and peaceful infrastructure. They obviously had no military meaning."
Zakharova called on the international community to condemn the attack. "The Russian side reserves the right to take tough retaliatory measures," she said.
Russia has frequently hit Ukrainian civilian targets throughout the conflict.
What we know about the strike: Earlier on Friday, air defenses shot down a missile over Taganrog. The missile’s remnants fell on the center of the city, leaving 14 people wounded, according to the Russian defense ministry.
The ministry says air defense systems also intercepted a second missile in the Rostov region Friday, but that it "fell in a deserted area." Rostov's governor confirmed the second attack.
Friday's strike on Taganrog is believed to be the first time the city – some 40 kilometers (nearly 25 miles) from the border with Ukraine — has been hit since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine has not commented on the attack, which if conformed would mark a rare case of Kyiv using missiles inside Russia.
The European Union Council said on Friday that it imposed sanctions on seven Russian individuals and five entities.
Those sanctioned are accused of conducting a "digital information manipulation campaign" called 'RRN' (Recent Reliable News), aimed at distorting information and disseminating propaganda in support of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine," the council said in a statement.
The statement said the campaign to which “government bodies or bodies affiliated to the Russian state have participated” does rely on “fake web pages usurping the identity of national media outlets and government websites, as well as fake accounts on social media.”
“This coordinated and targeted information manipulation is part of a broader hybrid campaign by Russia against the EU and the member states,” the statement added.
The impacted entities: The sanctioned entities include Infornos — an online outlet “closely linked to the Russian military intelligence (GRU) and is responsible for setting up more than 270 media proxy online outlets that disseminate propaganda in support of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine," according to the council.
They also include the Kremlin-linked non-profit ANO Dialog, the Institute of the Russian Diaspora, as well as Social Design Agency and Structura National Technologies —two Russian IT companies and prominent representatives of the above-mentioned entities.
The statement said the EU sanctions toward Russia’s war on Ukraine now apply to about 1,800 individuals and entities altogether.
President of the Union of Comoros Azali Assoumani gestures a joint press conference with other African leaders and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 16, 2023. Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to engage in “dialogue and find a solution” to end the war in Ukraine, according to Azali Assoumani, the African Union chairman and president of the Union of the Comoros.
Now the union needs to convince Ukraine to hold negotiations with Russia, he said Friday. Assoumani said the African Union will “act as an intermediary.”
“We need to achieve a ceasefire, because war is always something unpredictable, and the longer it goes on, the more unpredictable it becomes,” he said.
Some background: In mid-June, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and several other African leaders traveled to Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and present a 10-step peace initiative that several African countries have agreed to participate in.
At his Russia-Africa summit, Putin has said the Kremlin is “carefully” considering the African leaders’ proposal.
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out any peace negotiations with Russia until Moscow’s troops withdraw from his country’s territory. Zelensky said allowing any negotiations while another nation's military is occupying Ukraine would only "freeze" the war, pain and suffering caused by Putin's invasion.
