POTASSIUM iodide is being distributed to residents living near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant by local authorities, a Ukrainian official confirmed.
The scheme began yesterday. Regional health authorities are warning people to preserve the tablets in case there is a future radiation leak.
Volodymyr Marchuk, a spokesman for the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, said that the government would tell residents to take the tablets, which can be used as a medication to treat radiation emergencies.
Two nuclear generators were cut off from the main power grid due to fires at the Zaporizhzhia plant in Ukraine, triggering huge safety alarms.
Ukrainian workers’ quick work that kicked back up diesel generators into action narrowly avoided a "radiation accident" warned President Zelensky.
Meanwhile, ex Russian president Dmitry Medvedev told French TV station LCI on Friday that talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are possible “under certain conditions.”
He added: “Renouncing (Ukraine’s) participation in the North Atlantic alliance is now vital, but it is already insufficient in order to establish peace.”
Read our Ukraine-Russia blog below for the latest updates…
- Matt Snape
Third American death in Ukraine war confirmed by US State Department
Another American citizen has been killed in the Ukraine war, the US State Department confirmed.
"We can confirm the death of a US citizen in Ukraine,” a State Department spokesperson said. “Out of respect for the privacy of the family, we have no further comment at this time."
No other details about this citizen have been revealed yet.
- Matt Snape
Potassium iodide tablets being distributed in Zaporizhzhia in case of radiation LEAK
Potassium iodide is being distributed to residents living near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant by local authorities, a Ukrainian official confirmed to NBC News.
The scheme started yesterday. Regional health authorities are warning people to preserve the tablets in case there is a future radiation leak.
Volodymyr Marchuk, a spokesman for the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, said to NBC News that the government would tell residents to take the tablets, which can be used as a medication to treat radiation emergencies.
- Matt Snape
Two vessels carrying URGENT agricultural products approved to leave Ukraine
The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) has confirmed that two vessels carrying 58,750 metric tons of grain have been approved to leave Ukraine.
The news was reported on by CNBC.
- Matt Snape
NBC host Jimmy Fallon has spoken with Zelensky
NBC late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have recently spoken, the latter confirmed.
“We discussed options for cooperation that would bring even more world attention to the events in Ukraine. This topic needs to be continuously raised to the top, and famous people can help us with this,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram.
“Jimmy, thank you for your attention to Ukraine and our struggle for freedom. We will be glad to see you on Ukrainian land,” Zelenskyy added.
- Louis Allwood
Roughly 4.34million cubic metres of gas is being burned
Analysts at Rystad Energy calculate around 4.34million cubic metres of gas is being burned by the flare every day, worth $10million.
The research company's Sindre Knutsson said: "While the exact reasons for the flaring are unknown, the volumes, emissions and location of the flare are a visible reminder of Russia's dominance in Europe's energy markets.
"There could not be a clearer signal – Russia can bring energy prices down tomorrow.
"This is gas that would otherwise have been exported via Nord Stream 1 or alternatives."
- Louis Allwood
Putin is BURNING OFF £9million of gas a day instead of supplying the West
Satellite pics show Vladimir Putin is burning £8.4million of unused gas every day – while families face crippling energy bill hikes.
Massive orange flames are seen shooting into the sky at a natural gas plant after Russia shut the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Europe.
International gas prices rocketed after Russia invaded Ukraine, and spiked again after it shut off the undersea pipeline.
Households across Europe face potential blackouts and energy rationing, while today the UK price cap almost doubled.
Putin has been accused of putting a squeeze on Europe in revenge for its support for Ukraine and sanctions on the regime.
And now images from space show gas "flaring" on a massive scale at Gazprom's compressor plant at Portovaya north of St Petersburg.
Locals across the border in Finland had previously spotted giant orange flames rising from the plant since late June.
- Louis Allwood
Snoozing Russian soldier gets terrifying wake-up call
A snoozing Russian soldier received a terrifying wake-up call when a Ukrainian drone dropped a BOMB next to him.
Dramatic footage claims to have captured the troop springing from his slumber in the trench as the missile explodes.
He had dozed off in the ditch clutching his rifle when his cat-nap was spectacularly interrupted by the surprise ambush.
The clip shows the drone hovering directly above the resting Russian before deploying what appears to be a home-made bomb.
It falls just inches to the right of his makeshift boudoir and erupts upon impact, sending plumes of black smoke billowing.
Putin's startled goon stumbles out of the foxhole as debris flies across him, although the majority of shrapnel seems to have missed him.
- Louis Allwood
Russian-held nuclear plant resumes electricity supply to Ukraine
The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant resumed electricity supplies to Ukraine on Friday after one of its six reactors was reconnected to the Ukrainian grid, state nuclear company Energoatom said.
Europe's largest nuclear power plant, which is located in southern Ukraine, was disconnected from the Ukrainian grid for the first time in its history on Thursday after a fire caused by shelling damaged a power line, Kyiv said earlier.
- Louis Allwood
UN to provide aid for 70,000 Ukrainians
The United Nations has announced plans to help a further 70,000 Ukrainians.
Since Russia’s brutal invasion began, the UN has provided approximately $60 to 140,000 Ukrainians.
Those seeking aid should apply via the Ukrainian government website.
- Louis Allwood
Moscow is committed to Ukraine grain deal, Russian Foreign Ministry claims
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that Russia is committed to a Turkish-brokered deal to unblock grain exports from Ukraine struck in Istanbul last month.
Writing on Telegram, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Russia is “entirely committed” to the deal.
- Louis Allwood
Belarusian warplanes receive nuclear modifications, president claims
Belarusian SU-24 warplanes have been modified to carry nuclear weapons according to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
The move, previously agreed with Vladimir Putin, was revealed to reporters by Mr Lukashenko on Friday.
Belarus does not have its own nuclear weapons but is an ally of Russia.
- Louis Allwood
Terrifying images show Russian troops massing at Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant
Fears of a Chornobyl-style meltdown are continuing to grow as chilling images emerge of Russian troops gathering at the Zaporizhzhia power plant.
The pictures, shared by the UK’s Ministry of Defence, show Russian armoured personnel carriers and military cargo trucks just 60 metres from reactor five of the six-reactor nuke plant in Zaporizhzhia, southern Ukraine.
Reports have emerged of Ukrainian workers allegedly being tortured at the plant.
Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are set to be granted access to the plant in the coming days.
Russian state media TASS reports that “employees of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant were arrested for informing the Ukrainian Army of the location of Russian military equipment at the plant”.
- Louis Allwood
Russia says it destroyed howitzer used to shell Zaporizhzhia
Russia's Defence Ministry said on Friday that its forces had destroyed a US-made M777 howitzer which it said Ukraine had used to shell the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
In its daily briefing, the Defence Ministry said that the howitzer had been destroyed west of the town of Marganets, in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region.
- Louis Allwood
Russia claim to be 'deliberately slowing the pace of its military campaign'
The UK's Ministry of Defence have released their latest intelligence update claiming that Russia have announced they are "deliberately slowing the pace of its military campaign".
The UK's MoD said: "On 24 August 2022, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation that Russia was deliberately slowing the pace of its military campaign in Ukraine, driven by the need to reduce civilian casualties.
"This is almost certainly deliberate misinformation. Russia’s offensive has stalled because of poor Russian military performance and fierce Ukrainian resistance.
"Under Shoigu’s orders, the forces operating in Ukraine have repeatedly missed planned operational timelines."
- Louis Allwood
India in talks with Russia over LNG supply resumption
India is in talks with Russia to resume gas supplies under the long-term import deal between Gazprom and GAIL Ltd, the state-run Indian company's chairman said at an annual shareholder meeting on Friday.
GAIL, India's largest gas distributor and operator of pipelines, has not received the agreed imports since May and has had to cut supplies to clients as a result.
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Second nuclear reactor reconnected to power grid
Ukraine's state nuclear company has announced that both reactors are now up and running.
A nuclear disaster has been avoided, Energoatom, the company that owns Europe's largest nuclear power plant has announced.
Two of the site's reactors had been disconnected from the power grid, which could have very dangerous consequences.
The first reactor was reconnected earlier today.
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
NATO must increase security in the Arctic for defence against Russian nukes
Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has warned of Russia's "strategic" moves.
Jens stated that the shortest distance for Russian nukes to reach the US would be through the North Pole.
For the sake of security he said: "The high north is strategically important for Euro-Atlantic security," at a conference today.
"The shortest path to North America for Russian missiles and bombers would be over the North Pole," he also warned. "This makes NORAD's role vital for North America and therefore also for NATO."
NORAD is the North American Aerospace Defence Command, a US-Canadian organization.
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
EU diplomat opposes ban on Russian visas
Josep Borrell said it is "not a good idea" to "forbid" Russians from entering the EU.
Speaking at a foreign affairs event in Spain earlier today, he was reported saying: "More than 300,000 Russians have [fled] their country because they don't want to live under the rule of Putin.
"Are we going to close the door to these Russians?
"I don't think it's a good idea."
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Ukrainian refugees join British workforce
More Ukrainian refugees are taking up work in the UK, according to statistics.
Reportedly four in 10 Ukrainian refugees fleeing war have taken up work in Britain, said the Office of National Statistics.
Some are still facing barriers, preventing them from securing jobs.
The BBC reported some find the language barrier a difficulty in getting hired, and others are experiencing long waits on DBS checks for certain roles.
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Belarus prepared for 'immediate' nuclear response to 'Western escalations'
The Belarusian President has made an alarming statement about the nation's relationship with Russia.
In a statement, reportedly President Lukashenko said Belarusian war plans had been modified to carry nuclear weapons.
The country is ready to respond if there is any Western "escalation" of the Ukrainian war.
He threatened: "They must understand that, if they opt for escalation, no helicopters or plans will save them.
"It's not a good idea to escalate things with Belarus because that would be an escalation with the Union State which has nuclear weapons.
"If they start to create problems the response will be immediate."
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Russia put Europe in incredible danger of nuclear disaster warned Zelensky
President Zelensky made the disturbing warning to the world, after the Russian occupied Ukrainian power plant was cut from power.
Addressing the world, President Zelensky said: "If our station staff had not reacted after the blackout, then we would have already been forced to overcome the consequences of a radiation accident.
"Russia has put Ukraine and all Europeans in a situtation one step away from a radiation disaster."
- Louis Allwood
Latvia removes Soviet-era monument
Latvia has dismantled a Soviet-era pro-Russia monument that commemorates the defeat of Hitler by the Red Army.
Speaking on the decision, Riga’s executive director, Janis Lange said: “For Latvians, this monument symbolises Latvia’s occupation after the Second World War and after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we can’t tolerate it anymore.”
However, this choice has caused some anger among the country’s ethnically Russian minority.
Dmitry Prokopenko, a supporter of the monument said: “Riga is half Latvian, half Russian, and I think that one part of the state, one part of the country should also respect the rights of the other part.”
- Louis Allwood
President Zelensky vows revenge for Russia’s recent attacks
Ukraine’s Independence Day saw Russia carry out a series of brutal attacks, including one devastating bombing in Chaplyne.
Now, Zelensky has vowed to get revenge for the bloodthirsty strike.
Speaking in his nightly address on Wednesday, the Ukrainian leader said: “Chaplyne is our pain today. As of this moment, there are 22 dead, five of them burned in the car, an 11-year-old boy died, a Russian missile destroyed his house.
“We will definitely make the occupiers bear responsibility for everything they have done. And we will certainly drive the invaders out of our land.”
- Louis Allwood
Putin faces fresh humiliation as TWO HUNDRED Russian paratroopers are ‘killed
Ukraine has wiped out 200 Russian paratroopers in a missile strike on a base in occupied territory, local officials have claimed.
Explosions reportedly shook the Russian-occupied city of Kadiivka in Luhansk, eastern Ukraine, early on Friday morning.
Pictures shared by Euromaidan Press show the smouldering wreckage of a hotel being used as a barracks and headquarters by Putin's forces.
The head of Luhansk Oblast Serhii Haidai claims 200 Russian paratroopers died in the attack on the Hotel Donbas.
Those killed were reportedly from the Russian Elite Airborne unit.
He wrote on Twitter: "The Armed Forces of Ukraine hit battlements in occupied Kadiiva, about 200 Russian paratroopers were killed."
- Louis Allwood
Ukraine actors return to stage in bomb shelter
Actors in a heavily bombarded city in southern Ukraine have returned to the stage, putting on their first performance since Russia's invasion in an underground shelter converted into a tiny theatre.
A few dozen theatre-goers descended steep concrete steps into the subterranean venue on Thursday for the opening night of a show put on by the Mykolaiv Art Drama Theatre.
Their usual venue, an ornate 450-seater hall, has been closed due to the six-month war that has seen Mykolaiv, a strategic southern port, repeatedly targeted by Russia forces.
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