Ukraine war: Russian airstrikes kill two as second Ukrainian wheat cargo ship arrives in Turkey
Russian airstrikes kill 2 and wound 3 in southern Ukraine - Kyiv
Russian airstrikes killed two people and wounded three others in southern Ukraine's Kherson province on Sunday, according to the region's governor.
As the war enters its 20th month, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin revealed that Russian forces struck the city of Beryslav, destroying an unspecified number of private houses.
He told press that a woman was killed and three other people, including a police officer, were wounded.
Another airstrike is also said to have killed a 67-year-old man in the village of Lvove.
Prokudin has not specified what type of weapons were used in the attack.
The communities hit both are located in the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Kherson region, where the Dnieper River that bisects the province has marked a battle line since Russian troops withdrew across it in November 2022 - a retreat that boosted the invaded country's morale.
The Russians regrouped on the river's eastern bank and regularly shell cities and villages across the river, including the city of Kherson, the regional capital that was occupied early on in the war but retaken by Ukrainian forces more than 10 months ago.
In Russia, a Ukrainian drone hit an administrative building in the city of Kursk and “insignificantly damaged” the roof, regional Gov. Roman Starovoit reported. He didn’t report any casualties or say what the building housed.
Unconfirmed media reports both in Russia and Ukraine said it was the offices of the Kursk branch of Russia’s main security agency, the Federal Security Service, also known as the FSB.
The Kursk region of Russia borders Ukraine and also is a frequent target of attacks. The drone strike on Sunday took place as residents commemorated the anniversary of the regional capital's founding.
There was no immediate comment from the Ukrainian authorities, who usually don't acknowledge responsibility for attacks on Russian territory.
Second Ukrainian wheat cargo arrives in Istanbul
A second cargo ship containing Ukrainian wheat has arrived in Istanbul via the Black Sea, according to maritime traffic monitoring sites.
The arrival was successful despite threats from Moscow to attack boats entering and leaving Ukraine.
The Aroyat, a bulk carrier flying the flag of Palau, left Chornomorsk, near Odessa on Friday.
It is only the second ship to use a maritime corridor set up by Kyiv, along the western coast of the Black Sea, in order to circumvent Russia's blockade.
In July, Moscow withdrew from an international agreement signed in July 2022, which had secured the export of Ukrainian agricultural products via the Black Sea.
This agreement would have made it possible to export nearly 33 million tonnes of cereals in a single year.
The first ship, loaded with 3,000 tonnes of wheat and also flying the flag of Palau, left the same port of Chornomorsk without incident on Tuesday before arriving in Istanbul on Thursday.
Kiev wants to establish supply routes to Africa in order to counter the influence of Russia, which this summer promised some African nations that they will deliver wheat to them free of charge.
Russia and Ukraine have, historically, been two major agricultural powers whose production is crucial for global food security.
Russia's invasion of its neighbour and international sanctions against Moscow have destabilised global supplies and markets.
The Ukrainian armed forces have also been working for several weeks to counter Russia's military control in the Black Sea.
Russia petrol shortages not due to the war - reports
In recent weeks, Russian customers have highly likely been experiencing localised petrol and diesel shortages.
The shortages are unlikely to be a direct result of the war, though. Instead, they are probably being caused by a range of factors including short term demand increases from the agricultural sector, annual summer maintenance of refineries, and attractive prices.
On 21 September 2023, Russia suspended nearly all diesel and petrol exports in order to stabilise its internal markets.
The move will almost certainly further constrain supplies in a tight global market, likely having the greatest impact on countries currently dependent on Russian fuel supplies.