The Guardian : Foreign ministers condemn ‘elections’ held in Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia oblasts and Crimea, where electoral competition was limited

 Foreign ministers condemn ‘elections’ held in Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia oblasts and Crimea, where electoral competition was limited

What we know on day 566 of the invasion

 Updated 1h ago

1h ago

Closing summary

2h ago

Romania builds air raid shelters for residents near Ukraine border

3h ago

G7 condemns 'sham elections' held by Russia on Ukrainian territory

4h ago

Poland agrees to extend ban on Ukrainian grain imports

7h ago

Sweden to consider sending fighter jets to Ukraine - reports

9h ago

Summary of the day so far …

11h ago

Putin claims Ukrainian counteroffensive 'has not made progress'

14h ago

Ukraine recaptures strategic oil rigs near Crimea

15h ago

Kim Jong-Un arrives in Russia for talks on expected arms deal with Putin

15h ago

Opening summary

Ballots are counted in Donetsk

Ballots in Donetsk. Strong candidates were blocked from running in the ‘elections’ by authorities, reports say. Photograph: AP

Yohannes Lowe (now); Martin Belam and Helen Livingstone (earlier)

Tue 12 Sep 2023 18.58 BST

From 3h ago

17.03 BST

G7 condemns 'sham elections' held by Russia on Ukrainian territory

Foreign ministers from the G7 group of major industrialised countries condemned the staging of what they called “sham elections” by Russia in occupied Ukrainian territories.

“We … unequivocally condemn the staging of sham ‘elections’ held by Russia on sovereign Ukrainian territory in Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia oblasts and Crimea,” the G7 statement said in a statement, published by the UK’s Foreign Office, on Tuesday.

“These sham “elections” are a further violation of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and of the UN Charter.

“Russia has no legitimate basis for any such actions on the territory of Ukraine. The sham “elections” are a propaganda exercise aimed at legitimising Russia’s illegal seizure of Ukrainian territory.”

The overwhelming vote across Russia and in the annexed regions for the dominance of Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party has delivered on the Kremlin’s long-repeated domestic message that he is by far the strongest guarantor of stability.

But in the regions voting, electoral competition was limited, as strong candidates, including some from Russia’s main opposition Communist party, were blocked from running by authorities, Reuters reports.

Updated at 17.09 BST

1h ago

18.52 BST

Closing summary

Nato member Romania said it has begun building air raid shelters for residents near the Ukraine border, after drone fragments were found there last week.

Foreign ministers from the G7 group of major industrialised countries condemned the staging of what they called “sham elections” by Russia in occupied Ukrainian territories.

The Polish government reportedly agreed to extend a ban on Ukrainian grain imports unilaterally, even if the current EU restrictions expire on 15 September.

The Swedish government is considering donating Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine to help repel Russian forces, Swedish public radio (SR) reported on Tuesday.

Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine was only likely to start peace talks when it ran out of resources and would use any potential cessation of hostilities to rearm again with western help. Speaking at an economic forum in Russia’s Pacific port city of Vladivostok, he said Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces had so far failed and that the Ukrainian army had sustained heavy losses.

Putin appeared to rule out any further conscritpion or mobilisation to help the war effort, claiming that 1,000-1,500 Russians were signing voluntary contracts to join the military every day.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived to Russia by armoured train to meet Putin, Pyongyang said, with face-to-face talks potentially focused on weapon sales. Experts suggest Putin is seeking artillery shells and anti-tank missiles from North Korea, while Kim is reportedly in search of advanced technology for satellites and nuclear-powered submarines, as well as food aid for his impoverished nation. The meeting between the two leaders could be on Wednesday.

Ukraine has recaptured several Black Sea oil and gas rigs that were seized by Russia in 2015, the country’s military intelligence service said earlier.

Updated at 18.58 BST

2h ago

18.20 BST

Romania builds air raid shelters for residents near Ukraine border

Nato member Romania said it has begun building air raid shelters for residents near the Ukraine border, after drone fragments were found there last week.

Romanian soldiers on Saturday found fragments of a drone “similar to those used by the Russian army” in the Plauru area across the border from Ukraine, AFP reports.

Bucharest has already increased measures to strengthen monitoring and airspace security after repeated Russian attacks close to its border.

Approximately 50 Romanian soldiers began building two shelters on Tuesday, the defence ministry said in a statement.

The concrete shelters are aimed at “protecting the residents” of Plauru and will be handed over to local authorities once completed, it added.

The move follows a decision by the Romanian National Committee for Emergency Situations to adopt “protection measures on the national territory in the immediate vicinity of the conflict zone in Ukraine”.

Nato pledges ‘strong solidarity’ with Romania over likely Russian drone debris

Read more

2h ago

17.54 BST

Funding defence companies should count as ethical investment because military spending “helps prevent war”, the UK’s defence secretary has said.

Defence companies have long been excluded from so-called “environmental, social and governance” (ESG) ratings, limiting their access to investors who wish to spend their money sustainably.

In a written ministerial statement on Tuesday, Grant Shapps said the exclusion of the defence industry from ESG ratings was an “error”.

He said:

Defence companies are being excluded from access to debt and equity capital, citing environmental, social and governance grounds.

The defence secretary added that this “threatens an important part of the economy” and “fails to recognise that the UK’s defence industry is essential to protecting our way of life”.

Defence companies have previously suggested ESG requirements have reduced interest from investors, although BAE Systems chief executive Charles Woodburn said earlier this year that this had become less of an issue since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

BAE’s share price has risen about 75% since the invasion, PA Media reports.

The Guardian