Russian forces hit Ukraine 'with Iskander missile'
Ukrainian forces have been trying to drive Russian troops from the Sumy region. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AAP
Russian forces have hit a Ukrainian troop position in the northeast Sumy region with an Iskander missile, state news agency TASS cited the Russian defence ministry as saying.
Reuters could not independently confirm the battlefield report or determine exactly when it took place.
The Russian defence ministry did not provide the date of the strike but said the area around city of Konotop was targeted.
Ukrainian authorities in the region reported an Iskander missile strike on Konotop on Monday.
The local administration said on Facebook that it had damaged flats in several multi-storey buildings and that there were no casualties.
Ukraine in recent days has been trying to drive Russian forces from the northern Sumy region, where border areas are gripped by heavy fighting.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on the weekend that Russia has amassed 53,000 troops in the region.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
No easy answers to gas network 'death spiral'
Australians are embracing electrification in the name of decarbonisation, healthier homes and cheaper bills but the shift has policymakers under pressure to insulate a shrinking pool of gas users from price shock. Ron Ben-David, a former regulator who holds a professorial fellowship with the Monash Business School, describes the flight from the gas network as a "death spiral". Like a runaway train, once some households start leaving the gas network, the cost of running and maintaining it increases for those who remain, prompting even more to make the switch. And so on, and so on. While a win for electrification and cutting emissions, the death spiral has consequences, not least for renters and others who might struggle to get off gas. Even middle-income households could be challenged to stump up the hefty sums needed to replace gas heaters, ovens and stoves as gas bills continue to rise. Left unchecked, Dr Ben-David said the problem could undermine community support for the net-zero transition. "If we lose consumer support, then we can kiss the transition away," he told AAP. The stranded gas asset issue has not gone unnoticed, with governments, regulators and industry all looking for solutions Consumer and welfare groups have also been active, with Energy Consumers Australia pushing for a rule change to force developers and new customers to pay the full cost of new connections up front to stop the problem becoming even bigger. Dr Ben-David believes there are no easy solutions to what is ultimately a political decision. The debate boils down to "who pays for what", with consumers, investors and taxpayers all in play. The matter is complicated by the unusual nature of gas distribution regulation. As natural monopolies, gas network companies are not allowed to set their prices. Prices must be approved by the Australian Energy Regulator under what is often described as a "regulatory compact" that ensures investor funds are returned to them during the life of the assets. Forcing investors to cop the risk asset of stranding, therefore, allegedly amounts to a broken compact, Dr Ben-David said, making network stranding more complicated than just writing off a dud investment. For gas network companies, "accelerated depreciation" is the answer. That effectively means asking the regulator to account for the shortened life spans of their assets so they can push up customer prices in the near term to hasten the recovery of their investments. Governments could also help absorb some of the shrinking customer base costs but state and federal budgets are already under strain and bailing out gas networks could be politically contentious. Dr Ben-David has put forward another option. Under his proposed model, electricity distribution networks would underwrite the shrinking gas network. There's more to his thinking, but using income generated by electricity distribution companies - and their customers - to underwrite declining gas networks is a key element. It's based on the rationale that electricity networks would continue to expand and have long life spans in a low-carbon economy. While he concedes it is controversial to be adding to electricity prices to pay off gas networks, he argues the other options are just as unappealing. He also put the call out for better ideas, and fast. "The best time to solve a problem is before the problem takes off," he said.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
No easy answers to gas network 'death spiral'
Australians are embracing electrification in the name of decarbonisation, healthier homes and cheaper bills but the shift has policymakers under pressure to insulate a shrinking pool of gas users from price shock. Ron Ben-David, a former regulator who holds a professorial fellowship with the Monash Business School, describes the flight from the gas network as a "death spiral". Like a runaway train, once some households start leaving the gas network, the cost of running and maintaining it increases for those who remain, prompting even more to make the switch. And so on, and so on. While a win for electrification and cutting emissions, the death spiral has consequences, not least for renters and others who might struggle to get off gas. Even middle-income households could be challenged to stump up the hefty sums needed to replace gas heaters, ovens and stoves as gas bills continue to rise. Left unchecked, Dr Ben-David said the problem could undermine community support for the net-zero transition. "If we lose consumer support, then we can kiss the transition away," he told AAP. The stranded gas asset issue has not gone unnoticed, with governments, regulators and industry all looking for solutions Consumer and welfare groups have also been active, with Energy Consumers Australia pushing for a rule change to force developers and new customers to pay the full cost of new connections up front to stop the problem becoming even bigger. Dr Ben-David believes there are no easy solutions to what is ultimately a political decision. The debate boils down to "who pays for what", with consumers, investors and taxpayers all in play. The matter is complicated by the unusual nature of gas distribution regulation. As natural monopolies, gas network companies are not allowed to set their prices. Prices must be approved by the Australian Energy Regulator under what is often described as a "regulatory compact" that ensures investor funds are returned to them during the life of the assets. Forcing investors to cop the risk asset of stranding, therefore, allegedly amounts to a broken compact, Dr Ben-David said, making network stranding more complicated than just writing off a dud investment. For gas network companies, "accelerated depreciation" is the answer. That effectively means asking the regulator to account for the shortened life spans of their assets so they can push up customer prices in the near term to hasten the recovery of their investments. Governments could also help absorb some of the shrinking customer base costs but state and federal budgets are already under strain and bailing out gas networks could be politically contentious. Dr Ben-David has put forward another option. Under his proposed model, electricity distribution networks would underwrite the shrinking gas network. There's more to his thinking, but using income generated by electricity distribution companies - and their customers - to underwrite declining gas networks is a key element. It's based on the rationale that electricity networks would continue to expand and have long life spans in a low-carbon economy. While he concedes it is controversial to be adding to electricity prices to pay off gas networks, he argues the other options are just as unappealing. He also put the call out for better ideas, and fast. "The best time to solve a problem is before the problem takes off," he said.
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Belarus opposition leader, 13 others freed from jail
Belarus has released 14 political prisoners following a visit by US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg to Minsk, media reports say. Opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski was among the people freed, his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a post on social media site X. A court in Belarus sentenced Tsikhanouski in 2021 to 18 years in jail after he was arrested during an attempt to run for president against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko. Tsikhanouski is now in Lithuania's capital Vilnius, a spokesperson for his wife said. A total of 14 prisoners were released, the spokesperson added. "We're not done," Tsikhanouskaya said, calling for the release of a further 1,150 prisoners. Tsikhanouski, a blogger and activist who was jailed in 2020, arrived in Lithuania alongside 13 other political prisoners, his wife's team said. A video published on his wife's official Telegram account showed Tsikhanouski disembarking a white minibus, with a shaved head and broad smile. He pulled Tsikhanouskaya into a long embrace as their supporters applauded. "My husband is free. It's difficult to describe the joy in my heart," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters. The prominent journalist Igor Karney was also released on Saturday, according to the reports. US envoy Kellogg met with the authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday to discuss a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations between the United States and Belarus. In Belarus' 2020 election, Lukashenko had once again proclaimed himself the winner, triggering unprecedented protests in the country. Many considered Tikhanovskaya to be the real winner of the ballot in the former Soviet republic. She fled into exile in neighbouring Lithuania after the election. with DPA and AP Belarus has released 14 political prisoners following a visit by US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg to Minsk, media reports say. Opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski was among the people freed, his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a post on social media site X. A court in Belarus sentenced Tsikhanouski in 2021 to 18 years in jail after he was arrested during an attempt to run for president against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko. Tsikhanouski is now in Lithuania's capital Vilnius, a spokesperson for his wife said. A total of 14 prisoners were released, the spokesperson added. "We're not done," Tsikhanouskaya said, calling for the release of a further 1,150 prisoners. Tsikhanouski, a blogger and activist who was jailed in 2020, arrived in Lithuania alongside 13 other political prisoners, his wife's team said. A video published on his wife's official Telegram account showed Tsikhanouski disembarking a white minibus, with a shaved head and broad smile. He pulled Tsikhanouskaya into a long embrace as their supporters applauded. "My husband is free. It's difficult to describe the joy in my heart," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters. The prominent journalist Igor Karney was also released on Saturday, according to the reports. US envoy Kellogg met with the authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday to discuss a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations between the United States and Belarus. In Belarus' 2020 election, Lukashenko had once again proclaimed himself the winner, triggering unprecedented protests in the country. Many considered Tikhanovskaya to be the real winner of the ballot in the former Soviet republic. She fled into exile in neighbouring Lithuania after the election. with DPA and AP Belarus has released 14 political prisoners following a visit by US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg to Minsk, media reports say. Opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski was among the people freed, his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a post on social media site X. A court in Belarus sentenced Tsikhanouski in 2021 to 18 years in jail after he was arrested during an attempt to run for president against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko. Tsikhanouski is now in Lithuania's capital Vilnius, a spokesperson for his wife said. A total of 14 prisoners were released, the spokesperson added. "We're not done," Tsikhanouskaya said, calling for the release of a further 1,150 prisoners. Tsikhanouski, a blogger and activist who was jailed in 2020, arrived in Lithuania alongside 13 other political prisoners, his wife's team said. A video published on his wife's official Telegram account showed Tsikhanouski disembarking a white minibus, with a shaved head and broad smile. He pulled Tsikhanouskaya into a long embrace as their supporters applauded. "My husband is free. It's difficult to describe the joy in my heart," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters. The prominent journalist Igor Karney was also released on Saturday, according to the reports. US envoy Kellogg met with the authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday to discuss a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations between the United States and Belarus. In Belarus' 2020 election, Lukashenko had once again proclaimed himself the winner, triggering unprecedented protests in the country. Many considered Tikhanovskaya to be the real winner of the ballot in the former Soviet republic. She fled into exile in neighbouring Lithuania after the election. with DPA and AP Belarus has released 14 political prisoners following a visit by US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg to Minsk, media reports say. Opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski was among the people freed, his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a post on social media site X. A court in Belarus sentenced Tsikhanouski in 2021 to 18 years in jail after he was arrested during an attempt to run for president against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko. Tsikhanouski is now in Lithuania's capital Vilnius, a spokesperson for his wife said. A total of 14 prisoners were released, the spokesperson added. "We're not done," Tsikhanouskaya said, calling for the release of a further 1,150 prisoners. Tsikhanouski, a blogger and activist who was jailed in 2020, arrived in Lithuania alongside 13 other political prisoners, his wife's team said. A video published on his wife's official Telegram account showed Tsikhanouski disembarking a white minibus, with a shaved head and broad smile. He pulled Tsikhanouskaya into a long embrace as their supporters applauded. "My husband is free. It's difficult to describe the joy in my heart," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters. The prominent journalist Igor Karney was also released on Saturday, according to the reports. US envoy Kellogg met with the authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday to discuss a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations between the United States and Belarus. In Belarus' 2020 election, Lukashenko had once again proclaimed himself the winner, triggering unprecedented protests in the country. Many considered Tikhanovskaya to be the real winner of the ballot in the former Soviet republic. She fled into exile in neighbouring Lithuania after the election. with DPA and AP
