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The border to Belarus is the passage point between a main freight line for goods flowing between China and the European Union. (Bloomberg) -- China's defense chief arrived in Belarus for a three-day visit to strengthen ties with the staunch Russian ally as NATO member states bolster border security with the nation. Polish President Andrzej Duda told his Latvian counterpart, Edgars Rinkevics, that Warsaw was prepared to send military assistance to shore up its border with Belarus - and accused Russia of fomenting the chaos. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- China's defense chief arrived in Belarus for a three-day visit to strengthen ties with the staunch Russian ally as NATO member states bolster border security with the nation. Polish President Andrzej Duda told his Latvian counterpart, Edgars Rinkevics, that Warsaw was prepared to send military assistance to shore up its border with Belarus - and accused Russia of fomenting the chaos. Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who is aiming to intensify military ties with nations across the globe, flew from Russia and was welcomed Wednesday in Minsk by his counterpart, Viktor Khrenin, according to state-owned news agency Belta. [Extracted from the article]

Latvia on Tuesday said it would dispatch additional border guards and request assistance from the military and police as it cited 96 border-crossing attempts in the previous 24 hours. (Bloomberg) -- China's defense chief arrived in Belarus for a three-day visit to strengthen ties with the staunch Russian ally as NATO member states bolster border security with the nation. Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who is aiming to intensify military ties with nations across the globe, flew from Russia and was welcomed in Minsk by his counterpart, Viktor Khrenin, according to state-owned news agency Belta. [Extracted from the article]

Experience in battle will now be a requirement for the heads of regional military recruitment offices, who will also undergo background checks by Ukraine's Security Service, according to Zelenskiy. (Bloomberg) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy dismissed all regional heads of military recruitment in his country to root out corruption as he seeks to maintain morale in the face of a grinding counteroffensive against the Russian army. [Extracted from the article]

The last ship carrying food from Ukraine under the United Nations-brokered Black Sea deal left the port of Odesa on July 16. (Bloomberg) -- Ukraine laid out temporary Black Sea routes for ships that are willing to navigate waters threatened by Russia, as it seeks to reclaim control over its maritime trade. [Extracted from the article]

The last ship with Ukrainian food cargo left the port of Odesa on July 16 as Russia pulled out of the Black Sea grain deal and continued attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure. The routes will focus on allowing ships to exit Ukrainian ports at Chornomorsk, Odesa and Pivdennyi, the Navy said in a statement on Facebook. (Bloomberg) -- The Ukrainian navy designated new temporary Black Sea sea routes for trade vessels that are willing to navigate waters threatened by Russian forces. [Extracted from the article]

Ukraine to "Pick" Targets if Russia Blocks Ports, Zelenskiy Says "If they are blocking our waters, Ukraine will pick some targets in order to prevent our waters from being blocked", he told a group of Latin American reporters in Kyiv, according to a video on his Telegram channel. (Bloomberg) -- If Russia continues to dominate Ukrainian coastal waters, hamper transit and fire missiles at its ports, Ukraine will start doing the same, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. [Extracted from the article]

Meanwhile, shipowners are wary of sending vessels, and a major insurance broker has suspended a program for grain exports from Ukraine. (Bloomberg) -- Wheat fell more than 3% as Ukraine is taking steps to restart the grain-export deal that Russia exited this week, though there's doubt over whether the goal is realistic. [Extracted from the article]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy instructed his top military commanders to prepare "actions" that seeks to allow the grain deal to continue functioning. (Bloomberg) -- Wheat fell about 3% as Ukraine is making preparations to continue a grain-export deal, which Russia exited this week amid escalating military risks in the Black Sea. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Wheat edged lower but is still poised for a weekly gain of more than 9%, as military drills in the Black Sea add to the risks disrupting grain trade from a vital producing region. The International Grains Council raised its global grain production estimate for the 2023-24 season, but trimmed prospects for wheat. [Extracted from the article]

Sense Bank will fall under temporary administration starting on Friday, when the cabinet will decide on policymakers' nationalization request, the central bank said in a statement Thursday. (Bloomberg) -- Ukraine's central bank put Sense Bank JSC under administration and demanded its nationalization from foreign stakeholders controlled by a group of sanctioned Russian moguls including Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven. [Extracted from the article]

Read more: Ukraine Plea to Keep Grain Moving Clashes With Shippers' Reality "Russian terrorists absolutely consciously aimed at the grain deal infrastructure", Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Telegram after a meeting with key officials on Wednesday. (Bloomberg) -- Wheat and corn rallied to three-week highs as another wave of Russian attacks battered southern Ukraine following the collapse of the grain-export deal. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Wheat and corn rallied to three-week highs as more attacks battered southern Ukraine following the collapse of the grain-export deal, and as some US growing areas stay dry. Russian missiles hit a grain terminal and vegetable-oil terminal in Odesa on Wednesday, causing damage and starting a fire, according to Ukraine's southern military command. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Wheat and corn rallied to three-week highs as more attacks battered southern Ukraine following the collapse of the grain deal, and as some US growing areas stay dry. Russian missiles hit a grain terminal and vegetable-oil terminal in Odesa on Wednesday, causing damage and starting a fire, according to Ukraine's southern military command. [Extracted from the article]

Ukraine describes the Volhynia tragedy as part of mutual ethnic purges by Poles and Ukrainians. (Bloomberg) -- The presidents of Ukraine and Poland gathered for a church service on Sunday to commemorate an event from 80 years ago that's among those central to the Polish consciousness - the Volhynia massacre. Read more: World War II Goes On for Poland and Ukraine: Leonid Bershidsky Poland has been one of Ukraine's closest allies since Russia's invasion in February 2022, providing significant military aid and welcoming millions of refugees. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- The chief of the Wagner private army that staged an aborted rebellion against the Kremlin's military leadership last month is currently in Russia, according to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Under a deal brokered by Lukashenko, Putin agreed to allow the Wagner founder and his fighters to go to Belarus and to drop a criminal investigation against them for armed mutiny. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Russia unleashed the most devastating missile barrage to hit the city of Lviv in western Ukraine since the start of the war, prompting the country's president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to vow retaliation for the overnight attack. The overnight attack on the city, which sits on an important supply route for western military aid, occurred as Ukraine continues its slow-moving counteroffensive and Russia appears to be losing its heavy weapons edge. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Most Ukrainians see a promising future for the country and plan to stay in their home cities after the war, according to a 21-city poll in areas outside of Russian control. Kropyvnytskyi had among the fewest respondents reporting damage to their homes, while Lviv ranked high among cities seen as having an economic future. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Countries on NATO's eastern flank warned of new dangers linked to Russia as elements of the Wagner mercenary group prepare to arrive in Belarus. Belarus's assistance for migrants crossing the border is part of the Russian plan to attack Europe, Morawiecki said on Thursday before leaving for the European Union summit in the Belgian capital. [Extracted from the article]

Zelenskiy outlined a strategic vision for Ukraine to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union as a modern and digitalized nation, with no Russian forces on its territory. (Bloomberg) -- NATO countries should stop worrying about any potential reactions from the Kremlin and Russian leader Vladimir Putin as they consider letting Ukraine into the bloc, Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, predicting his forces will prevail against Moscow's invasion. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he personally intervened with Vladimir Putin and the founder of the Wagner mercenary group to prevent bloodshed during the weekend mutiny in Russia. Read more: Wagner Chief Lands in Belarus as Putin Says "Civil War" Averted Lukashenko said he had offered assistance to Wagner mercenaries who came to Belarus, and an abandoned base to stay at, but said they'd have to pay their way. [Extracted from the article]

Once stationed in Belarus, Prigozhin may become involved in training Russian troops, arms trading, or even another attack on Ukraine, according to Tsikhanouskaya. (Bloomberg) -- Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's announced relocation to Belarus has created a new threat to the country's independence as well as the safety of its NATO neighbors, exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said. [Extracted from the article]

Lukashenko, who earlier said nuclear weapons would be used without hesitation if Belarus came under attack, said he'd have no difficulty in calling Putin and agreeing a strike if needed. "We have missiles and bombs, we have received from Russia", Lukashenko told a Russian TV reporter in an interview posted by the Belarusian state-owned Belta news service late Tuesday. (Bloomberg) -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko suggested Russian tactical nuclear weapons have already arrived in his country, even as Vladimir Putin said delivery would only begin next month. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Ukraine's return to economic growth may be thwarted by Russia's attacks, such as a blast at the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant on Tuesday, the country's economy minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, told Bloomberg TV in an interview. Read more: Ukraine Dam Blast Blamed on Russia Tips War Into New Phase Rebuilding a plant of the same size as in Kakhovka may cost Ukraine $1.5 billion, according to Svyrydenko. [Extracted from the article]

The Kremlin intensified a missile and drone attack across Ukraine, as Zelenskiy warned that Moscow may be switching to so-called mixed strikes with varying types of drones and missiles. (Bloomberg) -- A top advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he's confident an anticipated counteroffensive against Russian forces will yield results - and will begin as soon as the country receives the necessary weaponry from allies. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Ukraine will begin its anticipated counteroffensive as soon as it receives the necessary weapons and equipment from allies, a top advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. "We will further be preparing the counteroffensive", Ihor Zhovkva, Zelenskiy's chief diplomatic advisor, told Bloomberg Television from Kyiv on Thursday. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- The foreign minister of Belarus began a three-day visit to Moscow as officials sought to quash speculation about the whereabouts of the country's long-serving President Alexander Lukashenko. Lukashenko has been instrumental in Putin's invasion of Ukraine and has supported his ally during repeated visits to Russia since the war began in February last year. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- The foreign minister of Belarus begins a three-day visit to Moscow on Monday amid speculation about the whereabouts of the country's long-serving President Alexander Lukashenko. Lukashenko has been instrumental in Putin's invasion of Ukraine and has supported his ally during repeated visits to Russia since the war began in February last year. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Ukrainian forces pushed Russian troops back to regain territory in the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut, officials in Kyiv said, as Russia's Defense Ministry acknowledged a flurry of attacks along the frontline. Russia's Defense Ministry said its troops had withdrawn close to a reservoir north of Bakhmut to set up a new defensive line with more "favorable conditions.". [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Ukrainian forces pushed Russian troops back to regain territory in the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut, officials in Kyiv said, as Russia's Defense Ministry acknowledged a flurry of attacks along the frontline. Read More: Wagner Chief Again Threatens Bakhmut Pullout Over Supplies Ukraine's "counteroffensive is moving full-steam ahead", with units close to flanking Bakhmut, Prighozhin said in a Telegram message Thursday. [Extracted from the article]

Earlier, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian Wagner mercenary group, complained in a video address that a Russian regular army units fled in Bakhmut, exposing part of the front line. (Bloomberg) -- Ukraine needs more time to launch its much-anticipated counteroffensive against Russian forces while it awaits the delivery of promised military aid, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told the BBC in an interview. [Extracted from the article]

While the shipping resumption is good news for both Ukraine and developing nations that import its grain, it highlights uncertainty over the crop-export deal that Russia has repeatedly threatened to quit. (Bloomberg) -- Ukraine's Black Sea crop shipments resumed on Wednesday, following a brief halt that sparked fresh concerns about future cargoes from the key exporter already contending with import bans from some of its European Union neighbors. He said while Ukraine had quotas for exports to the EU before the war, it hasn't faced blanket bans. [Extracted from the article]

Under a deal brokered last year, the center in Istanbul hosts teams from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the UN that check ships headed to and from three Ukrainian ports. (Bloomberg) -- Ukraine's Black Sea crop shipments resumed on Wednesday, following another brief halt that sparked fresh worries about future cargoes from the key exporter. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Ukraine's Black Sea crop shipments resumed on Wednesday, following another brief halt that sparked fresh worries about future cargoes from the key exporter. The resumption of Black Sea ship inspections followed discussions facilitated by the United Nations and Turkey, the joint coordination center said. [Extracted from the article]

However, Russia is preparing to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus without handing control of the weapons over to local authorities, President Vladimir Putin said last week. That institution said non-proliferation treaties wouldn't be violated when Russia's places its nuclear weapons in Belarus without giving Minsk control over them nor providing access to the weapons' technology. (Bloomberg) -- Belarus will control any nuclear weapons placed within its territory, President Alexander Lukashenko said after Russia voiced plans to station its nuclear arms in the neighboring state. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Ukraine pushed back on Russia's apparent offer to extend the landmark grain-export deal by just 60 days when it comes up for renewal later this week. Wheat futures in Chicago were up 0.7% after the comments from Russia and Ukraine. [Extracted from the article]

The Black Sea Grain Initiative has enabled Ukraine to ship out more than 24 million tons of crops since it was sealed in July, helping drive down food-commodity costs that had soared to a record after Russia's invasion initially disrupted trade flows. (Bloomberg) -- Ukraine pushed back on Russia's apparent offer to extend the landmark grain-export deal by just 60 days when it comes up for renewal later this week. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Russia launched a devastating bombardment against cities across Ukraine, killing at least five people and casting hundreds of thousands into sporadic blackouts with a new mix of weapons that mostly evaded air defenses. "Russia had to expand the use of Kinzhal missiles because Ukraine's air defense capabilities improved and will improve further as they will receive more Western air defense systems", Pukhov said. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Russia launched a devastating bombardment against cities across Ukraine, killing at least five people and casting hundreds of thousands more into sporadic blackouts with a new mix of weapons that mostly evaded air defenses. "Russia had to expand the use of Kinzhal missiles because Ukraine's air defense capabilities improved and will improve further as they will receive more Western air defense systems", Pukhov said. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Russia launched a devastating bombardment against cities across Ukraine, killing at least five people and casting hundreds of thousands more into sporadic blackouts with a new mix of weapons that mostly evaded air defenses. All got through, along with six KH-22 anti-ship missiles and 13 S-300 anti-aircraft missiles adapted for use against land targets, according to Ukraine's Air Force. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Russia launched a devastating bombardment against cities across Ukraine, killing at least five people and casting hundreds of thousands more into sporadic blackouts with a new mix of weapons that mostly evaded air defenses. The barrage against Ukraine's cities included Iranian-made Shahed drones and almost every other type of missiles in Russia's arsenal, the Kyiv city military administration said on Telegram. [Extracted from the article]

It was the 15th large-scale missile barrage against Ukraine's energy infrastructure since Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces began targeting civilian infrastructure in October. (Bloomberg) -- Russia launched a devastating bombardment against cities across Ukraine, killing at least five people and casting hundreds of thousands more into blackouts with a new mix of weapons that mostly evaded air defenses. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Russia launched its first massive missile attack in almost a month early Thursday against cities across Ukraine, leaving at least five people dead and causing emergency power cut offs as well as train delays. The capital and major cities such as Kharkiv, Odesa and Zhytomyr reported infrastructure outages in the nationwide attack as energy objects in the country's seven regions were attacked. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Ukraine has been fighting to keep control of the besieged eastern city of Bakhmut for months as Russian troops level the area. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed to send reinforcements to the hotspot on Monday, signaling that he will continue Bakhmut's defense even at the risk of tying down many of his most able troops. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- A court in Belarus sentenced exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to 15 years in a penal colony as the nation's authorities continue to crack down on opposition at home and abroad. Tsikhanouskaya dismissed today's verdict of the Minsk court and vowed to continue working toward reinstating democracy in Belarus, she said in a statement on her Telegram channel. [Extracted from the article]

Tsikhanouskaya dismissed today's verdict of the Minsk court and vowed to continue working toward reinstating democracy in Belarus, she said in a statement on her Telegram channel. (Bloomberg) -- A court in Belarus sentenced exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to 15 years in a penal colony as the nation's authorities continue to crack down on opposition at home and abroad. [Extracted from the article]

Two other members of the Bialiatski-led Viasna Human Rights center, Valiantsin Stefanovich and Uladzimir Labkovich, were sentenced to nine and seven years each, according to state-owned news agency Belta. (Bloomberg) -- Belarusian human rights activist Ales Bialiatski, who won the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize while in prison, was sentenced to 10 years in a penal colony as his country's authoritarian government continues a crackdown on opponents. Bialiatski is the chairman of Viasna, a non-government organization that has tracked human rights violations in Belarus since 1996. [Extracted from the article]

To gather resources for a spring counteroffensive in the south, Ukraine may have to surrender Bakhmut, European officials have said. (Bloomberg) -- Ukrainian officials are signaling that the besieged eastern city of Bakhmut may soon be impossible to defend as Russian troops level the area. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Here are five charts showing how the Russian attack against Ukraine affected the country's economy and how it funds its wartime budget. Domestic Funding Ukraine's central bank played a crucial role in funding the country's budget in the first months of the war. [Extracted from the article]