# Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know right now Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-08-29 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Ukraine Launches Counter-Offensive Against Russian Forces Meta Description: Ukraine begins counter-offensive to retake territory, IAEA team goes to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant amid fears of radiation disaster. Updates on fighting and URL: https://financedigest.com/ukraine-and-russia-what-you-need-to-know-right-now-3html ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-08-28t080946z1lynxmpei7r01qrtroptp4ukraine-crisis-slovyansk-1736815340308-compressed.jpg) (Reuters) – Ukraine announced the start of a long-awaited counter-offensive to retake territory in the south seized by Russian forces since their invasion six months ago, a move reflecting Kyiv’s growing confidence as Western military aid flows in. NUCLEAR PLANT \\* A team from the U.N. [nuclear watchdog](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-competition-watchdog-to-examine-edf-buying-ges-nuclear-turbine-unit.html "UK’s competition watchdog to examine EDF buying GE’s nuclear turbine unit") (IAEA) is heading to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the agency’s chief said, as Russia and Ukraine traded accusations of shelling in its vicinity, stirring fears of a radiation disaster. \\* Officials installed by Russia in Ukraine said that a Ukrainian missile strike punched a hole in the roof of a fuel depot at the Zaporizhzhia plant, the [RIA Novosti news agency](https://www.financedigest.com/board-of-russias-avtovaz-approves-585-million-in-2023-investment-programme-ria-agency.html "Board of Russia’s AvtoVAZ approves 5 million in 2023 investment programme – RIA agency") reported. \\* Russia’s defence ministry said [Russian forces shot down a Ukrainian](https://www.financedigest.com/ukrainian-volunteers-recount-three-weeks-in-russian-captivity-allege-beatings.html "Ukrainian volunteers recount three weeks in Russian captivity, allege beatings") drone that was trying to attack the Zaporizhzhia reactor complex. [Reuters was unable to independently verify either of the reports](https://www.financedigest.com/indonesia-to-tighten-used-shoe-import-controls-after-reuters-report.html "Indonesia to tighten used shoe import controls after Reuters report"). \\* The United States said Russia did not want to acknowledge the grave radiological [risk at the nuclear](https://www.financedigest.com/france-seeks-strategy-as-nuclear-waste-site-risks-saturation-point.html "France seeks strategy as nuclear waste site risks saturation point") plant, adding that was the reason it blocked a nuclear non-proliferation treaty deal’s final draft. FIGHTING \\* Russia’s air force [hit workshops at a Motor Sich factory](https://www.financedigest.com/nestle-closes-french-buitoni-factory-hit-by-e-coli-outbreak.html "Nestle closes French Buitoni factory hit by E.coli outbreak") in the Zaporizhzhia region where helicopters were being repaired, Russian state news agency RIA quoted the defence ministry as saying. \\* The defence ministry also said [Russian forces destroyed fuel storage](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-russian-gas-flow-too-low-to-fill-europes-storage.html "Analysis – Russian gas flow too low to fill Europe’s storage") facilities in Ukraine’s Dnipro region, Interfax news agency reported. \\* [Reuters could not verify battlefield reports](https://www.financedigest.com/thomson-reuters-report-reveals-risk-compliance-staff-expect-to-see-significant-benefits-from-artificial-intelligence-ai-and-distributed-ledger-technologies.html "Thomson Reuters Report Reveals Risk & Compliance Staff Expect to See Significant Benefits from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Distributed Ledger Technologies"). \\* [Britain’s defence ministry said it was not clear how Russia would achieve an announced large increase in its armed forces but the boost was unlikely to substantially increase its combat power](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-announces-205-million-pound-auction-for-renewable-power-projects.html "Britain announces 205 million pound auction for renewable power projects") in Ukraine. HUMAN IMPACT OF WAR \\* Thousands of people fleeing Russia-occupied areas of [south Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/south-korea-has-not-supplied-lethal-weapons-to-ukraine-president-says.html "South Korea has not supplied lethal weapons to Ukraine, president says") are arriving in a city near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear site despite fears of a radiation leak from fighting. For many, shelling in their hometowns is a more urgent danger. \\* Across Ukraine, authorities are building bomb shelters and repairing thousands of [buildings damaged by Russian shelling before the country’s nearly 6 million school-aged children return to school in September – in person](https://www.financedigest.com/best-guide-to-build-a-personal-financial-plan.html "Best Guide to Build a Personal Financial Plan") or online. \\* Bogdan and Olga have had no electricity, gas or [running water for more than a month](https://www.financedigest.com/russian-services-activity-shrinks-for-third-month-running-in-dec-pmi.html "Russian services activity shrinks for third month running in Dec -PMI") in their village near the frontline in eastern Ukraine, but they have no plans to leave. They survive on the food they have grown, baking bread in an oven in the garden and drawing water from a well. DIPLOMACY, ECONOMY \\* Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia of economic terrorism as the cost of Europe’s [energy crisis spiralled with Germany on the hook for at least 19 billion](https://www.financedigest.com/petrofac-hitachi-energy-receive-14-billion-agreement-from-tennet.html "Petrofac, Hitachi Energy receive billion agreement from TenneT") euros to bail out its biggest importer of Russian gas. \\* European Union foreign ministers, meeting in Prague on Tuesday and Wednesday, may agree tightening the issuance of [visas for Russians and start debate on a wider ban on tourist visas though there is no agreement](https://www.financedigest.com/visa-has-terminated-global-debit-card-agreements-with-ftx.html "Visa has terminated global debit card agreements with FTX") on that, EU officials said. \\* Germany will keep up its support for Ukraine “for as long as it takes”, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, [calling for an enlargement of the European](https://www.financedigest.com/four-european-countries-call-for-special-treatment-of-defence-in-eu-debt-rules-document.html "Four European countries call for special treatment of defence in EU debt rules – document") Union to eventually include Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. (Compiled by Himani Sarkar and Mark Heinrich) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---