Russia said today, Saturday, that it had suspended its participation in the Istanbul agreement to export Ukrainian grain after targeting its fleet in the Crimea with drones, while the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that the restoration of the city of Kherson (south) may not be achieved before the end of next November.
The Russian TASS news agency quoted an informed source that Russia has not yet informed Turkey of the suspension of its participation in the grain agreement signed by Russia and Ukraine on July 22, following mediation by Ankara and the United Nations, and which expires on November 19.
The Russian position came after Russian warships today repelled a Ukrainian attack with drones on the bay of Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that what it described as the Ukrainian terrorist act against the Black Sea Fleet was prepared under the guidance of British specialists, noting that a minesweeper of the Black Sea Fleet was slightly damaged as a result of a drone attack in Sevastopol.
Russia explained that its ships, which were targeted by drones in the port of Sevastopol, were participating in the implementation of the Istanbul Agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain, as the mission of the ships of the Black Sea Fleet was to protect the security of the Ukrainian grain passage.
#Ukraine: Remarkable video of today's attack on the Russian Sevastopol Naval Base.
Ukrainian Uncrewed Surface Vessels (Drone boats filled with explosives) apparently managed to hit a Project 11356R frigate (presumably Admiral Makarov) & the Ivan Golubets Project 266M minesweeper.
pic.twitter.com/6nJVkwvgKW
— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) October 29, 2022
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the minesweeper "Ivan Golubites" was slightly damaged in today's attack by drones.
United nations
After announcing the suspension of its participation in the Istanbul Agreement, the United Nations said that "it is imperative that everyone refrain from any actions that may threaten the grain agreement." A spokesman for the organization added, "The grain agreement has a clear positive impact on access to food for millions of people in the world."
In Kyiv, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that his country had previously warned "of Russia's plans to sabotage the grain export agreement," accusing Moscow of using a false pretext to close the grain corridor, and called on all countries to demand Russia to recommit to the grain export agreement.
In a related context, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Moscow is determined to put the Sevastopol attacks before the UN Security Council, and said that it wants to draw the attention of the international community - especially the Security Council - "to the series of terrorist attacks carried out against Russia in the Black Sea, and in The Baltic Sea, including the British involvement.
Crimea is the headquarters of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea, and a logistical rear base for the Russian war on Ukraine, and military and civilian facilities in Crimea have been targeted several times in recent months.
Kherson battle
Today, Saturday, the head of intelligence of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry Kirill Budanov said that his country's forces are trying to besiege Kherson and isolate Russian forces, "but the liberation of the city may not be achieved before the end of November."
In a press interview, Budanov added that Russia had mobilized the most trained units to fight in Kherson.
Kherson is the first large city captured by Russian forces since the start of its war on Ukraine. It is a strategic city from a military and economic point of view, and enabled Moscow to link the Crimea, which it annexed, to the shores of the Sea of Azov.
The Ukrainians have about 6 weeks before the frost prevents any further progress, but the Russians are holding on to their positions.
And Oleksiy Aristovich, an adviser to the Ukrainian president, said earlier this week that Moscow has sent new reinforcements, and is currently deploying 30 tactical battalions around Kherson, each of these well-equipped units includes 800 soldiers, and controls a certain part of the battle front.
prisoner exchange
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday that Ukraine had handed over 50 prisoners of war after talks.
Earlier in the day, Denis Pushilin, president of the Moscow-backed separatist republic of Donetsk, said a prisoner exchange process with Ukraine was underway.
This video posted by Andriy Yermak, the head of the President's Office, shows Ukrainians who were among the 52 prisoners of war released from Russian captivity on Oct.
29.
“We do not stop and continue to fulfill the president's task to bring back all Ukrainians home,” he said.
pic.twitter.com/j5vCjtNphF
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) October 29, 2022
And Andrey Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president's office, also published videos of the arrival of Ukrainian soldiers to their lands after a prisoner exchange that took place today with Russian forces.