July 22, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

By Kathleen Magramo, Aditi Sangal, Meg Wagner, Sana Noor Haq and Hannah Strange, CNN

Updated 2:51 a.m. ET, July 25, 2022
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9:34 a.m. ET, July 22, 2022

US assesses Ukraine has taken out more than a hundred "high value" Russian targets 

From CNN's Barbara Starr

The commander of the unit shows the rockets on a HIMARS vehicle in Ukraine on July 1.
The commander of the unit shows the rockets on a HIMARS vehicle in Ukraine on July 1. (Anastasia Vlasova/The Washington Post/Getty Images)

The US assesses Ukraine “has taken out more than a hundred high-value targets,” according to a senior US defense official. Most of the targets have been in the east in recent weeks as the Ukrainians have been able to improve their precision targeting with the use of US provided artillery. 

“These strikes are steadily degrading the Russian ability to supply their troops, command and control of their forces, and carry out their illegal war of aggression,” General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told reporters on Wednesday.

The Ukrainians are “attacking Russian command posts, ammunition depots, air-defense sites, radar and communications nodes, and long-range artillery positions,” the official said. This is contributing to the broader assessment that Ukraine has been able to make progress against Russian forces. However, the US also assesses that Russia still is launching “tens of thousands” of artillery rounds per day.

“They can’t keep it up forever,” the Russians “have expended a lot of smarter munitions …their capabilities are getting dumber,” the official noted, adding that Russia has not taken out a single HIMARS system yet, but it is likely they will “get lucky” and do so at some point.

The fight for Donetsk is “likely last through the summer” with Russia achieving slow gains at a high cost, the official said.

Russian fatalities include “thousands” of lieutenants and captains, “hundreds” of colonels, and “many” generals, the official said. “The chain of command is still struggling.”

The US estimates Russia has committed nearly 85% of its army to the invasion of Ukraine.

The chief of Britain's foreign intelligence service said he believes that Russia could be “about to run out of steam” in Ukraine. “I think our assessment is that the Russians will increasingly find it difficult to supply manpower material over the next few weeks,” Richard Moore, the head of MI6 told CNN on Thursday. “They will have to pause some way and that will give the Ukrainians opportunities to strike back,” he said.

8:23 a.m. ET, July 22, 2022

Russia is “about to run out of steam” in Ukraine, MI6 chief says

From CNN's Natasha Bertrand and Jim Sciutto

Richard Moore, the head of MI6 speaks with CNN, at the Aspen Security Forum on Thursday July 21.
Richard Moore, the head of MI6 speaks with CNN, at the Aspen Security Forum on Thursday July 21. (CNN)

British spy chief Richard Moore has said Russia is “about to run out of steam” in Ukraine, in an interview with CNN’s Jim Sciutto.

“Russians will increasingly find it difficult to supply manpower, material over the next few weeks. They will have to pause, and that will give Ukrainians an opportunity to strike back," Moore, chief of MI6, said in the interview, his first outside of the UK.

“(Putin) has suffered a strategic failure in Ukraine," and forces have lost 15,000 lives, Moore said on the sidelines of the Aspen Security Forum, adding that it's "probably a conservative estimate.”

However, Moore said it is very important for Ukrainians' morale to demonstrate their ability to strike back.

"It will be an important reminder to the rest of Europe that this is a winnable campaign by the Ukrainians. Because we are about to go into a pretty tough winter."

“Winter is coming and clearly, in that atmosphere with the sort of pressure on gas supplies and all the rest, we are in for a tough time,” Moore added.

He said that following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, European countries have taken concerted effort against Russian intelligence.

“North of 400 Russian intelligence officers working under diplomatic cover have been expelled,” and it has reduced Russian ability to spy in Europe by half.

When asked about rumors of Putin’s ill-health, Moore said: “There is no evidence that Putin is suffering from serious ill-health.”

His comments came after the expulsion of more than 400 Russian intelligence officers from cities across Europe and the arrest of several deep-cover spies posing as civilians.

Moore told CNN that since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, European countries have expelled "north of 400 Russian intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover" across the bloc.

"And we reckon, in the UK, that has probably reduced their ability to do their business to spy for Russia in Europe by half," Moore said. He added that a number of "illegals," or Russian spies operating under deep cover and masquerading as ordinary civilians, have also been exposed and arrested in recent months.

Asked whether the war in Ukraine has made Russia a "target rich environment" for the UK and its allies to recruit potential assets, Moore would only say that "it is our hope" that Russians in the intelligence and diplomatic services will "reflect on what they are witnessing in Ukraine" and decide to "strike back against the system" as many did during the Prague Spring in 1968.

Read more here.

11:21 a.m. ET, July 22, 2022

Ukrainian farms try to bring in the harvest amid fires, mines and tank attacks

From CNN's Julia Presniakova

Unblocking Ukrainian ports is the only way to prevent a global food crisis and save Ukrainian agricultural producers, said Mykola Horbachov, the President of the Ukrainian Grain Association.

Horbachov was speaking to Ukrainian television ahead of the expected agreement in Istanbul Friday to secure safe corridors through the Black Sea for Ukrainian agricultural exports.

Russians had stolen about 500,000 tonnes of grain in occupied territories and about 1 million tonnes of grain remains in the elevators under the control of the occupiers, he claimed, estimating that the losses of the Ukrainian agricultural industry due to the war at about $20 billion. 

Horbachov forecast that the grain harvest in the current season will decrease by 30-35%, which is about 70 million tonnes of grain and oilseeds compared to 106 million tonnes last season. And he said farmers will need help in order to be able to carry out the next sowing campaign, which will start in 2 months.

A farmer harvests wheat as he drives past a crater suspected to be caused by an air strike in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, on July 7.
A farmer harvests wheat as he drives past a crater suspected to be caused by an air strike in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, on July 7. (Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images)

However, the harvest in Ukraine was gaining momentum, the Ukrainian Ministry of Agrarian Policy said Friday. Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and Odesa regions had each collected more than a million tonnes of new crop grain. Peas were threshed for more than 59% of the area, and rapeseed for a third.

It said figures from the regions showed that an area of 2.1 million hectares had been harvested so far.

Across Ukraine, the harvest of grain is underway - but every day brings new details about the perils farmers are facing as they try to bring in the crops, and about the theft of produce and equipment in Russian-controlled areas.

Read more here.

11:20 a.m. ET, July 22, 2022

Ukrainian adviser warns Russia against provocations as countries expected to sign deal on grain exports

From CNN's Gul Tuysuz in Kyiv

Oleksandr Kubrakov, Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attend a meeting in a location given as Istanbul, Turkey, in this handout picture released on July 22.
Oleksandr Kubrakov, Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attend a meeting in a location given as Istanbul, Turkey, in this handout picture released on July 22. (Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine/Reuters)

The Ukrainian government has warned Russia against provocations as the two countries are expected to sign a deal with the United Nations and Turkey that would facilitate the exports of grain.

“No transport escort by Russian ships and no presence of Russian representatives in our ports,” Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the Ukrainian President’s chief of staff tweeted on Friday. “In case of provocations, an immediate military response."

Podolyak also added that Ukraine was not signing an agreement with Russia, but with Turkey and the UN. He also said inspections of ships would be carried out in Ukrainian waters by joint groups, if necessary.

8:16 a.m. ET, July 22, 2022

Over half of Ukraine's regions under extreme fire warnings due to high temperatures

From CNN’s Alex Hardie in London

Over half of Ukraine's regions are under extreme fire danger warnings due to high temperatures, as parts of Europe grapple with a sweltering heat wave.

Information updated by the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center Friday morning showed that 15 of country's 27 regions received an orange fire threat level signalling “dangerous weather conditions."

The extreme fire danger is due to a “threatening combination of high air temperature and dry weather,” the Center said.

The affected regions are largely in the west and south of Ukraine, according to a map published by the Center. Regions with warnings include Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.

“July 23-25 will see the extreme fire hazard level in the south of Ukraine, in western regions and Vinnytsia and Zhytomyr regions,” the Center added.

Much of Europe has been experiencing record temperatures and wildfires in the past week. 

The UK recorded its hottest ever temperature of 40.3 degrees Celsius (104.54 degrees Fahrenheit) Tuesday. Elsewhere in Spain and Portugal, more than 1,700 people have died due to the current heat wave, the head of WHO Regional Office for Europe Hans Kluge said Friday. 

Slovenia is facing "no doubt, one of the biggest wildfires in its history," EU Commissioner Janez Lenarčič said Thursday.

The heat is expected to peak for parts of western Europe and “move eastward," World Meteorological Organization (WMO) official Robert Stefanski said at a press conference Tuesday.

11:20 a.m. ET, July 22, 2022

Ukrainian MP names three ports to be included in grain export agreement

From CNN's Tim Lister

A member of the Ukrainian delegation in the grain export negotiations says three Ukrainian ports will be included in the agreement on exporting agricultural produce through agreed corridors in the Black Sea. 

“The exports will take place through three ports: Odesa, Pivdenny, (Yuzhiy) and Chornomorsk," parliamentarian Rustem Umerov told Ukrainian media.

"In the future, we hope, we can also expand the list. All recommendations of the maritime forces, the armed forces must be respected. There are safe corridors, routes that we have developed together with the military, and all civilian ships will go through these routes. We will sell grain to everybody. And all vessels that follow these guidelines can come to us,” Umerov said.

Full details of the ports and safe channels for merchant shipping will be announced in Istanbul later Friday.

Meanwhile the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry said the delegation led by Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov had now arrived in Istanbul.

"The Ukrainian side held a meeting with the Secretary General of the [United Nations], Antonio Guterres," it said on its Facebook page. "The Secretary General once again expressed his support for the unblocking of Ukrainian ports and assured that security is an indisputable priority of the UN."

11:20 a.m. ET, July 22, 2022

Russian defense minister to attend grain deal ceremony in Turkey, Kremlin says

From CNN's Anna Chernova

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrives at Istanbul Airport to participate in the agreement ceremony on unblocking Ukrainian grain exports, in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 22.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrives at Istanbul Airport to participate in the agreement ceremony on unblocking Ukrainian grain exports, in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 22. (Arife Karakum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Russia’s Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu has traveled to Turkey to attend the signing of an agreement on facilitating grain export Friday, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in a daily briefing.

 “Yes, we can confirm that Defense Minister Shoigu went to Turkey. We can confirm that an agreement is being prepared to be signed today,” Peskov said.

Asked about the importance of striking this deal for Russia, Peskov referred to President Vladimir Putin’s earlier statement about the food crisis.

“President Putin has said that against the backdrop of the food crisis that is looming, it is very important to unblock the supply routes to world markets -- fertilizers, food and grain,” Peskov said.

A combine harvester in a wheat field near Mykolaiv, Ukraine, on July 21.
A combine harvester in a wheat field near Mykolaiv, Ukraine, on July 21. (Ionut Iordachescu/AFP/Getty Images)

According to the Kremlin, it is a “relatively small amount” of Ukrainian grain. “But still, it is very important that this grain gets to the world markets, and that the indirect restrictions that apply to our goods also allow the market to receive additional volumes of fertilizers, grain, etc.,” he added.

Russian and Ukrainian delegations, mediated by Turkey and the UN, are expected to sign the agreement on grain exports. From the Ukrainian side, Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov will be attending the signing in Istanbul, his press office confirmed to CNN.

11:20 a.m. ET, July 22, 2022

Ukrainian infrastructure minister will sign grain export agreement

From CNN's Victoria Butenko in Kyiv and Olga Voitovych

Ukraine will be represented at the signing of the agreement on facilitating grain exports by Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, his press office confirmed to CNN.

The agreement between Russia and Ukraine, mediated by Turkey and the UN, is due be signed in Istanbul later Friday.

The deal would provide for the safe transport of crucial grain exports from Ukrainian ports, which have been blocked by Russia as its war on Ukraine continues.

Western officials have accused Moscow of "weaponizing" food supplies, with leaders and experts warning of a catastrophic food crisis due to the inability of millions of tonnes of Ukrainian grain to reach the global market.

11:19 a.m. ET, July 22, 2022

It's 2.30 p.m. in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know

From CNN staff

Ukrainian and Russian ministers are expected to sign an agreement Friday facilitating crucial grain exports from Ukraine's ports, which have been blocked by Russia amid its war on the country.

The European Council has imposed restrictive measures on 54 individuals and 10 entities, including major Russian bank Sberbank, just days after Ukraine's foreign minister called on the EU to enforce additional sanctions on Russia.

Here are the latest developments:

  • Grain export agreement: Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu have traveled to Istanbul for the signing of an agreement facilitating grain exports from Ukraine, according to government spokespeople in Moscow and Kyiv. The agreement, mediated by Turkey and the UN, is expected to be signed at 4:30 p.m. local time (9:30 a.m. ET) by the Ukrainian and Russian sides, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and UN Secretary General Secretary-General António Guterres. Western officials have previously accused Moscow of "weaponizing" food supplies, with leaders and experts warning of a catastrophic food crisis due to the inability of millions of tons of Ukrainian grain to reach the global market. 
  • Diplomatic broadsides: The EU leveled fresh sanctions against individuals and entities associated with Russia's aggression in Ukraine, including the major Russian bank Sberbank. Meanwhile the Russian government expanded its list of "unfriendly foreign states," adding Greece, Denmark, Slovenia, Croatia and Slovakia, in a decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. In accordance with the decree on unfriendly countries signed by President Vladimir Putin last April, these countries are limited in their ability to hire workers located in the territory of Russia for embassies, consulates and representative offices of state bodies.
  • DPR to shut down Google: The leader of the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) said access to Google will be shut down within the territory. Denis Pushilin announced the move on his official Telegram account Friday, accusing Google of being part of Ukrainian and Western "propaganda" efforts promoting "terrorism and violence" against Russians and Russian speakers.
  • Russian military running "out of steam": The chief of Britain's foreign intelligence service believes that Russia is losing steam in its invasion of Ukraine, and has lost its ability to spy in Europe "by half" following the expulsion of more than 400 Russian intelligence officers from cities across Europe and the arrest of several deep-cover spies posing as civilians. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military reported another day of heavy artillery and rocket fire by Russian forces in both the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, accompanied by airstrikes. But it said the Russians have failed to gain ground in either region, nor in the south.