Latest news on Russia and the war in Ukraine

The Russian army launched another attack on the military authorities in the Ukrainian capital Kiev at night on the telegram sayaccording to Google Translate.

Sergey Popko, head of the Kiev Military Administration, said Russian forces had again deployed Iranian-made Shahed drones, but the offensive did not cause any damage or casualties.

Much of last night’s military offensive focused on the key Ukrainian port of Odessa, which Moscow has been targeting in retaliation for a recent “terrorist attack” on a Crimean bridge.

Russia has stepped up hostilities against Kiev since early last week, coinciding with a Ukraine-focused summit of the NATO military alliance in Vilnius, Lithuania.

CNBC could not independently confirm the reports.

— Ruksandra Yodash

For the second night in a row, Russian forces launched a missile attack on the main Ukrainian port of Odessa, where the Kiev navy is based, regional governor Olekh Kiper said Said in a Google Translate comment on Telegram.

The Ukrainian Air Force also stated Russian missiles hit Odessa last nightaccording to Google Translate.

The governor added that Russian forces attacked “ports and critical infrastructure”, injuring three people.

“The grain and oil terminals were attacked, tanks and loading equipment were damaged, fires started, and all authorities are working to remove the fallout,” Kipper said.

CNBC has not independently verified the developments on the ground.

Russia’s offensive on the ports of Odessa and Nikolaev intensified this week, with Moscow retaliating after what it called a “terrorist attack” on a Crimean bridge in recent days.

— Ruksandra Yodash

South Africa’s president reportedly said on Tuesday that arresting Russian President Vladimir Putin – should he attend an economic summit in Johannesburg next month – would amount to a “declaration of war” for South Africa Associated Press.

The August summit brought together Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – the bloc of developing economies known as the BRICS. Putin wanted to attend the gathering but had been trying to persuade him to leave to avoid legal and diplomatic fallout from his international arrest warrant, officials said.

Putin has been issued an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the International Criminal Court, South Africa would be obliged to arrest Putin if he visited the African country.

South Africa’s largest political opposition, the Democratic Alliance, is trying to force President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government to commit to arresting Putin by filing proceedings in the Pretoria High Court.

But in a strongly worded court affidavit released Tuesday, Ramaphosa reiterated his past statements that such actions against Putin could also undermine any efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

“For the sake of transparency, I must stress that South Africa has clear problems implementing requests for the arrest and extradition of President Putin,” he said. “Russia has made it clear that the arrest of a sitting president will be considered a declaration of war.”

Ramaphosa added: “It is not in our constitution to risk a war with Russia.”

–Associated Press

More than 16,300 civilians have been injured since Russia launched a war in Ukraine last year, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said. The agency also said more than 9,200 civilians had died as a result of the fighting.

The death toll is likely to be higher due to lack of access to cities under Russian occupation and delays in reporting due to armed conflict, OHCHR added.

—Amanda Macias

A cargo insurance facility that insures Ukraine’s grain shipments through safe sea corridors has been suspended after Russia withdrew from a U.N.-backed agreement, Broker Marsh told Reuters.

Moscow has pulled out of a year-old food export deal in a move the United Nations says could cause hunger around the world.

Maritime Cargo and War Facilities is insuring up to $50 million per shipment, led by Lloyd’s of London insurer Ascot and other underwriters.

“The project is currently on hold,” said David Roe, head of UK cargo at Marsh, which is brokering the facility. “The agreement is effectively on hold because the agreement is not extended.”

“Without corridors, there is a greater degree of uncertainty about the risks.”

Ascot declined to comment.

Insurance is essential to secure corridor transport.

— Reuters