
Zelensky appoints new ground forces chief
KYIV, Ukraine: Ukrainian President Voloydmyr Zelensky on Thursday appointed Gennadiy Shapovalov as commander of the country's ground forces, replacing a previous commander who resigned following a deadly Russian strike on an army training ground.
Shapovalov worked as a military aid liaison in Germany and previously commanded Ukraine's southern military district.
In his evening address, Zelensky said he hoped Shapovalov would bring 'real combat experience' to the role and called for changes in the Ukrainian army, which is struggling to hold off Moscow's forces more than three years into Russia's invasion.
'Changes are needed, this is a mandatory issue,' Zelensky said in his evening address.
Moscow's forces have been advancing across the front line for over a year and have been making inroads in Ukraine's Sumy region, which the Kremlin had not occupied since the start of the war.
Peace talks on ending the conflict have stalled in recent weeks and Kyiv's biggest ally, Washington, is now focusing its attention on the Middle East.
Russia says it is open to a peace settlement but Kyiv has accused Moscow of deliberately sabotaging talks to prolong the fighting.
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Arab News
8 hours ago
- Arab News
Zelensky appoints new ground forces chief
KYIV, Ukraine: Ukrainian President Voloydmyr Zelensky on Thursday appointed Gennadiy Shapovalov as commander of the country's ground forces, replacing a previous commander who resigned following a deadly Russian strike on an army training ground. Shapovalov worked as a military aid liaison in Germany and previously commanded Ukraine's southern military district. In his evening address, Zelensky said he hoped Shapovalov would bring 'real combat experience' to the role and called for changes in the Ukrainian army, which is struggling to hold off Moscow's forces more than three years into Russia's invasion. 'Changes are needed, this is a mandatory issue,' Zelensky said in his evening address. Moscow's forces have been advancing across the front line for over a year and have been making inroads in Ukraine's Sumy region, which the Kremlin had not occupied since the start of the war. Peace talks on ending the conflict have stalled in recent weeks and Kyiv's biggest ally, Washington, is now focusing its attention on the Middle East. Russia says it is open to a peace settlement but Kyiv has accused Moscow of deliberately sabotaging talks to prolong the fighting.


Arab News
10 hours ago
- Arab News
Ukrainian in Israel to treat sick daughter killed in Iran strike: mayor
JERUSALEM: The body of a Ukrainian mother who had traveled to Israel for her daughter's leukemia treatment was recovered on Thursday from a building struck by an Iranian missile four days earlier, Israeli officials said. The city of Bat Yam, close to Tel Aviv, announced that 'in the past few minutes, a body was found at the site of the missile impact,' identifying the victim as Maria Peshkarova, 31, also known as Marina. Peshkarova had traveled to Israel in December 2022 on a medical visa to seek life-saving treatment for her daughter Anastasia, 8, who was killed along with her grandmother in the destroyed apartment bloc in Bat Yam, according to the mayor's office. Peshkarova's husband is fighting in Ukraine's war against Russia, according to the Israeli news website Ynet. Israeli authorities had previously released the names of eight people killed in the strike and had stated that one person was missing. Peshkarova's confirmed death takes the total deathtoll in Israel to 25 since the war with Iran started on Friday, according to authorities. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Sunday that five of its nationals were killed in the Iranian strike on Bat Yam near Tel Aviv, including three minors. Ukraine on Tuesday urged its citizens to leave Israel and Iran as soon as possible amid the spiralling conflict between the two countries.

Al Arabiya
13 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Russia warns US against ‘military intervention' in Iran-Israel war
Russia on Thursday warned the United States not to take military action against Iran, amid speculation over whether Washington would enter the war alongside Israel. Israel launched an unprecedented wave of strikes at Iran last week, to which Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks. Moscow is one of Iran's most important allies, with the two deepening military cooperation and inking a strategic partnership agreement just months ago. But the Kremlin has not provided military support to Iran in the face of Israeli airstrikes, and President Vladimir Putin is pitching himself as a possible mediator even as he condemns Israel. 'We would like to particularly warn Washington against military intervention in the situation,' the Russian foreign ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters. US President Donald Trump had said Wednesday he was considering join Israel's strikes on Iran. 'I may do it, I may not do it,' he said. He also rejected Russia's offer to broker peace, saying he told Putin to resolve the Ukraine conflict first. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that it was not up to Trump to reject Putin's offer. 'These services can be accepted by countries that are currently directly involved in the conflict,' he said. 'Not asked' Zakharova warned any US military action 'would be an extremely dangerous step with truly unpredictable negative consequences.' Moscow issued its warning after Putin spoke with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, with the pair blasting Israel. Putin and Xi 'strongly condemn Israel's actions,' the Kremlin said after the call. Putin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Moscow and Beijing believed the end to the hostilities 'should be achieved exclusively by political and diplomatic means.' Russia has for years been a key actor in the Middle East, managing to maintain warm relations with all major players in the region. But the fall of key ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria last year, and Israel's war in Gaza – which Putin has repeatedly raised concerns about – have threatened to dent that position. Despite their close military ties, Putin said Iran had not requested military help in the week since Israel launched its attacks. 'Our Iranian friends have not asked us about this,' Putin said in response to a question from an AFP reporter at a late-night televised press conference in Saint Petersburg. He also pointed out that the treaty signed in January was not a mutual defense pact and did not oblige either side to provide arms or assistance. Asked what steps Russia would take if Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was assassinated, Putin said: 'I don't even want to discuss such a possibility.' His spokesman said later Thursday that Russia would be prepared to send humanitarian aid, if requested to by Tehran. 'Mediate your own' In their phone call, Xi told Putin that a ceasefire was 'top priority' and also criticized Israel. 'Promoting a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities is the top priority. Armed force is not the correct way to resolve international disputes,' Xi said, according to China's state news agency Xinhua. 'Parties to the conflict, especially Israel, should cease hostilities as soon as possible to prevent a cyclical escalation and resolutely avoid the spillover of the war,' he added. Last week, Putin held phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, offering himself as a peacemaker. The Kremlin said that Xi had spoken 'in favor of such mediation, since he believes that it could serve to de-escalate the current situation,' Ushakov said. But Western leaders, including Trump and France's Emmanuel Macron have pushed back against the idea of Putin trying to mediate the conflict amid his own Ukraine offensive. 'He actually offered to help mediate, I said: 'do me a favor, mediate your own',' Trump told reporters on Wednesday about Putin's efforts. 'Let's mediate Russia first, okay? I said, Vladimir, let's mediate Russia first, you can worry about this later.'