RT News - November 09 2022 Late

Strategic regrouping: Russia says it will withdraw its troops from the regional capital of Kherson, amid fears Ukrainian shelling of a local dam, could lead to heavy losses from catastrophic flooding. Deputy head of Kherson (Kirill Stremousov) has been killed in road accident.

President Biden vows to wield his veto powers to block legislation, if the rival Republicans gain full control of Congress. That's despite claiming ahead of the midterms, the vote was a fight for democracy. There looks to be double standards coming from the Democratic party, report.

Qatar lashes out at France for cosying up to the country, while at the same time allowing the publication of a controversial cartoon, depicting Qatari football players dressed as terrorists.

Greek unions joined forces today to shut down public transport in a very large strike and protests. The strikes are over soaring inflation, better wages and working conditions.

In Italy an MP has been accused of being a bully because he called into question the continued giving of weapons and money to Ukraine. Meanwhile the Italians continue with their protests (also against the continued shipments of weapons etc to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia which they see as the reason for the energy price hikes).

Two Azov fighters have been interviewed (one on French TV) and admit that most people in Mariupol wanted "to be Russian", the same for Donetsk.

President Maduro (of Venezuela) has been meeting his (previous) adversaries at COP27, held this week in Egypt.
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via RT website 9 Nov, 2022 15:11

Russia to pull troops out of frontline city of Kherson – MOD

The regional administration worked for weeks to move civilians from the area, citing Ukrainian attacks

Russia has decided to withdraw its troops from the right bank of the Dnieper River, including the regional capital of Kherson. The Defence Ministry explained that it wants to avoid unnecessary losses among its forces and spare the lives of civilians.

While saying the decision was not easy, the commanders see little sense in keeping the troops on the right bank, the chief of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, Army General Sergey Surovikin, told Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu on Wednesday. The general pointed to continued Ukrainian attacks on the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric dam on the Dnieper River, arguing that it could mean the total isolation of Russian troops in Kherson.

“If the Kiev regime … launches an even more devastating attack on the Kakhovskaya dam, a flow of water could arise that would flood large areas, causing significant civilian casualties,” Surovikin added. This, according to the commander, “would create further threats for civilians and risk total isolation of our force grouping on the right bank of the Dnieper.”

A pullout would help avoid the worst-case scenario and also keep the combat effectiveness of the force grouping in the area, Surovikin said.

This is a very difficult decision. Yet, we would be able to preserve the most important thing: the lives of our soldiers.

“Start the pullback of forces,” Shoigu told Surovikin in a video released by media outlets. The minister ordered the general to organize secure relocation for both soldiers and civilians.

Over the past weeks, the local authorities have launched an effort to bring as many civilians as possible to the left bank of the Dnieper, citing a threat posed by Ukrainian forces located on the opposite side. Over 115,000 people had left the city as of today, according to Surovikin.

Russia incorporated Kherson Region last month, after residents voted in a referendum to break away from Ukraine and seek accession to Russia. Kiev rejected the vote as a “sham” and pledged to use military force to recapture all territories it considers to be under its sovereignty.

Ukraine has been waging a counter-offensive over the past two months, forcing Russian troops to fall back in some places. Earlier this week, Ukrainian troops launched several attacks, making an attempt in the east of Kharkov Region, in the north-western part of the Lugansk People’s Republic, and in Kherson Region. All of the assaults were successfully repelled, the Russian military said.

According to Surovikin, Kiev’s troops suffered heavy losses, amounting to over 12,000 soldiers in October. Russian casualties were seven to eight times lower, he said. The general claimed that Russia’s troops managed to “stabilize” the situation on the frontlines, including with the help of those mobilized since late September.
https://www.rt.com/russia/565869-russia-withdrawal-troops-kherson/
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Via RT website 9 Nov, 2022 10:50

Chinese investors decry Kiev’s ‘plunder’

Beijing Skyrizon blasted the seizure of Ukrainian aircraft engine producer Motor Sich, in which it claims a stake

A Chinese company engaged in a legal battle over a majority stake in Motor Sich, Ukraine’s leading aviation company, has denounced Kiev’s decision to take over the company under wartime authority.

Beijing Skyrizon Aviation Industry Investment said it opposed the “shameless actions by the Ukrainian state,” which it accused of politicizing business and abusing its power to “plunder” the property of foreign investors.

“The lawful rights and interests of Chinese investors have been significantly violated, resulting in large economic loss,” the statement said, as cited by the media.

In 2017, a court in Kiev froze Beijing Skyrizon’s acquisition of a majority stake in the Ukrainian company on national security grounds. Ukraine’s national security services argued that Motor Sich’s military technologies could be compromised by foreign control.

In early 2021, the government of President Vladimir Zelensky imposed sanctions on Beijing Skyrizon and its owner, Wang Jing, that banned any Chinese attempts to operate Motor Sich or move capital out of Ukraine.

The US, which opposed the acquisition of the Ukrainian manufacturing giant, previously put the Chinese firm on its Military End-User List, which restricts access to American exports.

Last December, Beijing Skyrizon filed a claim of compensation against Ukraine in the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration. It asserted that Kiev’s actions had caused $4.5 billion in damage.

This week, it was revealed that Ukraine’s securities regulator had ordered the seizure of the privately-owned shares of several key enterprises, including Motor Sich. Vyacheslav Boguslaev, its long-time director and former co-owner, who sold his stake to Chinese investors, is currently under a criminal investigation for allegedly having dealings with Russia.

The Ukrainian government claimed that it was necessary for the Defence Ministry to operate the assets due to the military conflict with Russia. After it is over, the stakes may be returned to their original owners or bought out by the government, the National Security Council explained.
https://www.rt.com/news/566199-chinese-investors-motor-sich/
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