Ukraine updates: Kherson referendum 'paused'

An official of the Moscow-backed administration in Kherson, Kirill Stremousov, was quoted by Russian state news agency TASS as saying that plans to hold a referendum on the region joining Russia had been "paused" due to the security situation.

Stremousov was quoted by TASS as saying that the Antonivskyi bridge, which crosses the Dnipro River near regional capital Kherson, can no longer be crossed after weeks of Ukrainian shelling.

Officials in the Russian-installed local administration had previously said that a referendum on joining Russia would be held in September. Similar referendums were planned in the Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

A number of Russian-installed Kherson officials have been assassinated in recent weeks. Alexei Kovalev, a former lawmaker of Zelenskyy's Servant of the People party who joined the Moscow-backed administration in Kherson, was shot on August 30.

Kherson is the only Ukrainian regional capital that has been captured by Russian forces since the start of the invasion. Most of the Kherson region, which borders the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula to the south, was captured by Russian forces in March.

Kyiv said that on Monday that its armed forces had retaken parts of the region.

Here's a look at some of the other major news stories from Russia's war in Ukraine on September 5.

Gazprom says Nord Stream 1 resumption depends on Siemens Energy

Nord Stream 1 pipeline will not resume gas shipments until Siemens Energy repairs faulty equipment, Gazprom’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer Vitaly Markelov said.

“You should ask Siemens. They have to repair equipment first,” he said on the sidelines of Eastern Economic Forum in Russian Pacific port of Vladivostok, when asked about when the pipeline could start pumping gas again.

Gazprom on Friday said it detected an engine oil leak at the only turbine still working at the Portovaya compressor station for the Nord Stream 1 system and would shut off supply until it was repaired.

However, Siemens Energy said on Saturday that it had not been commissioned to carry out the repair work, and that the leak reported by Gazprom would not usually affect the operation of a turbine and could be sealed on site.

It also said other turbines were available for use at the affected compressor station.

Russia to buy ammunition from North Korea — report

According to a newly downgraded US intelligence finding, Russia's Ministry of Defense is in the process of purchasing millions of rockets and artillery shells from North Korea for its ongoing fight in Ukraine, according to a newly downgraded US intelligence finding.

A US official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the intelligence determination, said Monday that the fact Russia is turning to the isolated state of North Korea demonstrates that "the Russian military continues to suffer from severe supply shortages in Ukraine, due in part to export controls and sanctions."

The finding comes after the Biden administration recently confirmed that the Russian military in August took delivery of Iranian-manufactured drones for use on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Russia cashes in $158 billion in energy exports after war — report

Russia has taken €158 billion ($158 billion) in energy exports in the six months following its invasion of Ukraine, with the EU accounting for more than half, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said.

"Surging fossil fuel prices mean that Russia's current revenue is far above previous years' level, despite the reductions in this year's export volumes," the Finland-based think tank said.

"Fossil fuel exports have contributed approximately 43 billion euros to Russia's federal budget since the start of the invasion, helping fund war crimes in Ukraine," said CREA.

The figures concern the six months following Russia's February 24 invasion of Ukraine.

During this period, the CREA estimated that the European Union was the top importer of Russian fossil fuel exporters, at €85.1 billion euros. China followed at €34.9 billion euros and Turkey at €10.7 billion.

Zelenskyy hopes Truss will help Ukraine 'thwart' Russia

In his nightly address, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he hoped Britain's incoming new Prime Minister Liz Truss would help Kyiv "thwart" Russia.

Truss has been confirmed as the new leader of Britain's Conservative party, and is set to take over as prime minister from Boris Johnson, one of Zelenskyy's greatest backers.

The Ukrainian president said in his daily address that he was "looking forward to the start of cooperation" with Truss.

"I believe that together we will be able to do more to protect our peoples and to thwart all Russian destructive efforts," Zelenskyy said.

Britain has been a staunch ally of Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion on February 24.

Putin approves new foreign policy doctrine based on 'Russian World'

President Vladimir Putin approved a new foreign policy doctrine based around the concept of a "Russian World," a notion that conservative ideologues have used to justify intervention abroad in support of Russian-speakers.

The 31-page "humanitarian policy" says Russia should "protect, safeguard and advance the traditions and ideals of the Russian World."

While presented as a kind of soft power strategy, it enshrines in official policy ideas around Russian politics and religion that some hardliners have used to justify Moscow's occupation of parts of Ukraine.

The new policy says Russia should further deepen its ties with Abkhazia and Ossetia, two Georgian regions recognised as independent by Moscow after its war against Georgia in 2008, as well as the two breakaway entities in eastern Ukraine, the self-styled Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic.

Ukraine aims to meet conditions for EU accession talks by end of year

According to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine aims to meet all conditions for EU accession talks by the end of year. 

Ukraine plans to fulfil all seven conditions set for the country when it was granted candidate status in June, Shmyhal said on the sidelines of talks with European Union representatives in Brussels.

Ukraine applied for EU membership days after the Russian invasion began and was granted candidate status in less than four months, a process that can take several years.

However, EU leaders have already warned that it could take "decades" before Ukraine would join the EU.

NATO to supply Ukrainian troops with winter gear

NATO wants to equip Ukrainian troops with winter gear and thus support their fight against the Russian invaders.

Among other things, warm clothing, winter boots and tents are to be delivered, as diplomats confirmed to dpa on Monday. Around €40 million ($40 million) are available for this.

"We have more than a dozen new projects in preparation for the winter," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said two weeks ago.

Last working reactor at Zaporizhzhia plant disconnected — Ukrainian nuclear agency

Ukrainian nuclear agency Energoatom said that the last working reactor at the Zaporizhzhia plant in Ukraine's south was disconnected after Russian shelling disrupted power lines.

The plant is located near the city of Enerhodar in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and has been under Russian control since March, but is still operated by Ukrainian personnel. It is Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said following a phone call with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the only way to restore security at the plant was through the withdrawal of Russian troops, according to an Elysee palace statement.

Later, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is currently conducting an official visit to the site, said that the plant continues to receive the electricity it needs for all of its safety measures from its sole operating reactor.

The group criticized continued shelling in the area, which caused a fire that was eventually extinguished.

They added that they will release a report on the situation on Tuesday, and that several of their experts were staying on for a few days to help lead repairs.

Kyiv makes gains in southern counter-offensive — Zelenskyy and armed forces

Ukrainian forces have said that they recaptured several areas as part of a counter-offensive in Ukraine's south.

Kyiv said it had also destroyed targets including a pontoon bridge. Ukraine's southern command said it hit an ammunitions depot and a Russian army control center southeast of the city of Kherson.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the re-capture of two villages in the south of the country and one in the east. He did not say which villages these were.

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of Zelenskyy's office, tweeted a photo of the Ukrainian flag being raised in the village of Vysokopillia in the Kherson region. The region, located in Ukraine's south, is mostly under Russian control.

Independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta's license revoked

Leading Russian independent news outlet Novaya Gazeta has been stripped of its media license by a district court in Moscow.

This effectively bans the newspaper, which had already come under state pressure, from operating.

Editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov called the ruling a "political hit job, without the slightest legal basis," adding that the paper would appeal.

The paper suspended operations in March after being cautioned for violating laws on coverage of the war in Ukraine. Novaya Gazeta had referred to the invasion as a "war," whereas the law states it may only be referred to as a "special military operation."

Novaya Gazeta was founded with money from the Nobel Peace prize of late Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Muratov led Gorbachev's funeral procession.

UN Human Rights Office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani called the ruling "yet another blow to the independence of Russian media."

She said that press "activities have been further compromised by legal restrictions and increased state controls imposed following the Russian Federation's attack on Ukraine."

Moscow says it will retaliate over G7 oil price cap

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow would retaliate over a G7 proposal to impose a cap on Russian oil prices.

"There can only be retaliatory measures," Peskov said.

G7 finance ministers agreed to the measure on Friday. Moscow has said it will halt sales to countries imposing the cap.

Peskov said that Moscow was studying how the cap could affect Russia's economy. He warned it would destabilize the global oil market.

4 civilians killed by Russian shelling — Zelenskyy's office

At least four civilians were killed and seven injured by Russian shelling in a number of regions of Ukraine over the course of Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office said on Monday.

The office said that three people were killed and four wounded in the eastern Donetsk region. A large portion of the region, including the capital Donetsk, is controlled by Russian forces and Moscow-backed separatists.

In the Kharkiv region, three people were wounded when a rocket hit a residential building, Ukraine's presidential office said.

More on the conflict in Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. Ukraine's prime minister said he hoped Berlin would help Kyiv strengthen its air defense.

Gas prices in Europe jumped 30% during the first day's trading after Russia moved to halt deliveries on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline on Friday.

Former journalist and Roskosmos adviser Ivan Safronov was given a 22 year prison sentence for allegedly divulging state secrets.

The invasion of Ukraine is contributing in no small part to rising food and fuel costs in Germany. Chancellor Scholz has unveiled his latest plan to combat soaring inflation.

sdi, es/msh (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)