The West may have imposed massive sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine recently, but a report claims that business is lavishly conducted in Moscow. This raises doubts about the West's obligations to the beleaguered Kyiv government.

Report: Several West-based operating profitably in Russia

The White House said on Friday (June 9) that Russia appeared to deepen its defence cooperation with Iran and this had resulted in it getting hundreds of Iranian drones which it was using to strike Ukraine. 
 
The White House cited newly declassified information. It said that the Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) built in Iran were being shipped across the Caspian Sea and were then being used by Russia against Ukraine.

"Russia has been using Iranian UAVs in recent weeks to strike Kyiv and terrorize the Ukrainian population, and the Russia-Iran military partnership appears to be deepening," White House spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.

"We are also concerned that Russia is working with Iran to produce Iranian UAVs from inside Russia."

Kirby said that the US was in possession of information that Russia was receiving materials from Iran which was required to build a drone manufacturing plant. This plant, said Kirby could be fully operational early next year.

"We are releasing satellite imagery of the planned location of this UAV manufacturing plant in Russia’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone," he said.

The US has previously sanctioned Iranian executives at a defence manufacturer over drone supplies to Russia. Iran has acknowledged sending drones to Russia but said in the past they were sent before Russia's February invasion. Moscow has denied its forces used Iranian drones in Ukraine. A White House official said Iran had transferred several hundred drones to Russia since August.

Kirby said that support between Iran and Russia was both ways. Iran is seeking billions of dollars worth of military equipment from Russia. This includes helicopters and radars.

"Russia has been offering Iran unprecedented defense cooperation, including on missiles, electronics, and air defense," he said.

"This is a full-scale defense partnership that is harmful to Ukraine, to Iran’s neighbors, and to the international community. We are continuing to use all the tools at our disposal to expose and disrupt these activities including by sharing this with the public – and we are prepared to do more."

<h2>Violation of UN rules&nbsp;</h2>

Kirby said that drone transfer constituted violation of United Nations rules. He added that the US would seek to hold Russia and Iran accountable.

In addition to the US, countries like Britain, France, Germany and Ukraine say that supply of Iran-made drones to Russia violates a 2015 U.N. Security Council resolution enshrining the Iran nuclear deal.

Under the 2015 U.N. resolution, a conventional arms embargo on Iran was in place until October 2020.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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The White House said on Friday (June 9) that Russia appeared to deepen its defence cooperation with Iran and this had resulted in it getting hundreds of Iranian drones which it was using to strike Ukraine.

The White House said on Friday (June 9) that Russia appeared to deepen its defence cooperation with Iran and this had resulted in it getting hundreds of Iranian drones which it was using to strike Ukraine. The White House cited newly declassified information. It said that the Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) built in Iran were being shipped across the Caspian Sea and were then being used by Russia against Ukraine. "Russia has been using Iranian UAVs in recent weeks to strike Kyiv and terrorize the Ukrainian population, and the Russia-Iran military partnership appears to be deepening," White House spokesman John Kirby said in a statement. "We are also concerned that Russia is working with Iran to produce Iranian UAVs from inside Russia." Kirby said that the US was in possession of information that Russia was receiving materials from Iran which was required to build a drone manufacturing plant. This plant, said Kirby could be fully operational early next year. "We are releasing satellite imagery of the planned location of this UAV manufacturing plant in Russia’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone," he said. The US has previously sanctioned Iranian executives at a defence manufacturer over drone supplies to Russia. Iran has acknowledged sending drones to Russia but said in the past they were sent before Russia's February invasion. Moscow has denied its forces used Iranian drones in Ukraine. A White House official said Iran had transferred several hundred drones to Russia since August. Kirby said that support between Iran and Russia was both ways. Iran is seeking billions of dollars worth of military equipment from Russia. This includes helicopters and radars. "Russia has been offering Iran unprecedented defense cooperation, including on missiles, electronics, and air defense," he said. "This is a full-scale defense partnership that is harmful to Ukraine, to Iran’s neighbors, and to the international community. We are continuing to use all the tools at our disposal to expose and disrupt these activities including by sharing this with the public – and we are prepared to do more." Violation of UN rules Kirby said that drone transfer constituted violation of United Nations rules. He added that the US would seek to hold Russia and Iran accountable. In addition to the US, countries like Britain, France, Germany and Ukraine say that supply of Iran-made drones to Russia violates a 2015 U.N. Security Council resolution enshrining the Iran nuclear deal. Under the 2015 U.N. resolution, a conventional arms embargo on Iran was in place until October 2020. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Iran supplied hundreds of drones to Russia for attack on Ukraine: White House

Even though it is Russia and Ukraine who are fighting the war every bullet fired in that warzone is provided by the West predominantly the United States. Russia has been questioning the West and accused them of fueling the war. The US pumps billions of dollars worth of weapons to Ukraine. It is an open secret that goes beyond just protecting Ukraine. Take a look to know more.

Does the US know how Kyiv is using their weapons? | Russia-Ukraine war

West accused of adding fuel to the fire | Russia-Ukraine war

Russia and Ukraine are struggling to contain the effects of one of the biggest humanitarian crises unleashed due to the war, the breach of the key Ukrainian Dam. It has triggered a massive flood downstream. At least seven people have already died in the flood affected areas and the political blame game is on more in our next report.

Ukraine damn breach: Dam collapse is an ecological catastrophe

Hundreds of people were evacuated from settlements along the southern stretch of Ukraine's Dnipro River on Tuesday after water burst through the breached Nova Kakhovka dam, submerging streets, and town squares. Looking downstream, Russia controls the left bank of the Dnipro and the dam itself, and Ukraine holds the right bank. Each side has blamed the other for causing the damage that triggered the latest crisis in the conflict. Water has been used as a weapon in the war for a long. Is the same strategy at play in Ukraine? Watch to know more in this interview with Professor Charles A Kupchan from Georgetown university.

Dynamics of using water as a weapon in war | Ukraine Dam Breach

Toxic wildfire smoke from Canada has impacted millions of people in North America, with people being alerted about the health risks of poor air quality. The North American skies have been shrouded with orange-tinged smog caused by the wildfires. The smog has obscured the famous skyscrapers in the region and forced the residents to wear face masks. The cities along the US East Coast have also issued air quality alerts. On the other hand, Ukraine is grappling with a devastating flood crisis as the destruction of the Kakhovka dam has caused severe flooding in southern areas.

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Interior Minister of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko communicated through Telegram that four individuals had perished and 13 were reported missing in the Kherson region. Additionally, one fatality was recorded in the Mykolayiv region. In Russian-held territory, an official appointed by Russia reported eight deaths and over 5,800 people evacuated from their homes.

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In a shocking expose ahead of the next US presidential elections, a media outlet has disclosed information from sources familiar with the matter, suggesting that President Joe Biden received a substantial payment of $5 million from an executive at the Ukrainian gas company, Burisma Holdings. It is noteworthy that Biden's son, Hunter Biden, served on the board of this company.

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A shocking incident unfolded in northeast Delhi on Thursday night when a man was brutally attacked on the road while bystanders shied away from intervening. The distressing scene was captured in a viral video from Nand Nagri, showing the victim lying motionless on the road while the 22-year-old assailant dangerously brandished what appeared to be a large knife.&nbsp;

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Former US President Donald Trump has been charged in connection to a probe into classified documents that were reportedly taken to his Mar-a-Lago home after he left the White House. Trump said that he has been summoned to self-report to a district court in Florida's Miami on Tuesday at 3:00 PM (Wednesday, 12:30 AM Indian Standard Time).&nbsp;

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Ajinkya Rahane has provided some relief for the Indian contingent in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia on Friday, June 9 after he scored his 26th fifty. The former India vice-captain is a lone warrior for the Indian team in the contest after Ravindra Jadeja (48) despite the Aussies dominating with both bat and ball. This came after KS Bharat was scalped on the second ball of the day to put the Indian side on the back foot.

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An Indian online food delivery service named Zomato withdrew its advertisement on recycling trash, following complaints over how it depicted a Dalit character. Dalits, formerly referred to as "untouchables," are a historically underprivileged population in the country.&nbsp;

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In a scene straight out of Steven Spielberg's Jaws movie, a Russian man has reportedly died after being ripped and mauled apart by a lone shark off one of Egypt's Red Sea resorts.&nbsp;

The video of the incident has gone viral on social media platforms and shows a tiger shark throwing and ripping apart the man like a soft toy.&nbsp;

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A diner who recorded himself licking a soy sauce bottle and wiping saliva on a fish slice at one of Japan's leading sushi restaurants is being sued by the sushi chain in Japan for ¥67mn ($480,859) in damages. This incident was one of a string of "sushi terrorism" episodes that disgraced Japan's food industry.&nbsp;

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A new law enforcement officer is in the block. After giving us Kate Winslet as a polished officer who helped nab a criminal in the fictional US town of Easttown, the creator of the hit show, Brad Ingelsby has tied up with Mark Ruffalo. Brad and Mark are working on a limited series together about a law enforcement task force.&nbsp;

Toxic wildfire smoke from Canada has impacted millions of people in North America, with people being alerted about the health risks of poor air quality. The North American skies have been shrouded with orange-tinged smog caused by the wildfires.

Toxic wildfire smoke from Canada has impacted millions of people in North America, with people being alerted about the health risks of poor air quality. The North American skies have been shrouded with orange-tinged smog caused by the wildfires. The smog has obscured the famous skyscrapers in the region and forced the residents to wear face masks. The cities along the US East Coast have also issued air quality alerts. On the other hand, Ukraine is grappling with a devastating flood crisis as the destruction of the Kakhovka dam has caused severe flooding in southern areas. Click on the headlines to read more Smoke from Canadian wildfires detected thousands of kilometres away in Norway The situation due to the wildfires keeps worsening as now a Norwegian Climate and Environmental Research Institute NILU said on Friday (June 9) said that smoke from Canadian wildfires has been detected thousands of kilometres away in the Scandinavian country this week. Ukraine mounts fresh military assault on Russia as flooding crisis claims 13 lives Interior Minister of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko communicated through Telegram that four individuals had perished and 13 were reported missing in the Kherson region. Additionally, one fatality was recorded in the Mykolayiv region. In Russian-held territory, an official appointed by Russia reported eight deaths and over 5,800 people evacuated from their homes. Biden received $5 mn in bribery scheme with Ukrainian gas firm: Report In a shocking expose ahead of the next US presidential elections, a media outlet has disclosed information from sources familiar with the matter, suggesting that President Joe Biden received a substantial payment of $5 million from an executive at the Ukrainian gas company, Burisma Holdings. It is noteworthy that Biden's son, Hunter Biden, served on the board of this company. India: Another horrifying scene caught on camera in Delhi as man stabs victim over personal grudge A shocking incident unfolded in northeast Delhi on Thursday night when a man was brutally attacked on the road while bystanders shied away from intervening. The distressing scene was captured in a viral video from Nand Nagri, showing the victim lying motionless on the road while the 22-year-old assailant dangerously brandished what appeared to be a large knife. Get, set, arrest? Will Donald Trump be arrested in classified documents row? Former US President Donald Trump has been charged in connection to a probe into classified documents that were reportedly taken to his Mar-a-Lago home after he left the White House. Trump said that he has been summoned to self-report to a district court in Florida's Miami on Tuesday at 3:00 PM (Wednesday, 12:30 AM Indian Standard Time). WTC Final: Ajinkya Rahane reaches fifty with SIX after poor start on Day 3; completes 5,000 Test Runs | WATCH Ajinkya Rahane has provided some relief for the Indian contingent in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia on Friday, June 9 after he scored his 26th fifty. The former India vice-captain is a lone warrior for the Indian team in the contest after Ravindra Jadeja (48) despite the Aussies dominating with both bat and ball. This came after KS Bharat was scalped on the second ball of the day to put the Indian side on the back foot. India: Zomato takes down 'Kachra' campaign video after major backlash An Indian online food delivery service named Zomato withdrew its advertisement on recycling trash, following complaints over how it depicted a Dalit character. Dalits, formerly referred to as "untouchables," are a historically underprivileged population in the country. JAWS in real life: Russian man ripped apart in shark attack off Egypt’s Red Sea resort In a scene straight out of Steven Spielberg's Jaws movie, a Russian man has reportedly died after being ripped and mauled apart by a lone shark off one of Egypt's Red Sea resorts. The video of the incident has gone viral on social media platforms and shows a tiger shark throwing and ripping apart the man like a soft toy. Japanese restaurant chain files damages suit against 'sushi terrorist' for licking soy bottle A diner who recorded himself licking a soy sauce bottle and wiping saliva on a fish slice at one of Japan's leading sushi restaurants is being sued by the sushi chain in Japan for ¥67mn ($480,859) in damages. This incident was one of a string of "sushi terrorism" episodes that disgraced Japan's food industry. Mark Ruffalo roped in for HBO show with Mare of Easttown creator A new law enforcement officer is in the block. After giving us Kate Winslet as a polished officer who helped nab a criminal in the fictional US town of Easttown, the creator of the hit show, Brad Ingelsby has tied up with Mark Ruffalo. Brad and Mark are working on a limited series together about a law enforcement task force.

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In the early hours of June 6, water started spilling out from the Nova Kakhovka dam in Ukraine. This unleashed floodwaters across the war zone. Ukraine blames Russia for the destruction & terms it an 'environmental bomb'.

Will the Kakhovka dam collapse hurt Ukraine's Counteroffensive?

The water is Ukraine is bought between the Ukrainian soldiers and the Russian troops - there are no western boots on the ground but almost every bullet, artillery, shell, bomb and missile which is fired by the Ukrainians have been provided by the West.

Russia wants answers from US: Does US know how Kyiv is using their weapons? | World News | WION

Ukraine & Russia are accusing each other of shelling rescuers and evacuees in the flood-hit Kherson region. Moscow says its forces fought off a Ukrainian offensive in another part of the front line. The un nuclear watchdog has stated Europe's largest atomic power plant is still receiving water from a key dam after it was breached in the fighting. Water from the reservoir of the dam is still being pumped to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to cool reactors, though levels are at values earlier thought to make it impossible. After Zelensky's Kherson visit, Kyiv said Russian strikes killed one and injured 18 more, including emergency services staff. In the Zaporizhzhia region, Russia said its forces had fought a 2- hour battle with Ukrainian troops in the early hours of Thursday. Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said the Ukrainian offensive involved 1,500 soldiers & 150 armored vehicles. He said the enemy was stopped & retreated after heavy losses.

Russia: 'Ukrainian troops stopped, retreated after losses' | Strikes in Kherson after Zelensky visit

Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of shelling people being evacuated from flood-hit Kherson. The Kremlin and the region's governor both claim that rescue workers and civilians are being targeted after Tuesday's breach of the Kakhovka dam.

Ukraine dam: Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of shelling flood evacuees

Ukraine is grappling with a devastating flood crisis as the destruction of the Kakhovka dam has caused severe flooding in southern areas. According to Ukrainian officials, at least five people have lost their lives as a result of the flooding, even as urgent evacuation efforts are underway. On the other hand, Russia has reported the death of at least eight people in territories held by its forces.

<h2>Five people killed in Ukraine-held territory</h2>

Interior Minister of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko communicated through Telegram that four individuals had perished and 13 were reported missing in the Kherson region. Additionally, one fatality was recorded in the Mykolayiv region. In Russian-held territory, an official appointed by Russia reported eight deaths and over 5,800 people evacuated from their homes.

Watch:&nbsp;Ukraine damn breach: Dam collapse is an ecological catastrophe

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President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasised that the authorities were working tirelessly to rescue individuals affected by the floods. He stated, "The evacuation continues. Wherever we can get people out of the flood zone, we are doing it." Zelensky shared images online, showing the flooded areas where emergency services personnel were using boats to save both people and animals.

<h2>‘No access to drinking water’</h2>

Zelensky also expressed his determination to investigate the extent of the damage “caused by Russia”. He stated, "We are finding out more details about the damage Russia caused by this disaster."&nbsp;

The Ukrainian president highlighted that access to drinking water has been significantly impaired for hundreds of thousands of people in the affected areas, while saying, “In more than 40 settlements, life is broken."

<h2>Kyiv says it has proof Russia sabotaged the&nbsp;Kakhovka dam</h2>

Meanwhile, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has released an intercepted telephone call that allegedly implicates a Russian sabotage group in the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. The SBU posted a brief audio clip on its Telegram channel, which featured a conversation between two individuals discussing the dam incident.

In the recording, one of the men, identified by the SBU as a Russian soldier, stated, "They [the Ukrainians] didn't strike it. That was our sabotage group. They wanted to, like, scare [people] with that dam. It didn't go according to plan, and [they did] more than what they planned for."

The SBU did not provide additional information regarding the conversation or its context. The released audio clip, however, is being presented as evidence supporting Ukraine's claim of Russian involvement in the dam's destruction.

<h2>Ukraine launches attack on Russia near Zaporizhzhia</h2>

In a related development, Ukrainian military forces have reportedly launched attacks on occupying Russian forces in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. According to Russian officials and military bloggers, Ukrainian troops, supported by tanks, artillery, and drones, have been attempting to advance south of Orikhiv for the second consecutive night. A senior Ukrainian defence official described the enemy's position as "active defence."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-dam-collapse-people-forced-to-spend-the-night-on-roofs-trees-due-to-flooding-601693">Also read:&nbsp;Ukraine dam collapse: People forced to spend the night on roofs, trees due to flooding</a>

Military experts have opined that Ukraine's long-awaited counter-offensive will focus on Zaporizhzhia. Their analysis suggests that Kyiv aims to regain access to the Sea of Azov, thereby dividing the occupying Russian forces in the region into two separate groups. This strategic move would not only weaken Russia's combat capability but also eliminate a land bridge to Crimea, which was forcefully annexed by Russia in 2014.

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Ukraine is grappling with a devastating flood crisis as the destruction of the Kakhovka dam has caused severe flooding in southern areas. According to Ukrainian officials, at least five people have lost their lives as a result of the flooding, even as urgent evacuation efforts are underway.

Ukraine is grappling with a devastating flood crisis as the destruction of the Kakhovka dam has caused severe flooding in southern areas. According to Ukrainian officials, at least five people have lost their lives as a result of the flooding, even as urgent evacuation efforts are underway. On the other hand, Russia has reported the death of at least eight people in territories held by its forces. Five people killed in Ukraine-held territory Interior Minister of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko communicated through Telegram that four individuals had perished and 13 were reported missing in the Kherson region. Additionally, one fatality was recorded in the Mykolayiv region. In Russian-held territory, an official appointed by Russia reported eight deaths and over 5,800 people evacuated from their homes. Watch: Ukraine damn breach: Dam collapse is an ecological catastrophe × President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasised that the authorities were working tirelessly to rescue individuals affected by the floods. He stated, "The evacuation continues. Wherever we can get people out of the flood zone, we are doing it." Zelensky shared images online, showing the flooded areas where emergency services personnel were using boats to save both people and animals. ‘No access to drinking water’ Zelensky also expressed his determination to investigate the extent of the damage “caused by Russia”. He stated, "We are finding out more details about the damage Russia caused by this disaster." The Ukrainian president highlighted that access to drinking water has been significantly impaired for hundreds of thousands of people in the affected areas, while saying, “In more than 40 settlements, life is broken." Kyiv says it has proof Russia sabotaged the Kakhovka dam Meanwhile, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has released an intercepted telephone call that allegedly implicates a Russian sabotage group in the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. The SBU posted a brief audio clip on its Telegram channel, which featured a conversation between two individuals discussing the dam incident. In the recording, one of the men, identified by the SBU as a Russian soldier, stated, "They [the Ukrainians] didn't strike it. That was our sabotage group. They wanted to, like, scare [people] with that dam. It didn't go according to plan, and [they did] more than what they planned for." The SBU did not provide additional information regarding the conversation or its context. The released audio clip, however, is being presented as evidence supporting Ukraine's claim of Russian involvement in the dam's destruction. Ukraine launches attack on Russia near Zaporizhzhia In a related development, Ukrainian military forces have reportedly launched attacks on occupying Russian forces in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. According to Russian officials and military bloggers, Ukrainian troops, supported by tanks, artillery, and drones, have been attempting to advance south of Orikhiv for the second consecutive night. A senior Ukrainian defence official described the enemy's position as "active defence." Also read: Ukraine dam collapse: People forced to spend the night on roofs, trees due to flooding Military experts have opined that Ukraine's long-awaited counter-offensive will focus on Zaporizhzhia. Their analysis suggests that Kyiv aims to regain access to the Sea of Azov, thereby dividing the occupying Russian forces in the region into two separate groups. This strategic move would not only weaken Russia's combat capability but also eliminate a land bridge to Crimea, which was forcefully annexed by Russia in 2014. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Ukraine mounts fresh military assault on Russia as flooding crisis claims 13 lives

Ukraine launched a long-anticipated counteroffensive against Russia, on Thursday, according to media reports. Several experts said that the counteroffensive emerge as a crucial phase in the ongoing war.

In other news, India's foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar responded to remarks made by Canada's National Security Advisor (NSA) Jody Thomas that said India interferes in Ottawa's affairs through "state actors and non-state proxies".&nbsp;

Click on the headlines to read more.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-launches-long-awaited-counteroffensive-to-reclaim-russian-occupied-territory-report-602192">Ukraine launches long-awaited counteroffensive to reclaim Russian-occupied territory: Reports</a>

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Ukraine on Thursday (June 8) launched a long-anticipated counteroffensive against Russia, media reports mentioned citing officials. Several experts said that the counteroffensive emerge as a crucial phase in the ongoing war.&nbsp;

This comes after Russia claimed on the same day that Ukrainian strikes killed two people at an evacuation point for civilians from the Kherson region, which was flooded after a dam in Russian-held territory was destroyed.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-jaishankar-responds-to-wion-on-canadian-nsas-foreign-interference-remark-602086">Watch | Jaishankar responds to WION on Canadian NSA's 'foreign interference' remark</a>

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India's foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar responded to remarks made by Canada's National Security Advisor (NSA) that said India interferes in Ottawa's affairs through "state actors and non-state proxies".&nbsp;

Responding to a question by WION related to the remark by Canadian NSA Jody Thomas, Jaishankar said: "The phrase that comes to my mind is, 'ooltah chor kotwal ko daantey' [the pot calling the kettle black]. It's we who had a complaint with them," he said while referring to Ottawa's inaction on anti-India secessionist forces that call for an independent Khalistan.&nbsp;

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An explosion at the funeral service of an Afghan provincial governor, who was assassinated earlier this week, claimed the lives of at least 15 people on Thursday, TOLOnews reported citing a local official.

The blast at the funeral of the acting governor of northeastern Badakhshan province also wounded more than 50 people that had gathered for a mosque service honouring Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-knife-attack-video-shows-terrifying-moments-when-man-stabbed-a-child-multiple-times-602272">France knife attack: Video shows terrifying moments when man stabbed a child multiple times</a>

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At least four preschool children and two adults were injured in a knife attack which took place by a lake in the French Alps on Thursday (June 8). Preliminary information suggested that a Syrian refugee armed with a knife stabbed the kids, a video shows how the incident came about.&nbsp;

The video shows the suspect coming close to a baby in a pram and stabbing the little one multiple times. The videos show the mother trying to stop the attacker.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/focus-on-identifying-culprits-not-penalising-victims-trudeau-on-indian-students-facing-deportation-602233">'Focus on identifying culprits, not penalising victims': Trudeau on Indian students facing deportation</a>

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasised that his administration was focused on "identifying the culprits, not punishing the victims" even as a committee of the House of Commons supported a vote on Wednesday (June 7) in support of former Indian foreign students who may be deported from Canada.

Speaking in Parliament, Trudeau said, “We are deeply aware of cases of international students facing removal orders over fraudulent college acceptance letters. Our focus is in identifying the culprits, not penalising the victims.”

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Rohit Sharma’s woes in the International Cricket Council (ICC) finals continued after he was dismissed for 15 by opposite number Pat Cummins for 15 runs. Rohit, leading the Indian team in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) final on Thursday, 8 June he had yet another disappointing outing in the final against the Aussies while team India struggled in the second session of Day 2. The Indian team already lost four wickets before the end of the second session.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ai-nuclear-weapon-of-software-wion-speaks-to-deepai-founder-kevin-baragona-602187">AI 'nuclear weapon of software': WION speaks to DeepAI founder Kevin Baragona</a>

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly prevalent in our daily lives, leading to concerns about its potential impact on employment, disruptions in different industries, and the spread of political ideologies.

WION spoke with Kevin Baragona, the founder of DeepAI.org on the future of how one should envision the future of AI in the next decade. DeepAI is an application that uses Zendo as an AI agent that anyone can teach to perform a visual recognition task.&nbsp;

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The scientists, in their latest search for extraterrestrial life, are trying to carefully listen to the radio pulses that are emerging from the centre of our galaxy.

The new direction in the investigation of extraterrestrial life has been taken with the hypothesis that intelligent aliens could be lurking at the heart of our galaxy - the Milky Way.

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Another world record of the largest-ever gathering of people donning a Spider-Man costume was set by Sony Pictures Malaysia. On June 3, around 685 people wearing Spider-Man costumes gathered at the AEON Mall Bukit Tinggi to create a new world record.

“Sony Pictures Entertainment Malaysia decided to attempt this record title to celebrate the release of a new Spider-Man movie: Across the Spider-Verse, which was released on 1 June, 2023,” stated the Guinness World Records website.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-visits-flood-hit-areas-medical-facility-after-nova-kakhovka-dam-collapse-602166">Zelensky visits flood-hit areas, medical facility following Nova Kakhovka dam collapse</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/06/08/357965-wion-images-2023-06-08t162205157.png?imwidth=1920" />

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the flood-hit region in the country’s eastern region Kherson, on Thursday (June 8) after the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam. He also visited a medical facility and met people evacuated from the region and thanked the “heroic” staff for their work.&nbsp;

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Ukraine launched a long-anticipated counteroffensive against Russia, on Thursday, according to media reports. Several experts said that the counteroffensive emerge as a crucial phase in the ongoing war.

Ukraine launched a long-anticipated counteroffensive against Russia, on Thursday, according to media reports. Several experts said that the counteroffensive emerge as a crucial phase in the ongoing war. In other news, India's foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar responded to remarks made by Canada's National Security Advisor (NSA) Jody Thomas that said India interferes in Ottawa's affairs through "state actors and non-state proxies". Click on the headlines to read more. Ukraine launches long-awaited counteroffensive to reclaim Russian-occupied territory: Reports Ukraine on Thursday (June 8) launched a long-anticipated counteroffensive against Russia, media reports mentioned citing officials. Several experts said that the counteroffensive emerge as a crucial phase in the ongoing war. This comes after Russia claimed on the same day that Ukrainian strikes killed two people at an evacuation point for civilians from the Kherson region, which was flooded after a dam in Russian-held territory was destroyed. Watch | Jaishankar responds to WION on Canadian NSA's 'foreign interference' remark India's foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar responded to remarks made by Canada's National Security Advisor (NSA) that said India interferes in Ottawa's affairs through "state actors and non-state proxies". Responding to a question by WION related to the remark by Canadian NSA Jody Thomas, Jaishankar said: "The phrase that comes to my mind is, 'ooltah chor kotwal ko daantey' [the pot calling the kettle black]. It's we who had a complaint with them," he said while referring to Ottawa's inaction on anti-India secessionist forces that call for an independent Khalistan. Blast near Afghan deputy governor's funeral kills at least 15, injures 50 An explosion at the funeral service of an Afghan provincial governor, who was assassinated earlier this week, claimed the lives of at least 15 people on Thursday, TOLOnews reported citing a local official. The blast at the funeral of the acting governor of northeastern Badakhshan province also wounded more than 50 people that had gathered for a mosque service honouring Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi. France knife attack: Video shows terrifying moments when man stabbed a child multiple times At least four preschool children and two adults were injured in a knife attack which took place by a lake in the French Alps on Thursday (June 8). Preliminary information suggested that a Syrian refugee armed with a knife stabbed the kids, a video shows how the incident came about. The video shows the suspect coming close to a baby in a pram and stabbing the little one multiple times. The videos show the mother trying to stop the attacker. 'Focus on identifying culprits, not penalising victims': Trudeau on Indian students facing deportation Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasised that his administration was focused on "identifying the culprits, not punishing the victims" even as a committee of the House of Commons supported a vote on Wednesday (June 7) in support of former Indian foreign students who may be deported from Canada. Speaking in Parliament, Trudeau said, “We are deeply aware of cases of international students facing removal orders over fraudulent college acceptance letters. Our focus is in identifying the culprits, not penalising the victims.” WTC Final: Pat Cummins scalps Rohit Sharma as woes continue in ICC finals for Indian skipper | WATCH Rohit Sharma’s woes in the International Cricket Council (ICC) finals continued after he was dismissed for 15 by opposite number Pat Cummins for 15 runs. Rohit, leading the Indian team in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) final on Thursday, 8 June he had yet another disappointing outing in the final against the Aussies while team India struggled in the second session of Day 2. The Indian team already lost four wickets before the end of the second session. AI 'nuclear weapon of software': WION speaks to DeepAI founder Kevin Baragona Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly prevalent in our daily lives, leading to concerns about its potential impact on employment, disruptions in different industries, and the spread of political ideologies. WION spoke with Kevin Baragona, the founder of DeepAI.org on the future of how one should envision the future of AI in the next decade. DeepAI is an application that uses Zendo as an AI agent that anyone can teach to perform a visual recognition task. Aliens saying 'hello' through signals from centre of Milky Way, suggests new study The scientists, in their latest search for extraterrestrial life, are trying to carefully listen to the radio pulses that are emerging from the centre of our galaxy. The new direction in the investigation of extraterrestrial life has been taken with the hypothesis that intelligent aliens could be lurking at the heart of our galaxy - the Milky Way. Malaysian Spider-Verse | 685 people dressed as Spider-Man gather at mall, break India's record Another world record of the largest-ever gathering of people donning a Spider-Man costume was set by Sony Pictures Malaysia. On June 3, around 685 people wearing Spider-Man costumes gathered at the AEON Mall Bukit Tinggi to create a new world record. “Sony Pictures Entertainment Malaysia decided to attempt this record title to celebrate the release of a new Spider-Man movie: Across the Spider-Verse, which was released on 1 June, 2023,” stated the Guinness World Records website. Zelensky visits flood-hit areas, medical facility following Nova Kakhovka dam collapse Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the flood-hit region in the country’s eastern region Kherson, on Thursday (June 8) after the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam. He also visited a medical facility and met people evacuated from the region and thanked the “heroic” staff for their work.

Top 10 world news: Ukraine launches counteroffensive against Russia, explosion rocks Afghanistan, and more

Claims and counter claims rage on as Russia and Ukraine continue shelling amid rescue operations in the flood-hit Kherson region. 600 square kilometres of Kherson is under water. Another area of focus here is Zaporizhzhia, the area of the critical nuclear power plant. According to Ukrainian officials, Russian shelling killed one person and injured 18 other people. This includes one of the emergency service staff who was overseeing the evacuation. Meanwhile, officials from the Russian controlled areas of Kherson have said that two evacuees were killed in Ukrainian shelling. Russia said its forces had fought a two-hour battle with Ukrainian troops on Thursday. Russian Defence Minister Shoigu said the Ukrainian offensive involved 1,500 soldiers and 150 armoured vehicles.

Kyiv: 1 dead, 18 injured in Russian shelling | Russia-Ukraine War

Claims and counter-claims rage on as Russia and Ukraine continue shelling amid rescue operations in the flood-hit Kherson region as 600 square kilometers of Kherson is under water. Another area of focus here is the Zaporizhzhia known as the area of the critical nuclear power plant, well let's take a look.

Fighting rages in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia

A new study claims that Instagram algorithms are promoting pedophilic content. The study has discovered hashtags that are helping pedophiles discover accounts selling child-sex material. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas | Ukraine war just turned extreme: Here's why

Has Ukraine slipped into a total war? The destruction of Nova Kakhova dam indicates that even civilian facilities are no longer safe. Does this set a dangerous precedent? Will more civilian facilities be targeted? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas | Ukraine war just turned extreme

Kherson: Rescue continues amid heavy shelling by Russia and Ukraine | Russia-Ukraine War

Claims and counter claims rage on as Russia and Ukraine continue shelling amid rescue operations in the flood-hit Kherson region. 600 square kilometres of Kherson is under water. Another area of focus here is Zaporizhzhia, the area of the critical nuclear power plant. According to Ukrainian officials, Russian shelling killed one person and injured 18 other people.

Fighting rages in Kherson & Zaporizhzhia, 1 dead & 18 injured in Russian shelling

Claims and counterclaims rage on as Russia and Ukraine continue shelling amid rescue operations in the flood-hit Kherson region. 600 square kilometers of Kherson is underwater. Another area of focus here is zaporizhzhia, the area of the critical nuclear power plant. According to Ukrainian officials, Russian shelling killed one person and injured 18 other people. This includes one of the emergency service staff who was overseeing the evacuation. Meanwhile, officials from the Russian-controlled areas of Kherson have said that two evacuees were killed in Ukrainian shelling. Russia said its forces had fought a two-hour battle with Ukrainian troops on Thursday. Russian defence minister Shoigu said the Ukrainian offensive involved 1,500 soldiers and 150 armored vehicles.

Russia claims it stopped Ukrainian offensive in Zaporizhzhia within 2 hours

Water from the reservoir of a breached Ukrainian dam is still being pumped to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to cool reactors and other areas, though levels are at values earlier thought to make it impossible, the U.N. atomic watchdog said on Thursday.

Damaged reservoir can still provide water for big Ukrainian nuclear plant -IAEA

In Pics | Thousands at risk amid blame game for Nova Kakhovka dam breach in Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday released a statement saying that his country would send aid to Ukraine "within the next few hours" after the Kakhovka dam breach triggered floods forcing the people to spend the night on roofs and trees.

"France condemns this atrocious act, which is endangering populations. Within the next few hours, we will send aid to meet immediate needs," Macron wrote on Twitter.

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I expressed to President Zelensky my solidarity with the Ukrainian people after the attack on the Kakhovka dam. France condemns this atrocious act, which is endangering populations. Within the next few hours, we will send aid to meet immediate needs.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1666501130535182339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The announcement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted to his French counterpart the urgent need to control the situation and handle the impact&nbsp;of the incident.

During the call with French President Emmanuel Macron, they "spoke about the current situation in Kherson region, the environmental and humanitarian consequences of the Russian act of terrorism, and outlined the urgent needs of Ukraine to eliminate the disaster", Zelensky said in a tweet. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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I had a thorough phone call with the President of 🇫🇷 France <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a>. Thanked him for the opportunity to participate in the Summit of the European Political Community and for support at the UN Security Council. Spoke about the current situation in Kherson region, the…
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1666484256799858689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>People forced to spend the night on roofs, trees due to flooding</h2>

The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in Ukraine caused heavy flooding and people awaiting rescue in affected areas spent&nbsp;Tuesday night (June 6) on roofs or trees. The critical dam along the Dnipro River in Ukraine's Kherson region now held by Russia, collapsed on Tuesday. It is not yet clear who was responsible for the dam breach as both Kyiv&nbsp;and Moscow have been accusing each other.&nbsp;

Satellite images taken by Maxar Technologies showed houses and buildings submerged, with many showing only their roofs, and water taking over parks, land and infrastructure. And many such people slept on roofs and sat on trees, waiting to be rescued, the news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;

<h2>42,000 people at direct risk from flooding: Ukraine</h2>

The Ukrainian government estimated that around 42,000 people are at direct risk from flooding which is expected to peak on Wednesday, and hundreds and thousands would be left without access to drinking water.&nbsp;

In a statement, the agriculture ministry said the disaster would cut off the water supply to 31 irrigation systems in the Ukrainian regions of Dnipro. The dam's destruction has left 94% of irrigation systems in Kherson, 74% of those in Zaporizhzhia, and 30% in Dnipro regions without water, the ministry added.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-prime-minister-denys-shmyhal-calls-kakhovka-dam-destruction-environmental-catastrophe-601821">Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal calls Kakhovka dam destruction 'environmental catastrophe'</a>

Residents in affected areas have started fleeing, carrying children on their shoulders, dogs in their arms, and belongings in plastic bags while rescuers used rubber boats to search areas where the waters reached above head height.

<h2>Putin reacts, calls Kakhovka dam attack 'barbaric act'</h2>

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (June 7) called the attack on the Russian-occupied Kakhovka dam a "barbaric act", in his first public reaction to the situation. Moscow has already blamed Ukraine for the "catastrophic" attack.&nbsp;

The hydroelectric dam was ripped open early Tuesday after a reported blast and in the aftermath, Moscow and Kyiv have traded blame for the attack.&nbsp;

The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin told Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call that the breach was "a barbaric act which has led to a large-scale environmental and humanitarian catastrophe".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday released a statement saying that his country would send aid to Ukraine "within the next few hours" after the Kakhovka dam breach triggered floods forcing the people to spend the night on roofs and trees.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday released a statement saying that his country would send aid to Ukraine "within the next few hours" after the Kakhovka dam breach triggered floods forcing the people to spend the night on roofs and trees. "France condemns this atrocious act, which is endangering populations. Within the next few hours, we will send aid to meet immediate needs," Macron wrote on Twitter. I expressed to President Zelensky my solidarity with the Ukrainian people after the attack on the Kakhovka dam. France condemns this atrocious act, which is endangering populations. Within the next few hours, we will send aid to meet immediate needs. — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 7, 2023 × The announcement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted to his French counterpart the urgent need to control the situation and handle the impact of the incident. During the call with French President Emmanuel Macron, they "spoke about the current situation in Kherson region, the environmental and humanitarian consequences of the Russian act of terrorism, and outlined the urgent needs of Ukraine to eliminate the disaster", Zelensky said in a tweet. I had a thorough phone call with the President of 🇫🇷 France @EmmanuelMacron. Thanked him for the opportunity to participate in the Summit of the European Political Community and for support at the UN Security Council. Spoke about the current situation in Kherson region, the… — Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 7, 2023 × People forced to spend the night on roofs, trees due to flooding The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in Ukraine caused heavy flooding and people awaiting rescue in affected areas spent Tuesday night (June 6) on roofs or trees. The critical dam along the Dnipro River in Ukraine's Kherson region now held by Russia, collapsed on Tuesday. It is not yet clear who was responsible for the dam breach as both Kyiv and Moscow have been accusing each other. Satellite images taken by Maxar Technologies showed houses and buildings submerged, with many showing only their roofs, and water taking over parks, land and infrastructure. And many such people slept on roofs and sat on trees, waiting to be rescued, the news agency Reuters reported. 42,000 people at direct risk from flooding: Ukraine The Ukrainian government estimated that around 42,000 people are at direct risk from flooding which is expected to peak on Wednesday, and hundreds and thousands would be left without access to drinking water. In a statement, the agriculture ministry said the disaster would cut off the water supply to 31 irrigation systems in the Ukrainian regions of Dnipro. The dam's destruction has left 94% of irrigation systems in Kherson, 74% of those in Zaporizhzhia, and 30% in Dnipro regions without water, the ministry added. Also read: Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal calls Kakhovka dam destruction 'environmental catastrophe' Residents in affected areas have started fleeing, carrying children on their shoulders, dogs in their arms, and belongings in plastic bags while rescuers used rubber boats to search areas where the waters reached above head height. Putin reacts, calls Kakhovka dam attack 'barbaric act' President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (June 7) called the attack on the Russian-occupied Kakhovka dam a "barbaric act", in his first public reaction to the situation. Moscow has already blamed Ukraine for the "catastrophic" attack. The hydroelectric dam was ripped open early Tuesday after a reported blast and in the aftermath, Moscow and Kyiv have traded blame for the attack. The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin told Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call that the breach was "a barbaric act which has led to a large-scale environmental and humanitarian catastrophe". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

French President Emmanuel Macron to send aid to Ukraine after Kakhovka dam breach

The Kakhovka dam explosion has resulted in floods and widespread destruction triggering a humanitarian crisis in the middle of a warzone. Now, it has unleashed a new threat, the scare of rogue landmines.

Ukraine dam: Dislodged mines a major concern

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe - Kherson dam breach inundates nearby areas, Ukraine seeks urgent help from global aid groups, Burgum to compete with Trump, DeSantis, Pence and Christie, UK PM Rishi Sunak pledges to strengthen ties with the US.

Kherson dam breach inundates nearby areas | Ukraine seeks urgent help

Moscow, at the top United Nations court,&nbsp;denied accusations by Kyiv about backing pro-Russian separatists accused of shooting down an aircraft in 2014 over Ukraine and discrimination against the Tatar ethnic group in Crimea, on Thursday (June 8). Russia also went on to call Ukraine’s accusations “blatant lies,” days after Kyiv called Moscow a “terrorist state.”&nbsp;

The hearing about the 2014 case came amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries and days after the attack on the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine for which both Moscow and Kyiv blamed each other.&nbsp;

<h2>What was the hearing about?</h2>

The hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was the first time Russian and Ukrainian lawyers faced each other since the beginning of what Moscow calls&nbsp;a “special military operation” in Ukraine.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/terrorist-state-ukraine-slams-russia-at-international-court-of-justice-hearing-601468">‘Terrorist state’: Ukraine slams Russia at International Court of Justice hearing</a>

The legal teams from both countries comprised dozens of representatives and two days after Ukraine presented the allegations, Russia was allowed to respond before a panel of 16 judges at the ICJ on the second day of the hearings.&nbsp;

According to Kyiv, Moscow violated the UN conventions for financing terrorism and racial discrimination as it allegedly equipped and funded pro-Russian forces who shot down the Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine killing all 298 passengers and crew on board.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-launches-long-awaited-counteroffensive-to-reclaim-russian-occupied-territory-report-602192">Ukraine launches long-awaited counteroffensive to reclaim Russian-occupied territory: Reports</a>

Violence broke out in 2014 in Ukraine when at least 13,000 people were killed after pro-European Union protesters overthrew Kyiv’s Moscow-allied government. It was not soon after that Russia forcibly annexed Crimea.&nbsp;

Ukraine has also called on the Hague-based court to order Russia to stop discrimination against the Tatar ethnic group in Crimea and claimed that after the region was annexed Moscow then “engaged in a campaign of cultural erasure, taking aim at ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars".

<h2>How has Russia responded to the allegations?</h2>

Over the years, Russia has repeatedly denied these allegations. On Thursday, the Russian ambassador to the Netherlands, Alexander Shulgin told the ICJ, “Ukraine is constantly turning to blatant lies and false accusations levelled against the Russian Federation.” He added, “Nothing could be further removed from the truth.”&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/collapse-of-critical-ukrainian-dam-sparks-evacuations-602151">Collapse of critical Ukrainian dam sparks evacuations</a>

Russia also reiterated the denial of claims and rejected the “scandalous” decision by the Dutch court in November that convicted two Russians and a Ukrainian separatist to life in absentia over the shooting of MH17 and their role. The court also found Russia had “overall control” over the separatist forces.

Furthermore, Russia’s ambassador-at-large, Gennady Kuzmin told the ICJ, that the verdict was biased against separatist forces in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, adding that “At the end of the day, Ukraine’s MH17 case boils down to nonsense.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-russia-ukraine-war-nova-kakhovka-dam-attack-what-we-know-so-far-601391">Explained | What we know so far about the Nova Kakhovka dam attack in Ukraine</a>

This comes days after Ukrainian lawyers said that the Russian officials were “guilty of terrorism financing” as they supplied the missile knowing it would be used to shoot down an aircraft.&nbsp;

<h2>Russian lawyers on the Nova Kakhovka dam collapse, neo-Nazis in Ukraine</h2>

Russia reiterated claims made by the Kremlin following the incident and said Ukraine destroyed the key dam with artillery strikes and that the government in Kyiv was led by neo-Nazis.&nbsp;

“Ukraine has declared that Russia blew up the large dam at Nova Kakhovka. In fact, it’s Ukraine that did it,” said Shulgin, adding the “Kyiv regime not only launched massive artillery attacks against the dam…but it also deliberately raised the water level of the Kakhovka reservoir to a critical level.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-dead-due-to-flooding-from-kakhovka-dam-breach-600-sq-kms-of-kherson-oblast-under-water-602125">Three dead due to flooding from Kakhovka dam breach, 600 sq kms of Kherson Oblast under water</a>

This comes after a Ukrainian diplomat, reiterating&nbsp;statements from officials in Kyiv, on Tuesday, said “Just today, Russia blew up a major dam…causing significant civilian evacuations, ecological damage and threatening the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.”

The Russian lawyer also repeated President Vladimir Putin’s claim which he used to justify the war in Ukraine which is that Kyiv’s current government had “neo-Nazis” in key posts and accused them of “brutal repression” in the eastern Donbas region.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-visits-flood-hit-areas-medical-facility-after-nova-kakhovka-dam-collapse-602166">Zelensky visits flood-hit areas, medical facility after Nova Kakhovka dam collapse</a>

This comes after Putin said one of the goals of his “special military operation” was the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine. Representatives from Ukraine are expected to respond to these allegations next week.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

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Moscow, at the top United Nations court, denied accusations by Kyiv about backing pro-Russian separatists accused of shooting down an aircraft in 2014 over Ukraine and discrimination against the Tatar ethnic group in Crimea, on Thursday (June 8).

Moscow, at the top United Nations court, denied accusations by Kyiv about backing pro-Russian separatists accused of shooting down an aircraft in 2014 over Ukraine and discrimination against the Tatar ethnic group in Crimea, on Thursday (June 8). Russia also went on to call Ukraine’s accusations “blatant lies,” days after Kyiv called Moscow a “terrorist state.” The hearing about the 2014 case came amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries and days after the attack on the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine for which both Moscow and Kyiv blamed each other. What was the hearing about? The hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was the first time Russian and Ukrainian lawyers faced each other since the beginning of what Moscow calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine. ALSO READ | ‘Terrorist state’: Ukraine slams Russia at International Court of Justice hearing The legal teams from both countries comprised dozens of representatives and two days after Ukraine presented the allegations, Russia was allowed to respond before a panel of 16 judges at the ICJ on the second day of the hearings. According to Kyiv, Moscow violated the UN conventions for financing terrorism and racial discrimination as it allegedly equipped and funded pro-Russian forces who shot down the Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine killing all 298 passengers and crew on board. ALSO READ | Ukraine launches long-awaited counteroffensive to reclaim Russian-occupied territory: Reports Violence broke out in 2014 in Ukraine when at least 13,000 people were killed after pro-European Union protesters overthrew Kyiv’s Moscow-allied government. It was not soon after that Russia forcibly annexed Crimea. Ukraine has also called on the Hague-based court to order Russia to stop discrimination against the Tatar ethnic group in Crimea and claimed that after the region was annexed Moscow then “engaged in a campaign of cultural erasure, taking aim at ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars". How has Russia responded to the allegations? Over the years, Russia has repeatedly denied these allegations. On Thursday, the Russian ambassador to the Netherlands, Alexander Shulgin told the ICJ, “Ukraine is constantly turning to blatant lies and false accusations levelled against the Russian Federation.” He added, “Nothing could be further removed from the truth.” ALSO WATCH | Collapse of critical Ukrainian dam sparks evacuations Russia also reiterated the denial of claims and rejected the “scandalous” decision by the Dutch court in November that convicted two Russians and a Ukrainian separatist to life in absentia over the shooting of MH17 and their role. The court also found Russia had “overall control” over the separatist forces. Furthermore, Russia’s ambassador-at-large, Gennady Kuzmin told the ICJ, that the verdict was biased against separatist forces in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, adding that “At the end of the day, Ukraine’s MH17 case boils down to nonsense.” ALSO READ | Explained | What we know so far about the Nova Kakhovka dam attack in Ukraine This comes days after Ukrainian lawyers said that the Russian officials were “guilty of terrorism financing” as they supplied the missile knowing it would be used to shoot down an aircraft. Russian lawyers on the Nova Kakhovka dam collapse, neo-Nazis in Ukraine Russia reiterated claims made by the Kremlin following the incident and said Ukraine destroyed the key dam with artillery strikes and that the government in Kyiv was led by neo-Nazis. “Ukraine has declared that Russia blew up the large dam at Nova Kakhovka. In fact, it’s Ukraine that did it,” said Shulgin, adding the “Kyiv regime not only launched massive artillery attacks against the dam…but it also deliberately raised the water level of the Kakhovka reservoir to a critical level.” ALSO READ | Three dead due to flooding from Kakhovka dam breach, 600 sq kms of Kherson Oblast under water This comes after a Ukrainian diplomat, reiterating statements from officials in Kyiv, on Tuesday, said “Just today, Russia blew up a major dam…causing significant civilian evacuations, ecological damage and threatening the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.” The Russian lawyer also repeated President Vladimir Putin’s claim which he used to justify the war in Ukraine which is that Kyiv’s current government had “neo-Nazis” in key posts and accused them of “brutal repression” in the eastern Donbas region. ALSO READ | Zelensky visits flood-hit areas, medical facility after Nova Kakhovka dam collapse This comes after Putin said one of the goals of his “special military operation” was the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine. Representatives from Ukraine are expected to respond to these allegations next week. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

MH17 crash: Russia calls Ukraine’s accusations 'blatant lies'; blames Kyiv for Kakhovka dam breach

The Ka-Kho-Vka dam explosion has resulted in floods and widespread destruction, triggering a humanitarian crisis in the middle of a warzone. Now, it has unleashed a new threat stray, rogue landmines which were planted along the river bank have been washed away.

Putin calls Ukraine dam explosion 'a barbaric act' as threat of rogue landmines loom large

The British prime minister Rishi Sunak is in Washington DC. This is his first visit since becoming the United Kingdom's Prime Minister. The analysts are expecting his meeting with US President Joe Biden will include discussions on support for Ukraine and the United Kingdom's role in regulating artificial intelligence and also the US-UK military alliance.

UK PM Rishi Sunak to host first Global Summit on AI safety in US, meets Senate leaders

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the flood-hit region in the country’s eastern region Kherson, on Thursday (June 8) after the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam. He also visited a medical facility and met people evacuated from the region and thanked the “heroic” staff for their work.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Kremlin&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;said that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not have any plans to visit the Russian-occupied areas of Kherson affected by the flooding.

<h2>Situation in flood-hit Kherson</h2>

So far, at least three people have been killed due to the floods triggered by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine, according to The Kyiv Independent. On the other hand, Russian-installed authorities have said that at least five people were killed.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian president visited Kherson to discuss emergency operations in the region. The destruction of the dam, for which both Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other,&nbsp;has unleashed flood water from the Dnipro River and prompted the evacuation of thousands of people.&nbsp;

Ukrainian Governor Oleksandr Prokudin&nbsp;on Thursday said that 600 square kilometres of Kherson Oblast has been flooded, with some 68 per cent of the flooded land on the Russian-occupied east bank of the Dnipro River and 32 per cent on the Ukrainian-controlled west bank.

<h2>Zelensky visits Kherson to oversee response to the flood-hit regions</h2>

Kherson lies some 60 kilometres downstream from the Nova Kakhovka dam. Zelensky&nbsp;took to social media and wrote, “Working trip to Kherson region. A coordination meeting on the liquidation of consequences of the Kakhovka HPP (Hydroelectric Power Plant)&nbsp;dam explosion.”&nbsp;

“Many important issues were discussed. The operational situation in the region as a result of the disaster, evacuation of the population from potential flood zones, elimination of the emergency caused by the dam explosion, organization of life support for the flooded areas,” said Zelensky, on Telegram along with a video of his visit.

He added, “Also, the prospects for restoring the region’s ecosystem and the operational military situation in the man-made disaster area.” In a separate post, he also said that he visited the road crossing where people were being evacuated.&nbsp;

“It is important to calculate the damage and allocate funds to compensate residents affected by the disaster and develop a programme to compensate for losses or relocate businesses within the Kherson region,” said Zelensky.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Ukrainian president says Kherson will be rebuilt</h2>

Zelensky also visited the medical facility where he met with the locals and assured them that Kherson will be rebuilt after the floods. He took to Twitter and posted a video of himself visiting the medical facility and wrote, “At the evacuation point at one of Kherson’s medical institutions, I talked to our people affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.” 
&nbsp;

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У пункті евакуації на базі одного з медзакладів Херсона поспілкувався з нашими людьми, які постраждали внаслідок руйнування Каховської ГЕС. 
 
Ми допоможемо, і все, що треба відновити, ми відбудуємо. Дякую вам і бажаю здоров’я. 
 
Хочу подякувати всьому персоналу медзакладу за роботу… <a href="https://t.co/8omzH8pVzy">pic.twitter.com/8omzH8pVzy</a>
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1666747862598799367?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Addressing the locals he also said, “We will help you and rebuild everything that needs to be restored. I thank you and wish you good health.” Zelensky also went on to thank “all the staff of the medical institution for their work even under fire. You are heroic people".

Is Putin going to visit the Russian-occupied flood-hit areas? 
&nbsp; 
The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin does not have any plans to visit the Russian-occupied areas of Kherson affected by the flooding and was monitoring the situation.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the flood-hit region in the country’s eastern region Kherson, on Thursday (June 8) after the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the flood-hit region in the country’s eastern region Kherson, on Thursday (June 8) after the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam. He also visited a medical facility and met people evacuated from the region and thanked the “heroic” staff for their work. Meanwhile, the Kremlin on Thursday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not have any plans to visit the Russian-occupied areas of Kherson affected by the flooding. Situation in flood-hit Kherson So far, at least three people have been killed due to the floods triggered by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine, according to The Kyiv Independent. On the other hand, Russian-installed authorities have said that at least five people were killed. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian president visited Kherson to discuss emergency operations in the region. The destruction of the dam, for which both Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other, has unleashed flood water from the Dnipro River and prompted the evacuation of thousands of people. Ukrainian Governor Oleksandr Prokudin on Thursday said that 600 square kilometres of Kherson Oblast has been flooded, with some 68 per cent of the flooded land on the Russian-occupied east bank of the Dnipro River and 32 per cent on the Ukrainian-controlled west bank. Zelensky visits Kherson to oversee response to the flood-hit regions Kherson lies some 60 kilometres downstream from the Nova Kakhovka dam. Zelensky took to social media and wrote, “Working trip to Kherson region. A coordination meeting on the liquidation of consequences of the Kakhovka HPP (Hydroelectric Power Plant) dam explosion.” “Many important issues were discussed. The operational situation in the region as a result of the disaster, evacuation of the population from potential flood zones, elimination of the emergency caused by the dam explosion, organization of life support for the flooded areas,” said Zelensky, on Telegram along with a video of his visit. He added, “Also, the prospects for restoring the region’s ecosystem and the operational military situation in the man-made disaster area.” In a separate post, he also said that he visited the road crossing where people were being evacuated. “It is important to calculate the damage and allocate funds to compensate residents affected by the disaster and develop a programme to compensate for losses or relocate businesses within the Kherson region,” said Zelensky. Ukrainian president says Kherson will be rebuilt Zelensky also visited the medical facility where he met with the locals and assured them that Kherson will be rebuilt after the floods. He took to Twitter and posted a video of himself visiting the medical facility and wrote, “At the evacuation point at one of Kherson’s medical institutions, I talked to our people affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.” У пункті евакуації на базі одного з медзакладів Херсона поспілкувався з нашими людьми, які постраждали внаслідок руйнування Каховської ГЕС. Ми допоможемо, і все, що треба відновити, ми відбудуємо. Дякую вам і бажаю здоров’я. Хочу подякувати всьому персоналу медзакладу за роботу… pic.twitter.com/8omzH8pVzy — Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 8, 2023 × Addressing the locals he also said, “We will help you and rebuild everything that needs to be restored. I thank you and wish you good health.” Zelensky also went on to thank “all the staff of the medical institution for their work even under fire. You are heroic people". Is Putin going to visit the Russian-occupied flood-hit areas? The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin does not have any plans to visit the Russian-occupied areas of Kherson affected by the flooding and was monitoring the situation. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Zelensky visits flood-hit areas, medical facility following Nova Kakhovka dam collapse

A United States-bound Air India flight which took off from the Indian capital city of&nbsp;Delhi was diverted to Russia’s Magadan, on Tuesday after a “technical issue” in one of the engines. The diversion incidentally took place a day after the CEO of a US carrier raised concerns about flights using Russian airspace with American citizens on board amid the ongoing tensions between Washington and Moscow.&nbsp;

Air India, on Thursday (June 7) also sent a replacement flight from Mumbai to Magadan to take the passengers to San Francisco from the Russian town. The flight&nbsp;touched down in San Francisco a little after midnight (local time). The incident took place in the midst of Moscow’s ban on some Western carriers and about the use of Russian airspace&nbsp;by&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;airlines with&nbsp;American passengers&nbsp;on board.&nbsp;

Here’s what the Russian airspace row with the West is all about:&nbsp;

<h2>What happened to the Air India flight?</h2>

The San Francisco-bound flight&nbsp;from Delhi was carrying&nbsp;216 passengers and 16 crew. However, after facing some “technical issue” in one of the engines the AI173 was reported to have safely landed in the Russian town of Magadan.&nbsp;

The Indian airline went to assure that passengers were provided support on the ground and later confirmed that it would send an alternative aircraft while passengers are accommodated in local hotels in the Russian town.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-delhi-san-francisco-air-india-flight-diverted-to-russia-after-technical-issue-601306">Delhi-San Francisco Air India flight diverted to Russia after 'technical issue', US says closley monitoring</a>&nbsp;

The emergency landing was confirmed by the Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia. Citing a source present at the Magadan airport, Reuters reported that Air India engineers would arrive on the reserve plane with spare parts, on Wednesday.&nbsp; 
 
It was not until Thursday that Air India addressed the "technical issue"&nbsp;Boeing 777 encountered which was an indication of low oil pressure in one of the engines.&nbsp;"The aircraft encountered a technical issue whereby the pilots received an indication of low oil pressure in one engine. Out of caution, they elected to land the aircraft at a nearby airport rather than continue the journey," said Air India.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Washington is closely monitoring the situation</h2>

US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters they are aware of the incident and “are continuing to monitor the&nbsp;situation closely.”&nbsp;He added that since the flight was bound for the US, it is “likely” that there are American citizens on board. 
 
So far, Air India has not mentioned anything about the passengers'&nbsp;nationalities. It was on Wednesday, that&nbsp;Patel told reporters that less than 50 US&nbsp;citizens were aboard the Air India flight.&nbsp;

<h2>Row between Moscow and the West over airspace</h2>

The Air India incident has brought the recent tensions between the West and Russia over its airspace to the forefront. In a retaliatory move over the thousands of sanctions against Russia, it had last year banned certain foreign carriers from using its airspace, causing disruptions in the global air transport network.&nbsp;

This&nbsp;affected the aviation industry&nbsp;as it was forced to redraw air routes to avoid flying over the largest country in the world. Multiple airlines from the US, Europe, and Japan have already stopped flying over Russia. However, Gulf, China, as well as Air India, continue to use Russian airspace which has made flying times shorter and cut costs giving them an edge over their competitors.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/global-airline-industry-to-report-billions-in-losses-this-year-may-return-to-profit-in-2023-iata-540639">Global airline industry to report billions in losses this year; may return to profit in 2023: IATA</a>

Over a year ago, days after Russia began what it calls its “special military operation in Ukraine,” Moscow had moved to ban airlines from 36 countries over the sanctions imposed, which included all 27 member nations of the European Union, Canada, and the United Kingdom. This was after the US, UK, Canada, and Europe banned Russian aircraft from flying over their airspace.&nbsp;

This move prompted US airlines to lobby in Capitol Hill and at the White House as they were losing business to foreign competitors who could take passengers between the US and Asia faster and at a lower cost. Industry lobbying group Airlines for America told lawmakers in Washington last year that the US carriers are expected to witness collective losses of up to $2 billion per year.&nbsp;

Over the years, US airlines were able to access to Russian airspace following a series of agreements between Moscow and Washington. The US-based and other foreign carriers would pay what amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars per year to the Russian government as a fee for their air traffic control support, reported the New York Times, citing industry sources.

<h2>United Airlines, Air India chiefs argue at recent global industry meet</h2>

The incident in Russia took place a day after the CEOs of United Airlines and Air India butted heads at the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) annual meeting&nbsp;held in Istanbul. Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, raised concerns about planes flying through Russian airspace with American citizens onboard.&nbsp;

“What’s going to happen if an airline lands in Russia with some prominent US citizens on board? That is a potential crisis in the making,” said Kirby, adding that this issue should be solved “before the crisis happens".

However, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson defended the airline’s use of Russian airspace. “Air India, we operate according to the ambit of what is provided to us by the nation of India and not all nations agree,” said Wilson. He added, “So there are going to be different outcomes as a consequence.”&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-air-india-inks-one-of-the-biggest-deals-in-aviation-history-562464">Gravitas: Air India inks one of the biggest deals in aviation history</a>

The disagreement, yet again, has&nbsp;brought to the fore&nbsp;the strategic and geographic importance of Russia as the world’s largest country in global aviation. Kirby also said United was forced to stop operating several flights to India before the COVID-19 pandemic and now “we fly one and it’s an extra two hours.”&nbsp;

“It’s clearly a big impact to us,” said the US carrier’s CEO, adding that even with the extra time it cannot fly the other routes non-stop. Additionally, US carriers have also pushed for the government to discourage carriers from landing on US soil after crossing Russian airspace as they are paying Moscow for it.&nbsp;

Some Chinese airlines have also avoided flying over Russian airspace to and from the US, months after Senators urged President Joe Biden administration’s to stop Chinese airlines and foreign carriers from flying over Russia, as per Reuters.&nbsp;

<h2>Should geopolitical differences affect aviation?</h2>

During the meeting in Istanbul, IATA Director General Willie Walsh told Reuters, “What we would like to see is everybody using Russian airspace. I’m clear that it's not a security or a safety issue.” Similarly, Vinod Kannan, CEO of Indian airline Vistara said as long as the “law of the land” is not violated, it should not be an issue.&nbsp;

“It's a sensitive geopolitical issue and applying geopolitics to the aviation industry that does so much to link the world, I’m not sure that’s a link that should be made,” said Wilson, as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;

It is also worth noting that Kirby’s concerns are not entirely unfounded. In 2018, a Norwegian Air Boeing 737 was forced to make an emergency landing in Iran weeks after Washington had re-imposed sanctions. While the passengers flew out of Iran the next day, the aircraft was stranded for two months as its engines were made by US-based General Electric which waited weeks for a US Treasury export licence.

<h2>Air India sends replacement flight</h2>

Air India sent a replacement plane to ferry stranded passengers in Russia from Mumbai, on Thursday. “The ferry flight is carrying essentials in addition to a sufficient amount of food to cater to all passengers on the onward flight scheduled from GDX (Magadan airport) to San Francisco (SFO),” said the Indian carrier, in a statement.&nbsp;

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UPDATE: FERRY FLIGHT TO MAGADAN AIRBORNE 
 
Our ferry flight AI195 from Mumbai (BOM) to Magadan, Russia (GDX) is now airborne, and is expected to arrive at GDX at 0630 Hours (local time) on 08 June 2023. 
 
An Air India team is on board the flight to provide any support that the… <a href="https://t.co/oIwrqrF3po">pic.twitter.com/oIwrqrF3po</a>
— Air India (@airindia) <a href="https://twitter.com/airindia/status/1666387382629793792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The airline also said that “given the infrastructural limitations around the remote airport, we can confirm that all passengers were eventually moved to makeshift accommodation&nbsp;after making sincere attempts to accommodate passengers in hotels locally with the help of local government authorities.”&nbsp;

“As we do not have Air India staff based in the remote town of Magadan or in Russia, all ground support being provided to passengers is the best possible in this unusual circumstance,” said Air India. The Indian Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also confirmed that Air India told the ministry some passengers had been housed in a school building near the airport.&nbsp; 
 
In an update, on Thursday (June 8), Air India said&nbsp;Flight AI173D from Magadan (GDX) landed safely in San Francisco (SFO) at 12:07 am&nbsp;(local time). It added, "All our passengers are being extended maximum on-ground assistance with clearance formalities and provided other necessary support."&nbsp;

Air India Chief Customer Experience and Ground Handling Officer Rajesh Dogra, on Thursday, issuing an apology said, "We will fully refund the fare for your journey and, in addition, provide you a voucher for future travel on Air India," as quoted by PTI.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Air India’s passengers affected by US sanctions on Russia</h2>

A report by the Associated Press, citing Delhi-San Francisco flight passengers, said that they have been barred from leaving the makeshift accommodation where they have been staying and cannot use their credit cards to buy items from vending machines or stores because of the sanctions.&nbsp;

Additionally, speaking to the Indian media, a passenger also said how many US citizens were worried due to the ongoing tensions between Moscow and Washington.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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A United States-bound Air India flight which took off from the Indian capital city of Delhi was diverted to Russia’s Magadan, on Tuesday after a “technical issue” in one of the engines.

A United States-bound Air India flight which took off from the Indian capital city of Delhi was diverted to Russia’s Magadan, on Tuesday after a “technical issue” in one of the engines. The diversion incidentally took place a day after the CEO of a US carrier raised concerns about flights using Russian airspace with American citizens on board amid the ongoing tensions between Washington and Moscow. Air India, on Thursday (June 7) also sent a replacement flight from Mumbai to Magadan to take the passengers to San Francisco from the Russian town. The flight touched down in San Francisco a little after midnight (local time). The incident took place in the midst of Moscow’s ban on some Western carriers and about the use of Russian airspace by foreign airlines with American passengers on board. Here’s what the Russian airspace row with the West is all about: What happened to the Air India flight? The San Francisco-bound flight from Delhi was carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew. However, after facing some “technical issue” in one of the engines the AI173 was reported to have safely landed in the Russian town of Magadan. The Indian airline went to assure that passengers were provided support on the ground and later confirmed that it would send an alternative aircraft while passengers are accommodated in local hotels in the Russian town. ALSO READ | Delhi-San Francisco Air India flight diverted to Russia after 'technical issue', US says closley monitoring The emergency landing was confirmed by the Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia. Citing a source present at the Magadan airport, Reuters reported that Air India engineers would arrive on the reserve plane with spare parts, on Wednesday. It was not until Thursday that Air India addressed the "technical issue" Boeing 777 encountered which was an indication of low oil pressure in one of the engines. "The aircraft encountered a technical issue whereby the pilots received an indication of low oil pressure in one engine. Out of caution, they elected to land the aircraft at a nearby airport rather than continue the journey," said Air India. Washington is closely monitoring the situation US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters they are aware of the incident and “are continuing to monitor the situation closely.” He added that since the flight was bound for the US, it is “likely” that there are American citizens on board. So far, Air India has not mentioned anything about the passengers' nationalities. It was on Wednesday, that Patel told reporters that less than 50 US citizens were aboard the Air India flight. Row between Moscow and the West over airspace The Air India incident has brought the recent tensions between the West and Russia over its airspace to the forefront. In a retaliatory move over the thousands of sanctions against Russia, it had last year banned certain foreign carriers from using its airspace, causing disruptions in the global air transport network. This affected the aviation industry as it was forced to redraw air routes to avoid flying over the largest country in the world. Multiple airlines from the US, Europe, and Japan have already stopped flying over Russia. However, Gulf, China, as well as Air India, continue to use Russian airspace which has made flying times shorter and cut costs giving them an edge over their competitors. ALSO READ | Global airline industry to report billions in losses this year; may return to profit in 2023: IATA Over a year ago, days after Russia began what it calls its “special military operation in Ukraine,” Moscow had moved to ban airlines from 36 countries over the sanctions imposed, which included all 27 member nations of the European Union, Canada, and the United Kingdom. This was after the US, UK, Canada, and Europe banned Russian aircraft from flying over their airspace. This move prompted US airlines to lobby in Capitol Hill and at the White House as they were losing business to foreign competitors who could take passengers between the US and Asia faster and at a lower cost. Industry lobbying group Airlines for America told lawmakers in Washington last year that the US carriers are expected to witness collective losses of up to $2 billion per year. Over the years, US airlines were able to access to Russian airspace following a series of agreements between Moscow and Washington. The US-based and other foreign carriers would pay what amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars per year to the Russian government as a fee for their air traffic control support, reported the New York Times, citing industry sources. United Airlines, Air India chiefs argue at recent global industry meet The incident in Russia took place a day after the CEOs of United Airlines and Air India butted heads at the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) annual meeting held in Istanbul. Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, raised concerns about planes flying through Russian airspace with American citizens onboard. “What’s going to happen if an airline lands in Russia with some prominent US citizens on board? That is a potential crisis in the making,” said Kirby, adding that this issue should be solved “before the crisis happens". However, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson defended the airline’s use of Russian airspace. “Air India, we operate according to the ambit of what is provided to us by the nation of India and not all nations agree,” said Wilson. He added, “So there are going to be different outcomes as a consequence.” ALSO WATCH | Gravitas: Air India inks one of the biggest deals in aviation history The disagreement, yet again, has brought to the fore the strategic and geographic importance of Russia as the world’s largest country in global aviation. Kirby also said United was forced to stop operating several flights to India before the COVID-19 pandemic and now “we fly one and it’s an extra two hours.” “It’s clearly a big impact to us,” said the US carrier’s CEO, adding that even with the extra time it cannot fly the other routes non-stop. Additionally, US carriers have also pushed for the government to discourage carriers from landing on US soil after crossing Russian airspace as they are paying Moscow for it. Some Chinese airlines have also avoided flying over Russian airspace to and from the US, months after Senators urged President Joe Biden administration’s to stop Chinese airlines and foreign carriers from flying over Russia, as per Reuters. Should geopolitical differences affect aviation? During the meeting in Istanbul, IATA Director General Willie Walsh told Reuters, “What we would like to see is everybody using Russian airspace. I’m clear that it's not a security or a safety issue.” Similarly, Vinod Kannan, CEO of Indian airline Vistara said as long as the “law of the land” is not violated, it should not be an issue. “It's a sensitive geopolitical issue and applying geopolitics to the aviation industry that does so much to link the world, I’m not sure that’s a link that should be made,” said Wilson, as quoted by Reuters. It is also worth noting that Kirby’s concerns are not entirely unfounded. In 2018, a Norwegian Air Boeing 737 was forced to make an emergency landing in Iran weeks after Washington had re-imposed sanctions. While the passengers flew out of Iran the next day, the aircraft was stranded for two months as its engines were made by US-based General Electric which waited weeks for a US Treasury export licence. Air India sends replacement flight Air India sent a replacement plane to ferry stranded passengers in Russia from Mumbai, on Thursday. “The ferry flight is carrying essentials in addition to a sufficient amount of food to cater to all passengers on the onward flight scheduled from GDX (Magadan airport) to San Francisco (SFO),” said the Indian carrier, in a statement. UPDATE: FERRY FLIGHT TO MAGADAN AIRBORNE Our ferry flight AI195 from Mumbai (BOM) to Magadan, Russia (GDX) is now airborne, and is expected to arrive at GDX at 0630 Hours (local time) on 08 June 2023. An Air India team is on board the flight to provide any support that the… pic.twitter.com/oIwrqrF3po — Air India (@airindia) June 7, 2023 × The airline also said that “given the infrastructural limitations around the remote airport, we can confirm that all passengers were eventually moved to makeshift accommodation after making sincere attempts to accommodate passengers in hotels locally with the help of local government authorities.” “As we do not have Air India staff based in the remote town of Magadan or in Russia, all ground support being provided to passengers is the best possible in this unusual circumstance,” said Air India. The Indian Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also confirmed that Air India told the ministry some passengers had been housed in a school building near the airport. In an update, on Thursday (June 8), Air India said Flight AI173D from Magadan (GDX) landed safely in San Francisco (SFO) at 12:07 am (local time). It added, "All our passengers are being extended maximum on-ground assistance with clearance formalities and provided other necessary support." Air India Chief Customer Experience and Ground Handling Officer Rajesh Dogra, on Thursday, issuing an apology said, "We will fully refund the fare for your journey and, in addition, provide you a voucher for future travel on Air India," as quoted by PTI. Air India’s passengers affected by US sanctions on Russia A report by the Associated Press, citing Delhi-San Francisco flight passengers, said that they have been barred from leaving the makeshift accommodation where they have been staying and cannot use their credit cards to buy items from vending machines or stores because of the sanctions. Additionally, speaking to the Indian media, a passenger also said how many US citizens were worried due to the ongoing tensions between Moscow and Washington. 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