Russia-Ukraine war: Russia could leave grain deal again if Ukraine 'violates' security guarantees

Ukrainian servicemen fired self-propelled howitzer at Russian positions on Wednesday  north of the regional capital Kherson. 

Ukrainian military regulations prohibited identification of the location in Mykolaiv region, bordering Russian-held Kherson. 

Soldiers manning a Soviet era self-propelled howitzer 2S1 Gvozdika were fast to leave the firing position after completing the mission. 

Putin says Russia could leave grain deal again if Ukraine 'violates' security guarantees. 

The United States has information that indicates North Korea is covertly supplying Russia with a "significant" number of artillery shells for its war in Ukraine, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby said on Wednesday. 

"Our indications are that the DPRK is covertly supplying and we are going to monitor to see whether the shipments are received," Kirby told a virtual briefing, referring to North Korea by the initials of its official name. 

Volodymyr Zelenskiy said ships were still moving out of Ukrainian ports with cargoes thanks to the work of Turkey and the UN. 

“But a reliable and long-term defence is needed for the grain corridor,” Zelenskiy said.

“Russia must clearly be made aware that it will receive a tough response from the world to any steps to disrupt our food exports,” he added. “At issue here clearly are the lives of tens of millions of people.”

The White House said that the US has seen no indication that Russia is getting ready to use nuclear weapons in its ongoing war in Ukraine. 

“We’ve been clear from the outset that Russia’s comments about the potential use of nuclear weapons are deeply concerning, and we take them seriously. We continue to monitor this as best we can, and we see no indications that Russia is making preparations for such use,” John Kirby, a spokesman. Told reporters. 

The Polish government on Wednesday announced the construction of a fence along the border with Russia's exclave of Kaliningrad to prevent illegal crossings.

Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced the decision amid concerns in Warsaw that Russia plans to orchestrate an influx of migrants.

"The airport in Kaliningrad is now accepting flights from the Middle East and North Africa. I decided to take action to enhance the security of the Polish border," Blaszczak told reporters. 

Moscow pulled out of the UN-brokered deal on Saturday after its Black Sea Fleet based in Crimea's Sevastopol port was targeted by drones in what Russia called a "terrorist attack." 

The defence ministry said it was able to get written guarantees from Kyiv "thanks to the participation" of the UN and "assistance" from Turkey. 

"We urge everyone to keep calm," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "All parties to this conflict should avoid taking any steps that could provoke a further increase in tensions."

Russia confirmed  that it was resuming its participation in the Ukraine grain deal, saying it had received "sufficient" guarantees from Kyiv on demilitarising a maritime corridor.

"Russia considers that the received guarantees are at the moment sufficient and is resuming the implementation of the agreement," its defence ministry said in a statement.