Latest news with #Shevchenko
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia captures village in eastern Ukraine near lithium deposit, Russian-backed official says
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian troops have taken control of a village in eastern Ukraine which is close to a lithium deposit after fierce resistance from Ukrainian forces, a Russian-backed official said on Thursday. The village of Shevchenko is located in Donetsk, one of four Ukrainian regions - in addition to Crimea - that Moscow has claimed as its own territory in annexations that Kyiv and Western powers reject as illegal. The Russian Defence Ministry announced earlier on Thursday that Shevchenko had been taken along with another settlement called Novoserhiivka. Reuters could not independently confirm the battlefield report and there was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Open source mapping from Deep State, an authoritative Ukrainian military blogging resource, showed Shevchenko under Russian control. Soviet geologists who discovered the lithium deposit there in 1982 suggested it could be significant. It sits at a depth that would allow commercial mining, and Russian-backed officials have suggested it will be developed when the situation permits. "The village of Shevchenko, which is located on the border with the Dnipropetrovsk region, is another settlement that has a lithium deposit. This was one of the reasons why the Ukrainian armed forces sent a huge number of their soldiers to hold it," Igor Klimakovsky, a Russian-appointed official in Donetsk, was cited by the state TASS news agency as saying on Thursday. The Ukrainian Geological Survey says the deposit is located on Shevchenko's eastern outskirts and covers an area of nearly 40 hectares. Parts of the Russian press incorrectly claimed in January that the Shevchenko deposit had already been captured, confusing it with the seizure of another settlement of the same name elsewhere. Lithium is a coveted global resource because of its use in a host of industries and technologies from mobile phones to electric cars. Ukraine has reserves of about 500,000 tons, and Russia has double that, according to U.S. government estimates.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Russia captures village in eastern Ukraine near lithium deposit, Russian-backed official says
MOSCOW, June 26 (Reuters) - Russian troops have taken control of a village in eastern Ukraine which is close to a lithium deposit after fierce resistance from Ukrainian forces, a Russian-backed official said on Thursday. The village of Shevchenko is located in Donetsk, one of four Ukrainian regions - in addition to Crimea - that Moscow has claimed as its own territory in annexations that Kyiv and Western powers reject as illegal. The Russian Defence Ministry announced earlier on Thursday that Shevchenko had been taken along with another settlement called Novoserhiivka. Reuters could not independently confirm the battlefield report and there was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Open source mapping from Deep State, an authoritative Ukrainian military blogging resource, showed Shevchenko under Russian control. Soviet geologists who discovered the lithium deposit there in 1982 suggested it could be significant. It sits at a depth that would allow commercial mining, and Russian-backed officials have suggested it will be developed when the situation permits. "The village of Shevchenko, which is located on the border with the Dnipropetrovsk region, is another settlement that has a lithium deposit. This was one of the reasons why the Ukrainian armed forces sent a huge number of their soldiers to hold it," Igor Klimakovsky, a Russian-appointed official in Donetsk, was cited by the state TASS news agency as saying on Thursday. The Ukrainian Geological Survey says the deposit is located on Shevchenko's eastern outskirts and covers an area of nearly 40 hectares. Parts of the Russian press incorrectly claimed in January that the Shevchenko deposit had already been captured, confusing it with the seizure of another settlement of the same name elsewhere. Lithium is a coveted global resource because of its use in a host of industries and technologies from mobile phones to electric cars. Ukraine has reserves of about 500,000 tons, and Russia has double that, according to U.S. government estimates.
USA Today
04-06-2025
- General
- USA Today
Valentina Shevchenko calls for professionalism after Maycee Barber's fight night withdrawal
Valentina Shevchenko calls for professionalism after Maycee Barber's fight night withdrawal UFC women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko believes Maycee Barber's medical issue could be related to her weight cut. Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) withdrew from her UFC on ESPN 68 headliner against Erin Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) this past Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas just 30 minutes before she was scheduled to make the walk. She was transported to the hospital and still requires more medical testing to find out exactly what happened. Although Barber missed the non-title flyweight limit by half a pound, she doesn't believe her medical issue is weight-cut related. However, Shevchenko does. "Of course, everyone is now saying like, the health issue and they are seeing results, right? And definitely we all wish (Barber) a speedy recovery," Shevchenko told The Schmo. "The health is No. 1 for every athlete, but let's not forget that we are professional fighters, and we have to do everything. Not starting fight week, not starting one day before the weigh-in. We have to start it back. If we know that the weight cut will affect us somehow, we have to put our efforts to make it smoother." Shevchenko thinks after all the pre-fight hype and build-up, fighters have an obligation to make the walk. "You kind of like think what you have to do to make everyone not disappointed, what you have to put on a list when everyone is so attentive watching you. We have to be professionals, and not professional only in the last week," Shevchenko said. "We have to start it like, back, back over there, when we just hear the notice when our fight is going to be, then we start our like, going slowly down our weight cut, and if we know it's going to be affected, we have to take some measures to not be affected by circumstances. This is what I call professionalism."
USA Today
01-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Valentina Shevchenko suspects title defense against fellow UFC champ Zhang Weili next
Valentina Shevchenko suspects title defense against fellow UFC champ Zhang Weili next After a closely contested decision win to open her second reign as UFC women's flyweight champion, Valentina Shevchenko thinks a superfight might be next. Shevchenko (25-4-1 MMA, 14-3-1 UFC) outworked challenger Manon Fiorot (12-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) a little more than three weeks ago at UFC 315 in Toronto in the co-main event. She won with a trio of 48-47 scores. It wasn't immediately clear after the win whom her next challenger would be. Saturday, while in Las Vegas, Shevchenko could have gotten a little clarity with the UFC on ESPN 68 main event between Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber – until Barber pulled out moments before her walkout, effectively ditching herself from the conversation. Before Shevchenko beat Fiorot, Natalia Silva knocked Alexa Grasso down the ladder. So there is Silva, and there is Blanchfield – but Shevchenko also thinks when the time comes to figure out what's next, the name could be from another division. Shevchenko thinks strawweight champ Zhang Weili (26-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) has designs on a move up to 125 pounds for a shot at the belt, and that's the fight she thinks is most realistic. "Flyweight right now is the most exciting weight class – so many good and talented fighters," Shevchenko said on the post-fight show after the UFC on ESPN 68 broadcast. "But from the other side, you can see the champion. She built up her career. She deserves so much because of her title defenses. I feel at this point, she deserves this fight. Everyone deserves it." After a two-fight run of losses to Rose Namajunas in title fights, Weili has five straight wins. She had one defense in 2023 against Amanda Lemos, one in 2024 against Yan Xiaonan and one earlier this year at UFC 312 against Tatiana Suarez. Virna Jandiroba put herself in position to get a title shot in April with her fifth straight win, and she's one name Shevchenko doesn't have on her resume yet. But the idea of fighting Weili ultimately might be hard to resist – though Shevchenko stressed she'll wait until she's fully recovered from her win over Fiorot and ready to start a camp before she'll fully dive into preparing for anyone. "Weili has the same passion for martial arts (as me) and has this mindset of 'no matter what happens' – not fame or whatever," Shevchenko said. "She's very loyal and feels good about mixed martial arts. This is what I like about her. It's the same as I am, the feeling for martial arts itself. I'm hearing from my fans this is what they want to see."
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 68 pre-event facts: Ludovit Klein brings historic defense vs. Mateusz Gamrot
UFC on ESPN 68 pre-event facts: Ludovit Klein brings historic defense vs. Mateusz Gamrot After a week hiatus, the UFC returns on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 68 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+. A high-stakes women's flyweight headliner is the center piece of the card. Top contenders Erin Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) and Maycee Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) meet in a five-round bout with significant stakes on the title picture. For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie's pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN 68. Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber Erin Blanchfield Blanchfield's three stoppage victories in UFC women's flyweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Gillian Robertson (seven), Valentina Shevchenko (five) and Montana De La Rosa (four). Blanchfield's three submission victories in UFC women's flyweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Robertson (six). Blanchfield's seven takedowns landed at UFC 269 are tied for the single-fight record for a UFC women's flyweight bout. Maycee Barber Barber's six-fight UFC winning streak at women's flyweight is the second-longest active streak in the division behind Natalia Silva (seven). Barber's eight victories in UFC women's flyweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Shevchenko (11) and Katlyn Cerminara (nine). Barber is 8-2 since she moved up to the UFC women's flyweight division in March 2019. Barber's three stoppage victories in UFC women's flyweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Robertson (seven), Shevchenko (five) and De La Rosa (four). Barber's three knockout victories in UFC women's flyweight competition are second-most in divisional history behind Shevchenko (four). Barber absorbs just 2.4 significant strikes per minute in UFC women's flyweight competition, the third-best rate in divisional history behind Shevchenko (1.88) and Natalia Silva (2.1). Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein Mateusz Gamrot's (24-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) has completed 43 takedowns in UFC lightweight competition, the most among active fighters in the weight class. Ludovit Klein's (23-4-1 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) seven-fight unbeaten streak in UFC lightweight competition is the second-longest active streak in the division behind Islam Makhachev (14). Klein has defended 95.2 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the best rate in divisional history. Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Billy Ray Goff Ramiz Brahimaj (11-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over his past 11 fights dating back to May 2018. He was victorious in his most recent bout at UFC 309. Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes Dustin Jacoby (20-9-1 MMA, 8-6-1 UFC) is 8-5-1 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in October 2020. Jacoby lands 6.06 significant strikes per minute in UFC light heavyweight competition, the third-best rate in divisional history behind Carlos Ulberg (6.82) and Jamahal Hill (6.76). Zachary Reese vs. Dusko Todorovic Dusko Todorovic (12-5 MMA, 3-5 UFC) is 2-5 in his past seven fights after starting his career on a 11-fight winning streak. Trevin Giles vs. Andreas Gustafsson Trevin Giles' (16-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since March 2023. Giles is 2-4 since he dropped to the welterweight division in January 2022. Ketlen Vieira vs. Macy Chiasson Ketlen Vieira's (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) eight victories in UFC women's bantamweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Amanda Nunes (13) and Raquel Pennington (12). Vieira's seven decision victories in UFC women's bantamweight competition are second-most in divisional history behind Pennington (10). Vieira defends 88.9 percent of opponent takedown attempts in UFC women's bantamweight competition, the best rate in divisional history. Macy Chiasson's (10-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at women's bantamweight is the second-longest active streak in the division behind Ailin Perez (five). Chiasson's four stoppage victories in UFC women's bantamweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Nunes (eight) and Ronda Rousey (six). Chiasson's three knockout victories in UFC women's bantamweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Nunes (six). Chiasson absorbs just 2.0 significant strikes per minute in UFC women's bantamweight competition, the second-best rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Perez (1.83). Kurt Holobaugh vs. Jordan Leavitt Jordan Leavitt (11-3 MA, 4-3 UFC) is one of 12 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a slam. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN 19. Leavitt's 22-second slam knockout at UFC on ESPN 19 is tied for the second fastest in UFC history behind Josh Burkman's 21-second win at The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale in November 2005. Leavitt's 22-second victory at UFC on ESPN 19 is the second-fastest finish for a debuting lightweight in UFC history behind Terrance McKinney's seven-second win at UFC 263. Leavitt is of three fighters in UFC history to earn a reverse triangle submission. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 199. Cole Miller and Olivier Aubin-Mercier have also won with the technique. UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
