Fox News guest compares Russian invasion of Ukraine to Bloods and Crips
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Ukrainian capital Kyiv could face a “complete shutdown” as almost half of the country’s energy system was disabled by a fresh wave of Russian strikes, the government said.
As the temperature plummets across Ukraine after the first snowfall in Kyiv, officials were racing to repair the power nationwide after some of the heaviest bombardment of Ukrainian civilian infrastructure in nine months of war.
The United Nations warned that Ukraine‘s electricity and water shortages threaten a humanitarian disaster this winter.
Moscow dismisses the criticism and describes the attacks are a response to Kyiv’s “unwillingness” to hold peace talks.
Meanwhile, Russia’s security service, the FSB, detained hundreds of people in the Kherson region while it was under Moscow’s control this year, and dozens may have been tortured, Yale University researchers have concluded.
The report documents the detentions and disappearances of 226 people in Kherson between March and October, a quarter of whom were allegedly tortured and five of whom died in custody or shortly after.
Key Points
Show latest update
1668832200
Ukraine has received over $23bn in financial aid since war began
Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal said Ukraine has received $23bn in financial aid since the Russian forces launched the invasion on 24 February.
“Ukraine feels the reliable support of the world in its struggle for freedom and independence,” Mr Shmyhal said yesterday.
Shweta Sharma19 November 2022 04:30
1668830330
Putin’s forces ‘dig in 60km behind Ukraine front line’ as Russia fears more losses
Russian forces are digging new trenches some 60km back from the current front line in Ukraine, according to Britain’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), suggesting the Kremlin is bracing for further Ukrainian advances.
After retreating from Kherson – the only regional capital captured during the war so far – Russia continues to lose ground and its forces are focussing on reorganising, preparing and refitting defences across Ukraine, the MoD said in its latest intelligence update.
Vladimir Putin’s forces have constructed “new trench systems” near the border of Crimea, as well as near the Siversky-Donets River between Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, it said.
Shweta Sharma19 November 2022 03:58
1668828021
Kyiv could ‘shutdown’ as half of energy system damaged, Ukraine says
A fresh wave of Russian missile strikes has crippled almost half of Ukraine’s energy system and capital Kyiv could face a “complete shutdown” of the power grid as a snow blanket covers the city, authorities said.
The UN has warned that Ukraine’s electricity and water shortages threaten a humanitarian disaster this winter.
“Unfortunately, Russia continues to carry out missile strikes on Ukraine’s civilian and critical infrastructure. Almost half of our energy system is disabled,” prime minister Denys Shmyhal said.
He was speaking at a joint news conference with the vice-president of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, who offered Ukraine “unwavering support”.
Millions in Ukrainian cities are without heat and the temperature plummeted after some of the heaviest bombardment of Ukrainian civilian infrastructure in nine months of war.
“We are preparing for different scenarios, including a complete shutdown,” Mykola Povoroznyk, deputy head of the Kyiv city administration, said in televised comments.
Shweta Sharma19 November 2022 03:20
1668813112
Thanks for following along with the coverage this evening. We will be pausing the blog now but here is the latest despatch from Bel Trew in the Kherson region:
Holly Bancroft18 November 2022 23:11
1668812089
Almost half of Ukraine’s energy system cripples, says prime minsiter
Russian missile strikes have crippled almost half of Ukraine’s energy system, Ukraine’s prime minister has said.
One Kyiv official warned that the capital could face a “complete shutdown” of its power grid, The BBC reported.
Prime minister Denys Shmyhal said on Friday: “Unfortunately Russia contines to carry out missile strikes on Ukraine’s civilian and critical infrastructure. Almost half of our energy system is disabled.”
Ukraine’s national grid operator Ukrenergo posted on Telegram: “The aggressor country has officially recognised that its goal is to destroy our energy infrastructure and leave Ukrainians without electricity and heat.”
Holly Bancroft18 November 2022 22:54
1668805224
Watch: Moment huge explosion rocks Dnipro
Moment huge explosion rocks Dnipro amid Russian missile attack
Dramatic footage captured the moment a Russian missile attack rocked Dnipro, causing a huge explosion. Ukraine’s fourth-largest city was targeted by a barrage of rockets that rained down across parts of the country following Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson. Dashcam video shows one explosion outside the Southern Machine-Building Plant, a state-owned aerospace manufacturer. Vehicles can be seen pulling over in the aftermath of the strike. At least 14 people in Dnipro were wounded as a result of the missile attack, according to the region’s governor. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
Jane Dalton18 November 2022 21:00
1668803544
Poland denies visas to Russian delegation
Poland will not grant a Russian delegation visas to attend an Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) meeting in Lodz on December 1-2, a foreign ministry spokesman has said.
“We are not giving them visas,” Lukasz Jasina said.
Meanwhile, European Union trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis offered Ukraine the 27-nation bloc’s “unwavering support” and condemned Russia’s “brutal war” on its neighbour during a visit to Kyiv.
But Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said his country will not support a European Union plan to provide Ukraine with billions in budget assistance next year, digging in on his country’s blocking of a major aid package the EU unveiled last week.
Jane Dalton18 November 2022 20:32
1668801624
Watch: Ukrainian soldier plays haunting music inside ruins of bombed-out building
Ukrainian soldier plays haunting music from ruins of destroyed building
A Ukrainian soldier has been filmed playing a woodwind instrument as he sits in a partially-destroyed building. The haunting footage was shared by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense on Twitter, with the caption: “Music that saves lives”. He appears to be playing the Sopilka, an instrument of the flute family commonly used by Ukrainian folk instrumentalists. According to the caption, the soldier is playing music by Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk. Over 42,000 people have viewed the video since it was posted online. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
Jane Dalton18 November 2022 20:00
1668799824
Ukrainian troops killed 10 Russian PoWs, claims Moscow
Russia says Ukrainian soldiers have executed more than 10 prisoners of war, accusing Kyiv of carrying out war crimes and the West of ignoring them, Reuters reports.
The Russian defence ministry cited a video circulating on Russian social media which it said showed the execution of Russian PoWs. Reuters was unable to immediately verify either the video or the defence ministry’s assertions.
“This brutal murder of Russian servicemen is neither the first, nor the only war crime,” the ministry said.
“This is common practice in the Armed Forces of Ukraine that is actively supported by the Kyiv regime and blatantly ignored by its Western patrons.”
There was no immediate response from Kyiv, which has said previously it would investigate any alleged abuses by its armed forces. Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of war crimes, which Moscow has denied.
The video shows what appear to be Russian soldiers lying down on the ground in Makiivka, in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, after surrendering to armed men with yellow bands on their arms.
Then automatic gunfire rings out and the video shows around 12 bodies. It was unclear when the video was filmed or who filmed it.
The Russian defence ministry said the video showed “the deliberate and methodical murder of more than 10 immobilised Russian serviceman by degenerate Ukrainian soldiers”.
Jane Dalton18 November 2022 19:30
1668797608
Hundreds in Kherson arrested and dozens tortured, says report
Hundreds of people were detained or went missing in the Kherson region while it was under Russian control this year, and dozens may have been tortured, Yale University researchers have concluded. .
“Russia must halt these operations and withdraw its forces to end a needless war that it cannot and will not win, no matter how despicable and desperate its tactics,” the US State Department said in a statement on the report.
The report, seen by Reuters, documents detentions and disappearances of 226 people in Kherson between March and October, a quarter of whom were allegedly tortured and five of whom died in custody or shortly after.
Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health which produced the report, said it corroborated warnings before the conflict of Russian use of “capture and kill” lists against civilians.
The report said most of the 226 were detained by Russia’s military or FSB, the domestic Russian security service, and it cited multiple sources who said they had lists of names of targeted individuals.
At least 55 of the reported detentions or disappearances include allegations of treatment that could constitute torture under international law, including beating, mock executions and Russian roulette, electric shocks and torture of relatives.
Several people reported being tortured for information about the position of Ukraine‘s military units. Others said they were asked about the leadership of protest movements or opposition groups or tortured into confessing a crime, the report said.
Sixty government officials were among those detained or who disappeared, the report said, as well as 32 people who identified as Crimean Tatar, the Muslim Turkic group indigenous to the Black Sea peninsula.
Jane Dalton18 November 2022 18:53