British Prime Minister in Kyiv, shelling of bread distribution point in Kherson Oblast: highlights of the day

British Prime Minister in Ukraine

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived in Kyiv on November 19 and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is Sunak's first visit to Ukraine during his tenure as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

The British leader announced that his country would additionally donate 120 anti-aircraft guns, radar stations, and humanitarian aid worth £16 million to Ukraine.

Shelling of bread distribution point in Kherson Oblast

On November 19, in Bilozerka, Kherson Oblast, Russians fired at a humanitarian point during the distribution of bread: there are five wounded. And the day before in the region, between Beryslav and Zmiyivka, a car tripped a mine: one person died and one was wounded.

Explosion near St. Petersburg

In Russia's Leningrad Oblast, near St. Petersburg, a gas pipeline exploded and a large-scale fire broke out. Russian authorities say that the cause is "depressurization of the gas pipeline". According to preliminary data, there are no victims.

Help from Germany

Over the past week, Germany has delivered additional aid to Ukraine, including ammunition for the Mars II MLRS, vehicles for border guards, armored vehicles and field heaters.

In addition, the country has already delivered almost 2,500 power generators - they are used for heating points, stable operation of hospitals, social facilities and water utilities. Germany will also provide 40 million euros for the modernization of the Ukrainian power grid.

Zelenskyy convenes Supreme Commander-in-Chief's General Headquarters

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held another meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's General Headquarters. The main issues of the meeting were the provision of the Ukrainian military, the situation in specific areas of the front line and plans for de-occupation. Particular attention was paid to the energy sector.

Situation in Kherson Oblast

Mobile operators in Kherson received Starlink terminals and generators so that as many local residents as possible could communicate with their relatives. Humanitarian aid from other regions was brought to Kherson Oblast.

Now there are attempts to restore power supply and communication in the region. 13 centers for the distribution of humanitarian aid were alsoopened. However, the authorities urge people not to return to the region, in particular because of security risks.

Evacuation from the south begins

Voluntary evacuation from the territories of Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts liberated from the occupiers has already begun. The state assumes all related costs, Deputy PM Iryna Vereshchuk said. Earlier she noted that the evacuation from Kherson Oblast will not be massive, but it is necessary, because in some liberated settlements it will be difficult to survive the winter.

Did DTEK call on Ukrainians to leave the country?

BBC wrote that DTEK CEO Maksym Timchenko in an interview with the publication urged Ukrainians to think about leaving the country for several months due to the difficult situation with electricity supply.

However, later the energy company clarified that the CEO does not urge people to go abroad. DTEK has published an excerpt from Timchenko's interview, where he notes that there is no emergency situation in Ukraine that requires people to leave.

Situation with electricity supply

The Ministry of Energy assures that currently the situation with power supply in Ukraine is difficult, but under control. Power engineers are working to restore it. Ukrainians are urged to help by reducing the load on the grid: they ask each family to voluntarily reduce consumption by about 25%.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the most problems with electricity are in Kyiv and oblast, Odesa and oblast, Kharkiv and oblast, Vinnytsia, Ternopil, Cherkasy, Chernihiv and other regions. Power engineers are doing everything possible to "give people a normal life," he stressed.

In other news:

• Ukrainian women were awarded the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service. First Lady Olena Zelenska accepted the award on behalf of Ukrainian women.
• The law that guarantees social and legal protection to citizens who were captured by the occupiers came into force. Such persons are subject to compulsory state pension insurance.
• The former governor of the National Bank Kyrylo Shevchenko and former MP Oleksandr Hranovskyi, who were put on the wanted list, were found in Vienna. Now the court is choosing a pre-trial restriction for them, which will allow to demand extradition in the future.
• Lithuanians are preparing to transfer two more maritime drones to Ukraine - "PEACE Da" and "PEACE Duke". The money is being raised as part of the UNITED24 fundraising platform.
• In Kyiv, a sharp cold snap and new snowfalls are predicted, in connection with which the capital's road workers began to treat the streets with anti-icing agents.