New mass attack, possible rolling blackouts, Sakharov Prize for Ukrainians: highlights of the day

New mass shelling of Ukraine

In the afternoon of October 19, the occupation forces again carried out massive shelling of Ukraine: there were more hits on energy facilities, although air defense shot down at least 10 kamikaze drones and four missiles. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russians attacked civilian infrastructure in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhya and Mykolaiv oblasts.

The occupiers hit the Burshtyn thermal power plant in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. They also struck an energy facility in Vinnytsia Oblast. DTEK, which owns the Burshtyn thermal power plant, says that three of its energy facilities have been damaged by Russian attacks on October 19. As a result of the strikes, the equipment of the affected enterprises suffered significant damage.

Threat of rolling blackouts

Russian troops destroyed power generating facilities again during the attacks. Therefore, restrictions are being introduced in Ukraine: people in all regions were urged to minimize the use of electricity from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM on October 20. If this is not done, there will be temporary blackouts.

Ukrenergo reports that if there are blackouts, they will last no more than four hours a day. This can happen from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. More detailed information can be found on the websites of distribution network operators (oblenergos). Ukrenergo urges to have charged phones, power banks, water, flashlights with batteries and warm clothes by 7:00 AM on October 20.

Mobile power points

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has set a task to create mobile power points for critical infrastructure, as the authorities do not rule out the risk of a complete failure of the Ukrainian power system.

Energy expert Yuriy Korolchuk explained to us that, most likely, ordinary generators are being prepared. There are several types: those that run on gas, diesel or gasoline. In his opinion, mobile power points will be installed in the buildings of hospitals, maternity hospitals, government agencies, critical enterprises.

Sakharov Prize

The Ukrainian people, represented by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, other elected leaders and civil society, were awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament.

"This award is for those Ukrainians fighting on the ground. For those who have been forced to flee. For those who have lost relatives and friends. For all those who stand up and fight for what they believe in. I know that the brave people of Ukraine will not give up and neither will we," said Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, during the announcement of the winner.

"Martial law" in occupied territories

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the decision to "introduce" martial law in the temporarily occupied territories of Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

According to the "decree", the occupied territories of Ukraine "will be subject to" strengthening of public order, temporary resettlement of residents to "safe areas", introduction of a special regime of entry and exit, restrictions on movement, restrictions on traffic and its inspection, as well as other restrictions.

"Evacuation" from the occupied Kherson Oblast

All illegal "authorities" in the temporarily occupied Kherson are moving to the left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro River. Russians also decided to "evacuate" residents of Kherson Oblast to Russia, said collaborator Volodymyr Saldo.

The head of the Kherson Oblast military administration Yaroslav Yanushevych wrote that Saldo's statements are made against the backdrop of the success of the Ukrainian military, who are liberating the settlements of the region.

"Kherson residents, I urge you to ignore everything that the occupiers tell you or demand from you. They want to take our people hostage and use them as human shields. Do not let the evil empire hide behind you, your parents and children," he stressed.

Successes of the Air Force

The Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down 223 Iranian-made Shahed-136 kamikaze drones in 36 days. The drones are shot down by anti-aircraft missile units, fighter aircraft, self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, mobile firing groups of MANPADS, anti-aircraft guns, heavy machine guns, etc.

Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat told us that now Ukrainian fighters shoot down 85% of these UAVs, and in the first weeks of using these drones the percentage of shootdowns was lower.