Threat of offensive from Belarus, rolling blackouts, new sanctions against Russians: highlights of the day

Rolling blackouts

In Kyiv City, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy and Zhytomyr oblasts, the level of electricity consumption began to increase rapidly. Ukrenergo called on residents to urgently reduce electricity consumption to reduce the load on the grid and give power engineers time to repair equipment damaged by Russian strikes.

Later, Ukrenergo stated that it was forced to impose restrictions on electricity consumption in Kharkiv, Sumy and Poltava oblasts.

Threat of offensive from Belarus

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that the threat of a repeated offensive of the Russian army from the territory of Belarus is growing. However, this time the Russians may launch an attack in a different direction - in the west of the Belarusian-Ukrainian border to cut off the main logistics arteries supplying weapons and military equipment to Ukraine from partner countries.

The General Staff notes that the aggressive rhetoric of the military-political leadership of Russia and Belarus is now intensifying, as well as the deployment of a regional group of troops of the Union State. However, the Ukrainian command claims that in case of an attack they will be ready to respond.

Threat of blowing up Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russians have mined the dam and units of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant and may blow it up. According to him, Russia has already prepared everything to do this. In particular, Ukrainian workers were expelled from the Kakhovka plant: now it is controlled by Russians.

The President emphasized that it was necessary to organize an international observation mission to the Kakhovka HPP, return Ukrainian personnel there and ensure the demining of units and the dam.

Resignation of Truss

British Prime Minister Liz Truss announced that she was resigning because she could not fulfill the powers entrusted to her. The Conservatives called on Truss to resign due to economic problems, in particular, on October 17, the new Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt canceled the tax reform initiated by the Prime Minister.

According to Truss, a competition for the new leader of the Conservative Party, who should become the Prime Minister, is to be held next week. The Times writes that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to take part in the next election of the Conservative Party leader to return to the post of head of government.

Russia's likely withdrawal from Kherson

The General Staff says that Russian forces may withdraw from the right bank of Kherson Oblast to the left (east) bank and use mobilized troops to cover their troops.

However, the Ukrainian command notes that holding the front in Kherson Oblast is now the main objective of the occupiers in Ukraine. Russians plan to accomplish this task primarily by conducting the first wave of mobilization and increasing the number of Russian troops on the right-bank part of Kherson Oblast.

Attacks of Ukraine

Russia has fired 154 missiles at Ukraine since October 10, according to the General Staff. This is almost seven times more than in the first 10 days of the month. However, 64% of these missiles were shot down by Ukrainian air defense. Also, over 10 days, the occupiers tried to strike at targets in Ukraine with 176 drones. This is 2.5 times more than in the first third of the month.

And the Ministry of Energy said that since October 10, Russia has hit the Ukrainian energy system with about 300 strikes from various weapons.

New sanctions from Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued decrees enacting the decision of the National Security and Defense Council on sanctions against Russian oligarchs, companies, collaborators and artists.

The NSDC announced that the sanctions will apply to more than 3,600 legal entities and individuals, including 256 oligarchs.

The sanctions were imposed against billionaire Roman Abramovich and the owner of the metallurgical company Evraz Alexander Abramov. The daughters of oligarch Mikhail Fridman, Katerina and Larisa, are also under restrictions.