Russia’s new round of intensified air strikes has cut power and water supplies, leaving many Ukrainians in cold and dark, says President Zelenskyy, as conflict rolls into its 237th day.
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Putin declares martial law in four annexed regions of Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on the introduction of martial law in the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, recently annexed from Ukraine.
Speaking at a meeting of the Russian Security Council in Moscow, Putin said residents of these territories “clearly expressed their will when voted in favour of joining Russia.”
Putin said Kiev refuses to accept the results of the referendums in Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia and carries out acts of sabotage on Russia’s territory, noting that he considers it necessary to declare martial law on these territories.
Kiev mayor says ‘several Russian rockets’ downed over capital
Kiev mayor Vitali Klitschko has said that “several Russian rockets” had been downed over the capital after AFP news agency reporters heard several loud explosions in the centre of the city.
“Air defences have shot down several Russian rockets over Kiev. Stay in shelters!” Klitschko wrote on social media.
Explosions where reported earlier in Kiev and multiple regions, including Vinnytsia.
EU readies new Iran sanctions over drones to Russia
The EU is working towards fresh sanctions on Iran after collecting “sufficient evidence” it is supplying Russia with deadly drones for use in Ukraine, a spokeswoman said.
“Now that we have gathered our own sufficient evidence work is ongoing in the (European) Council in view of a clear, swift and firm EU response,” said Nabila Massrali on Wednesday, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
EU diplomats told AFP news agency there was work under way on Wednesday to draw up a list of Iranian individuals and entities linked to the drones who would be added to the bloc’s sanctions blacklist.
Ukraine says shot down 223 Iranian-made drones since mid-September
Ukraine has said that its military had shot down more than 220 Iranian-made drones in a little more than one month, following this week’s attacks that used “kamikaze drones”.
“Since the first downing of an Iranian-made Shahed-136 kamikaze drone on the territory of Ukraine on September 13, the … Air Force and other components of the Defense Forces of Ukraine have destroyed 223 UAVs of this type,” the military said in a statement.
US support to Ukraine will only ‘lead to its destruction’: Russia
US intentions to “strengthen the position” of Kiev will only lead to “the destruction of Ukraine,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.
“The US is supplying weapons to destroy the country that they have taken care of (Ukraine) for many years. This is such a vital contradiction. They seem to want to strengthen and strengthen, but everything leads to the opposite result… Washington’s position, which relies on inflating the conflict, leads to the destruction of Ukraine,” Maria Zakharova said on Sputnik Radio.
Zakharova further noted that many in Ukraine already understand this, adding that “the US did not plan any peace, prosperity, or democracy on the territory of Ukraine.”
More grain ships leave Ukraine under Istanbul deal
Six more ships have left Ukrainian ports under the Istanbul grain export deal, Türkiye’s National Defense Ministry said.
A ministry statement, which did not disclose the point of origin of the ships, said shipments from Ukrainian ports have continued as planned.
Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul on July 22 to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which paused after the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February.
Israel denies selling weapons to Ukraine
Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz has denied selling weapons to Ukraine amid the Russian offensive on the European country.
“We are not selling weapons to Ukraine,” Gantz said in an interview with the Jewish ultra-Orthodox Kol Chai radio.
The defence minister said that Tel Aviv had not previously sold arms to Ukraine.
Ukraine accuses Iran, Russia of violating UN sanctions over shipments of prohibited drones
Ukraine accused Iran and Russia of violating UN sanctions over Moscow’s receiving shipments of Iranian-made ”kamikaze” drones after Kiev was hit by a series of deadly strikes.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the UN said Iran has transferred prohibited items to Russia since January 16, 2016 in a letter sent to the UN Security Council and seen by Anadolu Agency.
”Specifically, in late August 2022, Mohajer- and Shahed-series unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were transferred from Iran to Russia,” said Sergiy Kyslytsya. ”Ukraine assesses that this is likely part of Iran’s plans to export hundreds of UAVs to Russia.”
Pro-Kremlin officials in the Russian controlled region of Kherson in southern Ukraine say they began moving civilians from its main city as Ukrainian forces advance south. Journalist Dasha Chernyshova brings us the latest pic.twitter.com/Diz79WYSx9
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) October 19, 2022
‘Evacuate’ Russian official tells Kherson residents
Civilians should evacuate the Russian-controlled Ukrainian city of Kherson as fast as possible because Ukrainian forces could begin an offensive at any moment, a Russian official said.
Russian forces in Kherson have been driven back by 20-30 kilometres in the last few weeks and are at risk of being pinned against the right or western bank of the Dnipro River.
Ukrainian forces “will shortly begin an offensive against the city of Kherson,” said Kirill Stremousov, the Russian-installed deputy head of the Kherson region, which Russia partially controls.
Russian military commander for Ukraine operations says civilians should evacuate the Ukrainian city of Kherson as fast as possible because Ukrainian forces could begin an offensive at any moment. Obaida Hitto reports pic.twitter.com/jp0vmTqgGB
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) October 19, 2022
Estonia: Moscow’s arsenal has drained in ongoing fighting
Russia will likely need two to four years to rebuild its military to the strength before the Ukraine conflict, Estonia’s Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur has said, urging continued pressure to keep Moscow in check.
As Russia allegedly turns to Iranian kamikaze drones to attack Ukraine, Pevkur said he has heard accounts that Moscow’s arsenal has been so drained that it is using its S-300 air defence system as ordinary missiles and that Russian shells have exploded in the air because they are too old.
“What more or less the consensus is that it takes two to four years for Russia to restore some capabilities or even the same capabilities they had” before the conflict, he told a roundtable with State Department and Pentagon correspondents in the US.
Moldova may announce mobilisation
Moldova’s Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatyi has said that the country could declare mobilisation if fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces moves toward its borders.
Asked to elaborate on whether a mobilisation would be declared in Moldova, Nosatyi said: “For this scenario to play out, there needs to be some serious changes on the front line in Ukraine.”
“For example, if the fighting moves closer to our borders, if there are changes regarding migration to our country from Ukraine, or if we notice the mobilisation of military units in the war zone, then it could happen,” he added, noting some of the missiles flew over Moldova’s territory.
For live updates from Tuesday (October 18), click here
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
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