Energy Restrictions Underway Amid Attacks on Infrastructure

Ukraine will introduce restrictions on electricity supply Thursday following a slew of Russian air strikes targeting critical infrastructure across Ukraine.

"Today, the enemy has again destroyed generating energy facilities," Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the Ukrainian President's Office, said on Telegram. "Please take this seriously."

This comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with government officials on Wednesday to discuss energy facility security in the wake of recent Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure.

Tymoshenko said these restrictions apply to all regions of the country. If these restrictions are not followed, he warns residents should prepare for temporary outages.

Also tomorrow, the use of street lighting will be limited in cities.

Oleksandr Kharchenko, an adviser to Ukraine's energy minister, said about 40 percent of the total infrastructure and generating capabilities across Ukraine are "seriously damaged."

"Restoration and repair work is ongoing, but miracles are possible only to a certain extent," Kharchenko said in the statement broadcast on national television.

He said the country should expect not only emergency but schedule outages through tomorrow to "not overload the grid."

Russia Begins Evacuations in Kherson Region

Russian officials are calling for thousands of people in the occupied Kherson region to evacuate ahead of what Russia says is an impending military offensive by Ukraine.

Vladimir Saldo, the Russia-appointed acting governor of Kherson, detailed the evacuation orders in a video message posted Wednesday on Telegram. Saldo said the entrance to Kherson's right bank will be closed for seven days due to elevated threats of a military attack. He said Russia has evidence that Ukrainian troops will target the Kakhovskaya hydropower plant and nearby dam, which he said would result in significant flooding of the area.

The head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office said in his own Telegram post that Russia is "trying to scare" people in Kherson and alleged the evacuation is Russian propaganda.

Another Telegram post by Saldo said evacuations are underway, with most people being moved to the region's left bank. An estimated 50,000 to 60,000 people will relocate, he said, adding that the evacuation is expected to be temporary.

Evacuees will receive financial support, and evacuees who decide to travel further into Russia "will be given the opportunity to get housing," he said.

An individual in the Kherson region told the Associated Press that most of the evacuees are Russian officials, employees of the state and either older residents or residents caring for children.

The BBC shared images on Wednesday from Russian television networks that showed crowds gathered for the evacuation. The UK broadcaster reported that Kherson residents received text messages about the evacuations Tuesday evening.

No Plans for Biden, Putin to Meet at G20 Summit

The White House is taking steps to ensure President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin avoid each other during the G 20 Summit in Indonesia next month.

While Biden and Putin may cross paths at the summit and attend the same gatherings, administration officials told Politico that the White House is not scheduling a formal meeting with the Kremlin.

Biden said earlier this month that he has no intention on speaking with Putin at the summit, unless it was to discuss the release of detained U.S. WNBA star Brittney Griner.

During a news conference Wednesday, Biden said Putin "finds himself in an incredibly difficult position" after declaring martial law in four Ukrainian regions.

"It seems his only tool available to him is to brutalize individual citizens in Ukraine... to try to intimidate them into capitulating," he told reporters.

He added that "they're not going to do that."

BBC Reportedly Prepares Scripts for Blackouts

The BBC is reportedly drafting scripts for on-air reporters to use in the event that blackouts occur over the winter months in the United Kingdom.

There is concern across Europe about how energy supply access will impact countries this winter as Russia's war with Ukraine continues. Russia cut gas supplies to Europe earlier this year, a response to sanctions imposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in late February.

The Guardian was first to report on the BBC scripts on Tuesday after saying its reporters reviewed some of the documents. The scripts contain information on how citizens would be encouraged to respond to power disruptions and how they could receive updates from local government officials, according to the paper.

The paper shared excerpts from some of the scripts, including one about estimated timelines for power restoration and elevated pressure the situation could place on local police and hospitals.

The Guardian also reported that the network would limit radio programming with updates every half hour if a nationwide blackout were to occur.

Despite the reviewed script drafts, a UK spokesperson told the paper that the government "is confident that this is not a scenario we will face this winter."

Threat of Belarus Attack Could Rise by Spring

Ukrainian military officials believe the likelihood of a new attack from Belarus could increase by the spring.

Ukraine's Joint Forces Command adviser Yevhenii Sylkin said Russia is "highly unlikely" to be able to get enough forces in Belarus for a renewed attack on Ukraine, according to the Kyiv Independent.

While the current threat of a Russian attack from Belarus is "very low," Sylkin told Ukrinform the threat "could increase significantly in the spring."

Zelensky Holds Meeting on Energy Facility Security

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with government officials on Wednesday to discuss energy facility security in the wake of recent Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure.

Zelensky's office described the discussion as a "strategic meeting" that was also attended by Ukraine's prime minister and the country's ministers of energy, internal affairs, and community and territorial development. Individuals representing Ukraine's emergency services and local governments also attended the meeting, as did other energy representatives.

Meeting attendees "discussed measures to eliminate the consequences if the energy system of Ukraine were disabled," Zelensky's office said. Officials also discussed what support will be needed to get through Ukraine's heating season. The mayor of Kyiv announced Wednesday that Ukraine's capital city will enter the heating season on Thursday as temperatures begin dropping.

On Wednesday, regional leaders said at least three energy facilities in Ukraine were hit by Russian missile strikes, and similar missile strikes on power facilities have been reported over the last couple of weeks. Zelensky said on Tuesday that nearly one-third of Ukraine's power stations were destroyed by Russian missile strikes in the last several days.

With more of these strikes possible heading into the winter months, Zelensky and others talked at Wednesday's meeting about what steps they can take—including aid other countries could provide—if populated areas lose power.

"The President set the task to quickly create mobile power points for the critical infrastructure of cities, towns and villages," Zelensky's office said.

Israel Offers to Help Make Ukraine Air Attack Alerts

Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz extended an offer to Ukraine on Wednesday for his country to assist in creating air defense alert systems as the Russia-Ukraine war continues.

Gantz described Israel's offer during a meeting with European Union ambassadors, according to The Times of Israel. He said Israel "supports and stands with Ukraine" and "has a policy of supporting Ukraine via humanitarian aid, and the delivery of life-saving defensive equipment."

Ukraine has asked Israel for military defense assistance several times since the war began, with the country's most recent request occurring earlier this week. Gantz said Wednesday that Israel "will not deliver weapon systems to Ukraine due to a variety of operational considerations," according to remarks his office provided The Times of Israel.

Instead, Gantz said his country is asking Ukraine to provide details regarding what assistance they need in the development of additional air defense alert systems, so that Israel can assess that information and determine how it can help.

Israel's stated willingness to provide Ukraine with air defense alert systems suggests Israel's distance from the fighting may be changing, according to a report by Reuters.

Despite Israel's Wednesday offer, Ukraine's ambassador to Israel told the outlet that the air defense alert system Israel referred to was "not relevant anymore" in Ukraine.

Ukraine Asks Allies to Bolster Air Defenses

The Ukrainian President's office called on global allies Wednesday to bolster Ukraine's air defense amid continued Russian air strikes.

Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian President's office, said at a diplomatic briefing that he called on France, Germany, Italy, the Netherland and Spain to to "step up" actions to strengthen Ukraine's air defense.

The countries are among the leaders in providing Ukraine with weapons and military equipment, Ukraine said.

"Certainly, given what has been happening in recent days, one of our main priorities is to create protection for our cities, civil infrastructure and create an air shield for Ukraine," Yermak said.

He added that this issue is "no longer a matter for discussion, but only a matter of time" and should be done "as soon as possible."

Yermak said that Ukraine, with the help from allies, has "single-handedly destroyed almost 50 percent of the potential of NATO's main threat."

"And that is why I am convinced that Ukraine's membership in NATO will strengthen the Alliance," he added.

Ukrainian officials are still working with allies and partners to build a "special air defense" as the first step in implementing the the program of security guarantees for the country that will help them win the war against Russia.

Yermak also called on allies to designate the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Ukraine Calls Putin's Decree a 'New Stage of Terror'

Ukraine called Russia's declaration of martial law in four Ukrainian territories "a new stage of terror."

"The announcement of the so-called 'martial law' by the Russian Federation aims to suppress the resistance of the residents of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions, who oppose the Russian occupation," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said in a statement.

The MFA called this announcement "massive Russian propaganda" intended to "disguise the failure of Russia's efforts to annex Ukrainian territories."

The Ukrainian MFA said Russian President Vladimir Putin's decree is "null and void" and has "no legal consequence" on Ukraine and its people.

"Instead, such a step is just another example of the crimes of the Russian leadership against the Ukrainian state and Ukrainians," the ministry said, adding that it will continue to liberate Russian-occupied territories.

Ukraine is also calling on the international allies and partners to "strongly condemn" Russia's decree that aims to "deprive residents of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine of even basic human rights."

At Least 3 Power Plants Hit in Latest Strikes

Russian strikes impacted Ukrainian energy infrastructure on Wednesday. At least three power plants were hit, according to international media reports.

In one Telegram post that was translated by the state news agency Ukrinform, the leader of regional military in Ivano-Frankivsk said the Burshtyn TPP power plant was hit during the latest missile strikes. The same power plant was previously hit by Russian missiles on October 10, according to Ukrinform.

In Kryvyi Rih, regional military leader Oleksandr Vilkul said on Telegram that a rocket attack caused "serious destruction" at an energy facility in the Kryvorizka district.

The governor of Vinnytsia Oblast also wrote on Telegram that Russian strikes were "again" hitting power facilities in the Vinnytsia region.

EU Sanctions on Iran Drone Maker Expected Soon

The European Union is working on new sanctions against Iran amid an investigation into the country's involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The EU is currently collecting "sufficient evidence" that Iran is supplying Russia with deadly drones to use in Ukraine, Nabila Massrali, a spokeswoman for EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell, told AFP.

"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," she said.

Ukrainian officials have reported that Iran-made "kamikaze" drones have carried out dozens of attacks across the country over the past week. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said Ukrainian defense forces have shot down 223 "drone-kamikaze of Iranian production 'Shahed-136'" since September 13.

The United States also condemned Iran for sending these weapons to Russia that have targeted civilian infrastructure. Iran has denied these accusations.

Borrell said Monday that the EU is closely following the use of these drones, gathering evidence and said the EU "will be ready to react with the tools at our disposal."

An EU official told CNBC that new sanctions on Iran "could come quite soon." An official of the French presidency told Reuters that new EU sanctions "targeting Iranian individuals and entities over the use of Iranian-made drones in Russian strikes on Ukraine" will be approved this week.

According to Interfax Ukraine, the EU Council is expected to propose sanctions on three high-ranking Iranian military officials as well as kamikaze drone manufacturer Shahed Aviation Industries.

Kyiv Heating Season Begins Thursday

Ukraine's capital city will enter its heating season on Thursday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has announced.

The start of the heating season enables buildings in the area to start connecting to the city's heating system, so long as they are technically able, Klitschko said in a post on social media.

Klitschko called the upcoming season "difficult" as Russian forces continue targetting "the objects of critical infrastructure, trying to leave Ukrainians without vital services."

The mayor credited the season launch to declining temperatures and to "the need to save electricity." The decision to officially start the heating season enables Kyiv to avoid residents from turning on their own sources of heat, which could overload the city's power supply, he said.

Kyiv has invested in extra equipment and also boosted emergency services by 10 percent ahead of this year's heating season to offset some of those difficulties, Klitschko said.

Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Union Commission, called out Russia for targeting Ukrainian infrastructure in a Wednesday address before the European Parliament.

"Russia's attacks against civilian infrastructure, especially electricity, are war crimes. Cutting off men, women, children of water, electricity and heating with winter coming - these are acts of pure terror," she said.

Zaporizhzhia Oblast Without Water, Power Amid Air Strikes

Russian air strikes continue targeting critical infrastructure, Ukrainian officials report.

Strikes in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast caused injuries and widespread blackouts, regional governor Oleksandr Starukh said on Telegram.

Starukh said eight civilians were wounded and hospitalized as a result of the shelling that lasted almost seven hours.

Zaporizhzhia is one of the four regions Russia claimed to have annexed and where the Kremlin has recently introduced martial law.

In the city of Orikhov, three people were killed in the strikes in homes, Starukh said, adding the city council building and an educational institution were destroyed. There is also currently no electricity and water supply in Orikhov.

The local school in the city of Gulyaipole suffered destruction, Starukh said. No victims have been reported.

Starukh said the energy system of the entire country remains under threat, adding that Russia "exposes the whole world to a nuclear catastrophe."

He said regular damage to the power grid at nuclear power plants have caused constant "emergency situations."

"Due to enemy shelling of the substation in Enerhodar, the population of the city and the surrounding villages was left without electricity," Starukh said on Telegram.

The city of Enerhodar is near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the largest nuclear plant in Europea. Only the demilitarized zone around the ZNPP can guarantee safety, Starukh added.

Russian Drone Strikes Hit Kyiv, Other Oblasts

Explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv early Wednesday morning.

This comes as Russia continues to launch deadly air strikes across Ukraine. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Ukrainian air defenses shot down "several" Russian missiles.

"Over Kyiv, air defense shot down several Russian missiles," he said on his Telegram. "There is no end to the air alarm! Stay in shelters! Air defense continues to work."

An air raid alert was put in place in Kyiv in the early morning, but was lifted hours later.

While at least two explosions were heard in Kyiv, according to the its governor Oleksiy Kuleba, other explosions were heard in the Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernihiv and Vinnytsia oblasts.

Serhii Borzov, the head of the Vinnytsia regional military administration, said Russian strikes targeted energy infrastructure.

Chernihiv regional military leader Viacheslav Chaus said on his Telegram that Ukrainian forces shot down Iranian-made drones over the region. Chaus said at least three people were injured during the strikes that have targeted critical infrastructure.

The Ukrainian Air Force has also reported at least two waves of Russian drone strikes in the southern Mykolaiv region. At least 13 drones have been shot down.

Ukraine's Air Force said it has shot down 223 Iranian-made kamikaze drones since mid-September.

Kremlin Bolsters Regional Authorities, Restricts Movements

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared martial law in the four Ukrainian regions Russian claims to have annexed.

Putin signed a decree Wednesday giving the Russian military unlimited authority in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson oblasts.

During a video call with his Security Council, Putin said martial law was already in effect in those regions before the referendums and this move comes to "formalize this regime" within the framework of Russian legislation.

The United Nations General Assembly voted to approve a resolution condemning Russia's "sham" referendums and "illegal" annexations last week. The international community will not recognize these alleged annexations by Russia.

Putin said the decree will "immediately be sent for approval to the Federation Council, and the State Duma will be informed of the decision," state news agency Tass reported.

According to the decree, martial law will go into effect Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022.

The Kremlin also signed decrees to give additional powers to regional Russian leaders to ensure "anti-terrorist protection" of citizens and critical facilities and has also restricted the movement in and out of eight Russian regions bordering Ukraine.

Putin said these measure come as Kyiv refuses negotiation proposals and continues shelling attacks.

"The [Kyiv] regime, as you are aware, has refused to recognize the will and choice of the people, and has rejected any proposals for negotiations," Putin said, according to state media outlet Sputnik. "On the contrary, shelling continues. Innocent people are dying. The Neo-Nazis are using openly terrorist methods, sabotaging critical infrastructure, assassinating representatives of local authorities."