Russia continues to attack Ukraine's energy supply with massive airstrikes. Iranian combat drones cause a lot of destruction. According to the United States, Iranian military are even involved in operations from Crimea. Meanwhile, Russia's President Putin is visiting conscripted soldiers and is showing enthusiasm for action. The 239th day of the war at a glance.
Russia carries out further strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure
According to the Defense Ministry in Moscow, the Russian military has attacked Ukraine's energy infrastructure for the eleventh day in a row. The Kharkiv, Donetsk and Cherson regions were affected. High-precision weapons were used. However, in the past few days, numerous residential buildings, crossroads or playgrounds that were not of military importance or important for the power supply had also been hit by Russian air raids.
The Ukrainian utility company Ukrenergo started power cuts today, Thursday, because almost half of the electricity infrastructure was already damaged. President Volodymyr Zelenskyj also called on citizens to use as little electricity as possible between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Putin shows up with soldiers
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a training center for conscripted soldiers for the first time since partial mobilization and was shown very close to them. Russian state television showed Putin firing an automatic weapon at a shooting range in a shooting center in the Ryazan region southeast of Moscow. He also spoke to some of the drafted soldiers. "Good luck!" he wished and patted his shoulder. For the Russian head of state, it was the first visit to a training facility since the announcement on September 21 that hundreds of thousands of reservists would be partially mobilized.
Scholz calls Russia's attacks an act of desperation
The Chancellor emphasized that the "scorched earth tactic" only strengthened the determination and perseverance of Ukraine and its partners. "In the end, Russia's bomb and rocket terror is an act of desperation - just like the mobilization of Russian men for the war," said Scholz in the government statement in the Bundestag. Putin is covering Ukraine with terror and is completely irresponsible in threatening to use nuclear weapons. "He wants to sow fear, divide and intimidate," said Scholz. "He speculates on our weakness. But he's wrong. We're not weak."
EU sanctions Iran for supplying combat drones
The combat drones that Iran is supplying to Russia are currently causing a lot of damage. That is why the EU has now decided on sanctions. As announced by the Czech EU Council Presidency, the punitive measures are aimed at individuals and organizations involved in the delivery of drones for the attack on Ukraine. They are subject to entry bans and possible assets of them in the EU are frozen.
According to the US government, Iranian military helped Russia with drone operations
According to the United States, the Iranian military even supported Russia in drone operations against Ukraine from Crimea. "Our assessment is that Iranian military forces have been in Crimea and assisted Russia in these operations," US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said of the recent drone strikes against Ukraine. The Iranians would train and provide technical support to the Russians.
Steinmeier postpones trip to Ukraine at short notice
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier postponed a trip to Ukraine planned for Thursday at short notice. According to agency information, the reason was safety concerns. Steinmeier wanted to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyj in Kyiv. Instead, they both called each other. Zelenskyj then announced that he had confirmed his invitation: "We are preparing for the visit of the German President to Ukraine." He also thanked Steinmeier for supplying the German Iris-T air defense system. Ukraine needs an air defense shield as soon as possible.
Zelenskyy: Didn't order the attack on the Crimean bridge
In an interview with the Canadian television channel CTV, Zelenskyy said that Kyiv was not the orderer of the attack on the Crimean bridge. "As far as I know, we certainly didn't commission something like that," Zelenskyj said in an interview. On October 8, a truck exploded on the Crimean bridge. A freight train then caught fire. Part of the bridge collapsed.
Russia: Ukrainian army advances near Cherson
According to Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov, Ukrainian units are advancing in the Kherson region in the south of the country. At the same time, however, he also said, somewhat contradictorily, that the Ukrainian military had suffered heavy blows during Russian tank attacks, and that Kiev's units had subsequently disbanded. The Russian positions would be held. Information from the war zones is difficult to verify. Ukraine has imposed a news blackout for days so as not to jeopardize its own offensive. The day before, Russia, as the occupying power in the regional capital of the same name, had begun to remove civilians from the city. Ukraine spoke of deportations.
Russian fighter jet fired missile near British plane
A Russian fighter jet fired a missile near a British aircraft on patrol in late September, according to British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace. The incident happened on September 29 in international airspace over the Black Sea, Wallace told parliament. The unarmed British plane was intercepted by two Russian fighter jets. One of the two Russian machines fired the rocket. He expressed his concern to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. According to Russian information, it was a technical fault. After a suspension, British patrol flights have resumed. But they would now be accompanied by a fighter jet.
More articles and interviews on the Ukraine war:
You can read all other developments on the war in Ukraine in our live ticker.
