Germany Selenskyj: Extremely difficult situation in the Donetsk region

According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, the Ukrainian armed forces have considerably weakened the Russian army's strength in the Donetsk region. Nevertheless, the head of state said in his evening address, which was broadcast on video, that the situation remains extremely difficult. There is heavy fighting every day in the Kurakhove and Pokrovsk sections. Everything is being done to maintain the fighting strength of the deployed brigades.

Selensky also emphasized the fighting in the Russian border region of Kursk, which has been going on since August. Tens of thousands of Russian soldiers had been tied up there and numerous prisoners had been taken, he said. As a rule, it is almost impossible to independently verify the statements made by both warring parties about what is happening on the battlefield.

EU Commission President expected in Kiev

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected in Kiev this Friday. Selenskyj announced talks with her on preparations for the winter. "Of course, the energy issue is an urgent priority," he said. According to him, the situation on the front, arms deliveries and joint armaments projects will also be discussed - as well as Ukraine's path to the EU and further financial support for the country attacked by Russia.

Zelenskyi wants to present "victory plan" in the USA

Selensky himself will be received by US President Joe Biden at the White House next week. The meeting - also confirmed by Zelenskyi's office - is planned for Thursday, the US government announced. The Ukrainian guest will also meet US Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running as the Democratic candidate in the November election. Selensky had announced days ago that he wanted to present a "plan for victory" in the war against Russia to Biden in Washington.

According to his office, Zelensky will first speak at the UN General Assembly in New York and hold talks there on the sidelines. In addition to the meeting with Biden and Harris in Washington, a meeting with Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump is also planned.

Russian bomb attack on the large north-eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy

In his evening message, the Ukrainian President also referred to a Russian attack on the large city of Sumy in the north-east of the country. According to the Interior Ministry, one woman was killed and at least 13 people were injured. "Russia had to know that this was a retirement home - not a military base, not a military object," said Zelenskyi. The attackers had used almost 90 glide bombs against targets in Ukraine over the course of Thursday. "We will definitely respond to the Russian army to this terror, respond tangibly."

In its report, the Ukrainian General Staff provided information about ongoing fighting. There had been over 90 Russian attacks along the entire front line. The majority had been repelled. However, some of the battles were still ongoing at the time of the report. The General Staff did not make any statements on changes to the front or on the situation in the Russian border region of Kursk.

The Russian army claimed the conquest of the village of Heorhiivka in the Kurakhove front section in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian military observers classified the village as partly contested and partly under Russian control.

According to the Ukrainian military administration, 23 civilians were killed in the Ukrainian-controlled part of Kursk Oblast in September. "The Russians have started firing on peaceful residents," said the representative of the Ukrainian military command, Olexiy Dmytrashskyi. There was no independent confirmation of this either.

UN warns of long power cuts in winter

Meanwhile, the United Nations warned of long power cuts in winter as a result of the Russian missile attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Experts surveyed assumed power cuts of between 4 and 18 hours per day. This would have a particular impact on residents of high-rise buildings who rely on electrically powered pumps for water and central heating on the upper floors.

According to the report, the power shortage could also have a massive impact on the operation of sewage systems and sewage treatment plants. In the worst-case scenario, with power cuts lasting more than three days, untreated wastewater would have to be discharged into rivers to avoid backups. The mass use of diesel and petrol-powered emergency generators would also worsen the air quality in Ukrainian cities. The elderly, the sick, people with disabilities, internally displaced persons and other low-income households are particularly affected by the lack of electricity.

Between March and September, the Russian military systematically attacked power plants, power grids and power distribution facilities in nine waves. The electricity demand in winter was stated in the report to be over 18 gigawatts at peak times. Ukrainian estimates assume domestic production of 14 to 15 gigawatts and a deficit of up to 4 gigawatts, which cannot be fully covered by imports from the EU or neighboring Moldova.

SDA