- At least 10 people were killed in Kherson and more than 50 injured in Russian attacks on Thursday, according to the Ukrainian regional governor.
- President Vladimir Putin has met mothers of Russian soldiers fighting on the front line and warned them that the media, including the internet, is full of “fakes”.
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26m ago(17:15 GMT)Contents hide
Ukraine’s four nuclear power plants reconnected to grid: IAEA
Ukraine’s four nuclear power plants have been reconnected to the national power grid after completely losing off-site power earlier this week, the International Atomic Energy Agency has said.
The facilities were all disconnected from the grid on Wednesday for the first time in Ukrainian history after the latest wave of Russian air raids on vital infrastructure.
In a statement, the IAEA nuclear watchdog said Ukraine had informed it on Friday that its Rivne, South Ukraine and Khmelnytskyy plants had been reconnected. Ukraine reconnected its vast Zaporizhzhia plant on Thursday, Kyiv said earlier.
(16:45 GMT)Pope Francis says Ukraine must be ‘far-sighted’ for peace
Ukraine’s leaders will have to be “far-sighted” to secure peace, Pope Francis says, suggesting that Kyiv would have to make concessions.
The pope this month had called for a ceasefire to avert the risk of escalation of the conflict and asked God to “hurry up” to end it.
In an open letter to mark the nine-month anniversary of the Russian invasion, Francis praised the strength of Ukrainians in the face of the onslaught.
“The world has recognised a bold and strong people, a people that suffers and prays, cries and struggles, resists and hopes: a noble and martyred people,” he wrote.
He also said he was praying for Ukraine’s rulers.
“On them lies the duty to govern the country in tragic times and to make far-sighted decisions for peace and to develop the economy during the destruction of so much vital infrastructure,” the leader of the Catholic Church said.
1h ago(16:15 GMT)Which countries supported the EU’s ‘terrorism’ label?
On Wednesday, the EU designated Russia as a “state sponsor of terrorism” over its attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure, which has plunged the country into darkness.
Despite the move being largely symbolic as the European Parliament does not have the legal framework to support it, 494 members of the European Parliament voted in favour of the resolution.
Here’s how European countries voted.
1h ago(15:49 GMT)Kherson Oblast hit ’54 times’ on Thursday
The head of the Kherson region, Yaroslav Yanushevych, says on Telegram that Kherson Oblast was shelled “54 times” on Thursday.
Yanushevych said: “The Russians targeted private and apartment buildings, a shipyard, a building on the school grounds, and gas pipes. The enemy also shelled the following settlements in the district: Zelenivka, Chornobayivka, and Stepanivka.”
“Unfortunately, we have victims among the civilian population. The Russians killed 10 residents of the Kherson region, and another 54 people were injured of varying degrees of severity,” he added.
(15:15 GMT)Petroneft Resources is considering future after Russian sanctions
Petroneft Resources, an international oil and gas producer focussed on Russia, is considering its options, including a full or partial sale of the company’s assets, following difficult operating conditions due to the Ukraine conflict.
It said the drilling of up to five development wells at its Cheremshanskoye oil field in Russia had been delayed for the foreseeable future because of the inability to secure financing.
The company, listed both in London’s junior market and in Dublin, also said the firm’s accountant, BDO, intends to resign in the wake of Western sanctions against Russia.
2h ago(14:55 GMT)EU leaders to resume talks over Russian oil price cap
European government representatives will resume talks over the level of a price cap on Russian oil on Friday evening, a diplomat told the Reuters news agency.
The diplomat, who declined to be identified, said it was not clear at present how many positions have converged.
On Thursday, European Union governments remained split over the level at which to cap Russian oil prices to curb Moscow’s ability to pay for its war in Ukraine without causing a global oil supply shock.
3h ago (14:35 GMT)Will winter exacerbate Ukraine’s refugee crisis?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told Western allies that Russia is using winter as a weapon after recent attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure have left much of the country without heat or water.
But the EU fears that the drop in temperature and the lack of heating will force many to leave their homes and migrate to Europe for safety.
The International Red Cross also expects more Ukrainians to flee Kyiv after Wednesday’s air raids.
Meanwhile, more than 11 million Ukrainians have fled and entered EU member countries, since the war began in February.
(14:03 GMT)Red Cross: Air strikes force more Ukrainians to flee Kyiv
More Ukrainians are being displaced by a wave of Russian bombardments, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reports.
“We expect an increase of population movement in the next few months,” said Violaine des Rosiers, the humanitarian group’s operations manager in the Ukrainian capital. “We are already seeing in Kyiv, the city is emptying.”
The UN’s refugee organisation said it is not seeing an increase in the number of refugees crossing the border out of Ukraine. It said 4.7 million refugees have left Ukraine for neighbouring countries so far.
