► “Massive attack” against Ukrainian energy installations
“Massive attack” was underway Monday morning, October 31, against energy installations in several Ukrainian regions, leaving parts of kyiv without electricity, two days after an attack on the Russian fleet in Crimea, which Moscow blamed on Ukraine with the help of from the United Kingdom. To the north of the capital, about fifteen soldiers and police blocked traffic and prohibited access to the road which leads to an affected site, noted an AFP team.
“Russian terrorists have once again launched a massive attack on energy system facilities in a number of regions”lamented an adviser to the Ukrainian presidency, Kyrylo Tymoshenko. “More than 50 X-101/X-555 type cruise missiles were launched using aircraft” of the Tu-95 and Tu-160 type from the northern Caspian Sea and the Russian Rostov region, the Ukrainian Air Force said on Telegram.
In kyiv, at least five explosions were heard early Monday by AFP journalists. “Part of kyiv is without electricity and in some areas without water, following Russian strikes”quickly indicated the mayor of the city, Vitali Klitschko, on Telegram.
► kyiv denounces “impossible” cereal exports after the Russian blockade
Ukraine on Sunday denounced grain exports that had become “impossible” because of the Russian blockade reinstated by Russia after its exit the day before from the agreement allowing their routing, in reaction to an attack on its fleet in Crimea, which Moscow imputed to kyiv with the help of London. The Russian army assured Sunday that this attack, carried out using aerial and marine drones and which hit at least one Russian military ship in the Bay of Sevastopol, had in particular used the secure area dedicated to the transport of Ukrainian cereals.
According to Moscow, one of the drones used in this attack could have been launched “from one of the civilian ships chartered by kyiv or its Western masters for the export of agricultural products from the seaports of Ukraine”. kyiv on Saturday denounced a ” pretext “ and called on the international community to press for Moscow “again fulfills its obligations”.
Two cargo ships loaded with grain, however, left Ukrainian ports on Monday and took the humanitarian maritime corridor bound for Turkey, according to the specialized site Marine traffic. Twelve cargo ships are due to leave Ukrainian ports during the day and four others are heading for them, one of which, under the Turkish flag, has already set sail, said the Joint Coordination Center (JCC), responsible for overseeing the agreement. on Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea.
► Fighting continues in the Kherson region
On the front, fighting and shelling continued on Sunday with at least 10 dead and 13 wounded among civilians in the past 24 hours, according to the report of the presidency.
In the Kherson region, in the south of the country, where the next major battle between Russian and Ukrainian forces is expected, AFP journalists observed sporadic artillery duels in the village of Kotliarevé, without provoking excitement among the locals.
► Vladimir Putin congratulates the new Brazilian president
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday congratulated Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, winner of the presidential election in Brazil, and said he wanted to develop with him a “constructive cooperation”the Kremlin said.
“Please accept my sincere congratulations (…) The results of the election have confirmed your great political authority. I hope that by making joint efforts, we will ensure the further development of constructive Russian-Brazilian cooperation in all areas.”Vladimir Putin said in a telegram to Lula, according to the Russian presidency.
► In Prague, tens of thousands of demonstrators in support of Ukraine
“Several tens of thousands” of people gathered in the historic center of Prague on Sunday for a new demonstration in support of Ukraine, according to the Czech police.
Under Czech, Ukrainian, EU and NATO banners, the rally titled “Czechoslovakia Against Fear” brought together participants from both countries in the famous Wenceslas Square.