Power outages in Ukraine will last for 4 to 18 hours per day in winter

Experts surveyed by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) predict that Ukrainians will face daily power blackouts lasting from 4 to 18 hours this winter.

"This winter will be very hard," warned Daniel Bell, the head of HRMMU. "People will likely face regular power blackouts throughout the country. Any new attacks, which will lead to more durable outages, may have catastrophic consequences." Bell emphasized that these prolonged outages require a complex and coordinated response to repair the damage and hold those responsible accountable.

The HRMMU report provides a detailed overview of the long-term consequences of Russian attacks on Ukraine's power infrastructure. Based on visits to power facilities, interviews with technical experts, representatives of power companies, locals, and officials, the report underscores the gravity of the situation.

The experts highlighted that the impact of these attacks could be even more severe in winter due to the cold temperatures. As of June 2024, 73% of thermal power plants in Ukraine were rendered inoperative. Unlike in the winter of 2022-2023, when Russian strikes mainly targeted power transmission facilities, attacks since March 2024 have shifted focus to power generation facilities. Consequently, three times more power-generating infrastructure has been damaged in 2024 than in the previous winter.

This situation underscores the urgent need for both national and international partners to collaborate on restoring critical infrastructure and ensuring accountability for those responsible for the attacks.

Trump says he may meet with Zelenskyy next week

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has indicated that he might meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week.

When asked by journalists about the possibility of such a meeting, Trump responded, "Probably, yes," but he did not offer any additional details on the matter.

Russian attack on vicinity of Nikopol injures 5 civilians

On September 18, Russian forces carried out attacks on the towns of Marhanets and Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, resulting in injuries to five people, including a 9-year-old boy.
The strikes led to significant injuries, particularly to a child who was promptly taken to the hospital and is currently in moderate condition. Two women, aged 43 and 69, were also injured but have been deemed to be in satisfactory condition and are recovering at home. The attacks have once again brought into focus the vulnerability of civilians amidst ongoing hostilities.
The shelling caused considerable damage in the targeted areas. Two cars caught fire as a result of the strikes, but firefighters were able to extinguish the blazes. Additionally, the shelling damaged local shops and five-story buildings, with the extent of the destruction still under evaluation. This assault adds to the growing list of civilian infrastructure affected by the conflict.

Earlier on the same day, Russian military forces targeted the city of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast using loitering munitions. This attack injured a 42-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman, both of whom are reported to be in serious condition. An administrative building was also damaged during this assault. Medical professionals are actively providing all necessary care to those injured.

Russians drop guided aerial bomb on care house in Sumy

Russian forces struck a retirement home in Sumy with a guided aerial bomb on the afternoon of 19 September, resulting in injuries and one fatality. The Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported that the attack occurred around 16:00, targeting a building that housed 221 elderly residents. The projectile caused partial destruction of the facility, and several individuals were injured.

Initial reports indicated that several residents were in critical condition and required urgent evacuation. Emergency services provided immediate medical treatment on-site before transferring the injured to a hospital. Later updates confirmed that one person died of their injuries, and nine others were injured.

The State Emergency Service (SES) detailed that the fourth floor and maintenance area of the retirement home were partially destroyed. A total of 147 people were evacuated from the building, with no individuals found under the rubble. Emergency response teams are currently assisting in evacuating the home's residents to other institutions.