Ukraine war: Ukraine struggles to restore power after Russian strikes - BBC

Reuters

By Jaroslav Lukiv

BBC News

Ukraine has said that as much as 50% of the country's electricity needs are currently not being met, after massive Russian missile strikes this week.

The Ukrenergo power operator said the priority was to fix key infrastructure but repairs were now taking more time.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said "the most difficult situation" with power as well as water supply was in 15 regions, including the capital Kyiv.

Across Ukraine, winter is setting in, with snow and sub-zero temperatures.

There are fears that people across the country could die of hypothermia.

• The race to restore power after Russian strikes
• Newborn baby killed in attack on Ukraine hospital

On Thursday morning, about 70% of Kyiv residents woke up without power.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko told BBC Ukrainian he was not ruling out a "worst scenario" where the city would be without electricity, heat and water.

But later in the day the Ukrainian authorities said that electricity and water supplies were gradually being restored in all regions.

"Water is slowly running. No electricity yet," Roman, a Kyiv resident, told the BBC at 15:00 local time (12:00 GMT) on Thursday. Several hours later, he added: "Finally, they [the authorities] have provided electricity - after more than 24 hours."

Tonya, another Kyivan, told the BBC late on Thursday evening that she had not had electricity for 48 hours.

"I now have water today, and a weak connection. But still no electricity and heat," she said.

'Hold on for 120 days'

The Ukrainian authorities say they have set up across the country more than 4,000 "points of invincibility" - makeshift heated tents where people can charge their phones and have tea or coffee.

In his video address late on Thursday, President Zelensky said Russian troops "do not know how to fight".

"The only thing they can still do is terrorise. Either energy terror, or artillery terror, or missile terror - that's all that Russia has degraded to under its current leaders," he said.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk told the BBC's World Tonight programme: "Terrorist Russia has started an energy war against us, it's aim is to create a massive humanitarian crisis. The biggest challenge for us is the most vulnerable categories - elderly people, women with children and the sick in hospitals."

"Our people have to hold on for 120 days, because those are the winter days, the winter months and that is what Russia is aiming for. It wants to inflict the maximum pain on our people as they are going through winter."

Ms Vereshchuk said parts of Ukraine - like the southern city of Kherson - were still under daily bombardment, and that the Ukrainian government had already started voluntary evacuations.

Kherson regional officials said that seven people were killed and 21 injured in Russian artillery and rocket strikes on the city.

Ukraine and its Western allies have repeatedly said that by targeting critical civilian infrastructure Russia is committing war crimes - an accusation denied by Moscow.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggested that Ukraine's leaders could end "the suffering of the local population" by fulfilling Russia's demands for ending the war that Moscow started on 24 February.

Replying to this, Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted: "Calling for peace while launching missiles at peaceful cities - the highest degree of personality disorder."

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2022-11-24 23:37:16Z
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Ukraine war: How Ukraine restores power after Russian attacks - BBC

By James Waterhouse

BBC Ukraine correspondent, Kherson region

There is a business-like synchronisation to Andrii's Kysenko's team as they work on a downed electricity cable in the rural Kherson region.

With a crater only a few metres from the pylon, they're confident a shell was the culprit.

Two months ago, this 100km (62-mile) long powerline cut through the boundary of Russia's occupation.

Since Russian forces retreated about two weeks ago, a typically once in a five-year repair job has become a daily ritual for these engineers.

Daria Sipigina

"Before, work like this was only necessary after extreme weather," explains Mr Kysenko. "Now it's like we're rebuilding the whole cable network from scratch."

They work for Ukraine's biggest energy company DTEK and have so far repaired 50km of this line.

They expect the second half to be more difficult as they near the Dnipro River, where there is increased shelling.

As far as work environments go, they don't get much more challenging - not least with the flak jackets they all must wear.

Yet his team methodically clamp the cable back together and hoist it into place.

Moose Campbell

As the powerline stretches into the misty horizon, it seems like an endless treadmill of work.

"When it all began, the first days were challenging," the engineer says. "There would be constant shelling and torn cables.

"But we got used to it, and we have to hope things will get better."

Daria Sipigina

As the Kherson region continues to be liberated, the demand on Ukraine's strained energy grid rises too.

It's why the authorities are urging people to leave the region, but for many, that is easier said than done.

The villages close to the pylons have spent eight months without water or power.

The roads are dotted with shell craters. Distant artillery reminds you the fighting has only moved, not disappeared.

We meet 90-year-old Anton Kramar, whose windows are boarded up after they were smashed by shrapnel, which injured his wife.

They've lived here for 50 years and have seen three wars.

"It's very hard," he says. "People bring candles, but they don't last long."

Some humanitarian aid has reached their village. Mr Kramar says he was promised wood and an oven, but they haven't arrived.

"If we get no oven, then we'll have to go cut the trees ourselves and carry the wood on our shoulders.

"I've worked my entire life but have nothing."

In his flat, Bohdan Dzepchuk shows us his small gas stove which is his only source of heat. He still uses it to cook meals for his neighbours who don't have one.

"Maybe I should go to Kyiv and ask for help there!" he suggests.

"This is madness."

He only uses half of his flat because the windows are smashed in the other rooms. The cold air is biting as you peer into his living room.

Daria Sipigina

Then for Mr Dzepchuk, it becomes too much.

"This is no way to live. It's madness." He says tearfully. "I don't know what to do.

"I've never cried like this in my life. Now I'm an old man."

Kyiv has accused Russia of "crimes against humanity" after their latest missile strikes.

Moscow's new tactic of targeting infrastructure has left Ukraine a darker country.

That's not to say Ukrainians' sense of resolve has been weakened necessarily, but more are suffering.

Moscow's claims of only targeting military sites are falling on deaf ears in this part of Kherson.

Additional reporting by Daria Sipigina, Alex Milner and Moose Campbell

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2022-11-24 17:19:23Z
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China Covid: Record number of cases as virus surges nationwide - BBC

EPA

By Frances Mao

BBC News

China has recorded its highest number of daily Covid cases since the pandemic began, despite stringent measures designed to eliminate the virus.

There are outbreaks in several major cities including the capital Beijing and southern trade hub Guangzhou.

On Wednesday, the country recorded 31,527 cases - higher than the about 28,000 peak recorded in April, when its largest city Shanghai was locked down.

It comes as strict lockdowns continue to spark episodes of unrest.

China's zero-Covid policy has saved lives in the country of 1.4 billion people but also dealt a punishing blow to the economy and ordinary people's lives.

However the rising wave of cases also comes weeks after the country slightly relaxed some of its Covid restrictions.

It cut quarantine for close contacts from seven days in a state facility to five days and three days at home, and stopped recording secondary contacts which allowed many more people to avoid having to quarantine.

Officials have also sought to avoid enforcing blanket lockdowns of the kind endured by Shanghai earlier this year.

But faced with a renewed surge in cases in Beijing, as well as the first deaths from the virus in months, officials have already implemented some restrictions in several districts, with shops, schools and restaurants closed.

The central city of Zhengzhou is also to enforce an effective lockdown for 6 million residents from Friday, officials announced.

It follows violent protests at a vast industrial complex belonging to iPhone manufacturer Foxconn. The firm has apologised for a "technical error" in its payment systems.

• iPhone maker apologises after protests at plant

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Other stories of suffering and desperation have also been shared online where they've fuelled public resentment.

Last week, reports that a baby in Zhengzhou died because her medical care was delayed by Covid restrictions prompted huge outcry.

• How Covid is rising again in China
• Zero-Covid China asks: Is World Cup on another planet?

China is the last major economy still pursuing a Covid eradication process with mass testing and lockdown rules.

However virus cases are now being recorded in 31 provinces.

President Xi Jinping has said strict curbs are needed to protect the country's large elderly population. Vaccination levels are lower than other developed nations, and only half of people aged over 80 have their primary vaccinations.

While China is seeing an increase in infections now, the rate is still far lower than many other advanced economies at their pandemic peak.

China's official death toll has remained low at just over 5,200 deaths since the pandemic began.

That equates to three Covid deaths in every million in China, compared with 3,000 per million in the US and 2,400 per million in the UK.

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2022-11-24 06:06:13Z
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Jerusalem bombings: Teenager killed in rare twin attacks at bus stops - bbc.co.uk

EPA

By Tom Bateman & David Gritten

BBC News, Jerusalem and London

A 15-year-old boy has been killed and 14 other people have been wounded in two suspected bomb attacks at bus stops in Jerusalem, Israeli police say.

The explosions happened at two busy areas on the outskirts of the city as people were heading to work.

The teenager who died was an Israeli-Canadian Jewish seminary student named Aryeh Schupak.

Israel's prime minister said it was an attack that was "different from what we have seen in recent years".

The atmosphere feels volatile in a year of intensifying violence, as Palestinian gun and knife attacks have targeted Israelis, and Israeli military raids have killed Palestinian gunmen and civilians in the occupied West Bank.

No group has so far said it was behind the blasts. However, the Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad both praised the perpetrators of what they referred to as the "operation".

• Teen's killing casts spotlight on Israel tactics
• Israelis killed in W Bank knife and car attack

The first explosion happened in Givat Shaul, close to the main entrance to Jerusalem, just after 07:00 (05:00 GMT) on Wednesday.

Israeli medics said the blast wounded 12 people, including the teenage boy who died later at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center.

About 30 minutes later, there was a second blast in Ramot Junction, another entrance to the city. It left three people with minor injuries.

At the scene of the first explosion, the pavement was scattered with debris. Masked Israeli security forces sealed off the site, while the pieces of a badly damaged bicycle were put into forensics bags.

One man from a Jewish ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood opposite told the BBC that he was woken as his building shook. Many of those waiting for buses were apparently from the community.

A small protest was also taking place with a sign held by young Israeli men calling for "revenge".

Reuters

The head of the Israeli police's operations division, Deputy Commissioner Sigal Bar Zvi, said the bombs were made with "high quality" explosives and that they were placed in a bush and behind a wall at the bus stops.

Given the nature of the attacks, she added, investigators suspect they were masterminded by an organised cell.

Israeli media cited security sources as saying that both devices contained nails and were likely to have been detonated remotely.

Following a meeting with Israel's security chiefs, outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid said Aryeh Schupak "was a boy who never wronged anyone in the world, and he was murdered simply because he was Jewish".

He also pledged that security forces would "find these heinous terrorists, those behind them and those who provided them with weapons".

"I want to say to the citizens of Israel: We will find them. They can run, they can hide - it won't help them; the security forces will reach them. If they resist, they will be eliminated."

EPA

The attacks come as Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party continue negotiations to form a new coalition government with allied far-right and religious parties. They won a majority in parliament in an election that centred on security.

"We still have a fight with cruel terror, which raise its head again," Mr Netanyahu warned as he visited survivors of the attacks in hospital. "We will do anything to bring back the security for the citizens of all Israel as soon as possible."

Ultra-nationalist Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party leader Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is set to become Mr Netanyahu's internal security minister and oversee the police force, visited the scene of the first explosion and declared that Israel had to take action to deter Palestinian attacks.

"Even if it's in the West Bank, lay siege to them and go from house to house in search of guns and restore our deterrence power," he said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that he was "incredibly saddened to learn about the death of a young Canadian in the terrorist attack in Jerusalem", which he condemned "in the strongest possible terms".

Incredibly saddened to learn about the death of a young Canadian in the terrorist attack in Jerusalem. I’m sending his family and friends my deepest condolences. I’m also thinking of those who were injured. Canada condemns this violence in the strongest possible terms.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 23, 2022

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

The US ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides, tweeted that an 18-year-old Israeli-American named Naomi Pilichowski was among those wounded in what he called the "heinous terrorist attack". Her father, the educator and author Rabbi Uri Pilichowski, said she had suffered a small cut.

This year has seen a spate of deadly attacks by Palestinians targeting Israelis, killing at least 25 people.

Meanwhile, Israel has carried out near nightly military search and arrest raids in the occupied West Bank. More than 130 Palestinians - including militant gunmen and civilians - have been killed.

On Tuesday night, a 16-year-old Palestinian boy named Ahmad Amjad Shehada was shot dead during clashes with Israeli forces in the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian health officials said.

The Israeli military said its troops fired at "armed suspects" during an operation "to secure the entrance of Israeli civilians to Joseph's Tomb". The tomb is revered by Jews, who believe the Biblical figure Joseph is buried there.

In a separate incident on Tuesday in the nearby city of Jenin, Palestinian gunmen kidnapped the body of a 17-year-old Israeli Druze boy who was fatally injured in a traffic accident near Jenin, his family said.

The uncle of Tiran Fero told the Haaretz newspaper that he was at Jenin's Ibn Sina Hospital with his nephew when a group of men "fired their weapons in the air and yelled in Arabic", then "disconnected him from the life support machines and threw him into a vehicle".

"If Tiran's body is not returned, the kidnappers will pay a heavy price," Mr Lapid warned on Wednesday.

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2022-11-23 16:31:02Z
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Ukraine war: Power cuts across the country and in Moldova as missiles hit - BBC

Getty Images

Ukraine's western city of Lviv is without power after a wave of Russian missiles pounded the country.

Critical infrastructure in Kyiv was also targeted, and the city's officials said three people died in the attack.

Across the border, Moldova also reported "massive" blackouts, although it has not been directly hit.

Moscow has recently increased strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, leaving half of the country's power grid in need of repair.

Ukraine's national power grid operator has said the damage sustained by power generating facilities in recent weeks has been "colossal" and warned that Ukrainians could face long power outages over the winter months.

Early on Wednesday, an air-raid alert was issued across Ukraine, followed by reports of explosions in a number of locations.

Ukraine's air force said over 70 cruise missiles were launched by Moscow, with air defences intercepting 51 projectiles. Officials said five drones were also launched.

But the attack has caused significant damage to infrastructure across the country.

Ukraine's state energy company, Energoatom, said three nuclear reactors were taken offline due to the blackout.

And in the capital Kyiv, parts of the city have been let without water and completely without power, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Lviv mayor, Andriy Sadovy, said children had been taken to shelters with their teachers - and urged parents not to pick them up until the alarm was over.

Shortly before the fresh reports from Kyiv and Lviv, officials said southern Ukraine had come under renewed assault.

The governor of the Mykolaiv region warned of "many rockets" arriving from the south and east.

In the nearby Zaporizhzhia region, a newborn baby was killed when a missile hit a maternity unit, emergency services said.

Russia was blamed for that attack, but is yet to comment on any of Wednesday's alleged strikes.

Blackouts in Moldova

More than half of Moldova was also left without electricity, deputy prime minister Andrei Spinu wrote on Twitter. He said the attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure has caused a "massive blackout" across Moldova.

Within a few hours power was starting to be restored in the Moldovan capital Chisinau, a Reuters journalist reported.

Moldova also experienced widespread power cuts as a result of strikes on Ukraine on 15 November, Mr Spinu said. Mobile networks were also badly affected.

Sergiu Tofilat, a local energy policy analyst, told Moldova's TV8 channel that the country's energy supplies relied on a power line that passed through Transnistria, a breakaway Russian-controlled territory in Moldova bordering Ukraine, before reaching the capital Chisinau.

"When there are bombings in Ukraine, this line is automatically disconnected and we are left without electricity," he was quoted as saying.

In response to the outages, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said Russia had "left Moldova in the dark".

"Russia's war in Ukraine kills people, destroys residential blocks and energy infrastructure with missiles..." she wrote on Facebook. "But the electricity supply can be restored. We will solve the technical problems and we will have light again. All state institutions are working in this direction."

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2022-11-23 16:02:45Z
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Multiple fatalities in shooting at Walmart store in Virginia - Sky News

Several people have died and others injured in a shooting at a Walmart store in Virginia, police say.

It happened in the city of Chesapeake, with police called shortly after 10pm local time, spokesman officer Leo Kosinski said.

"Chesapeake Police confirm an active shooter incident with fatalities at the Walmart on Sam's Circle. The shooter is deceased," the City of Chesapeake tweeted.

Image: Virginia police respond to the scene of the fatal shooting at a Walmart in Chesapeake. Pic: WAVY-TV 10 via AP

The number of people killed was not clear, but Mr Kosinski said "less than 10, right now" were dead.

Senator Louise Lucas tweeted: "I am absolutely heartbroken that America's latest mass shooting took place in a Walmart in my district in Chesapeake, Virginia tonight.

"I will not rest until we find the solutions to end this gun violence epidemic in our country that has taken so many lives."

A number of people were also injured and Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, in the nearby city of Norfolk, was reported to be treating five victims.

More on Virginia

Related Topics:

Mr Kosinski said police believe the shooting happened inside the store but one person was found dead outside the building.

It is not known if the shooter died of self-inflicted injuries.

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Mr Kosinski added that no shots were fired at police "to his knowledge".

Read more:
There are mass shootings elsewhere - but America's problem with guns stands alone

The City of Chesapeake Twitter account tweeted: "A family reunification site is set up at the Chesapeake Conference Center (700 Conference Center Drive). This site is only for immediate family members or the emergency contact of those who may have been in the building."

Walmart Inc tweeted that it was "shocked" at the events in its store.

"We are shocked at this tragic event at our Chesapeake, Virginia store. We're praying for those impacted, the community and our associates. We're working closely with law enforcement, and we are focused on supporting our associates."

The Walmart in Chesapeake is a 'supercenter', which means it sells groceries and other products.

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2022-11-23 06:14:58Z
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Trump taxes: Supreme Court clears Democrats to see returns - BBC

Reuters

By Max Matza

BBC News

The US Supreme Court has ordered former President Donald Trump's tax forms to be released to a Democratic-controlled congressional committee.

The move is a major blow to Mr Trump, who has tried for years to shield his tax returns from becoming public.

Mr Trump became the first president in 40 years not to release his taxes after announcing his first presidential run.

The House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee has been seeking access to Mr Trump's taxes since 2019.

Mr Trump, who launched his third campaign for the White House last week, is facing multiple investigations related to his business practices. He denies any wrongdoing.

Tuesday's ruling allows a lower court's order to stand, authorising the documents to be handed over to the committee.

It supersedes an order issued by Chief Justice John Roberts on 1 November that put the request on hold as the panel's nine judges deliberated.

The Supreme Court's brief response did not note dissent from any of the judges.

The decision clears the US treasury department to deliver Mr Trump's returns from 2013-18 for him and some of his businesses to the Democratic-controlled committee.

It comes just before the Republicans take control of the House, after Democrats failed to hold their majority in this month's midterm elections.

Democrats beat the buzzer - barely

Donald Trump was almost able to run out the clock on the congressional request to view his tax returns.

Almost.

With just over a month left of Democratic control of the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court has given the green light for the treasury department to provide the documents to the Ways and Means Committee.

Given that the treasury department is run by the Biden administration, the process of handing over the documents should proceed expeditiously. Democrats won't have long to review them before Republicans take over on 3 January, however. And coming up with any proposed changes to federal law regarding presidential tax returns - the stated purpose of the congressional request - seems a pointless effort with the little time remaining before congressional adjournment.

But a few weeks may be long enough to unearth evidence of any unusual or potentially improper accounting by Mr Trump - and for those details to leak to the public. And that, many assume, was the real motive behind the request.

Mr Trump has suffered two other defeats this year from the conservative-dominated Supreme Court, three of whose justices he appointed.

In October, the court refused to weigh in on the legal fight over the FBI search of Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago home. Agents served a warrant at the estate on suspicion that the former president may have improperly handled classified documents. 

In January, the court refused to act to stop the National Archives from handing over documents to the 6 January committee investigating the riot on Capitol Hill by Trump supporters.

Mr Trump has rejected the Ways and Means Committee's probe as politically motivated. 

Last year, a Trump-appointed judge on the court of appeals in Washington DC ruled that the House did have a legitimate need to review the forms.

The committee has argued that it needs to see Mr Trump's forms to determine whether tax officials are properly auditing presidential candidates, and whether any new legislation is necessary.

They had told the lower court that Mr Trump's refusal blocks Congress from conducting oversight of the executive and judicial branches "by in effect preventing Congress from completing any investigation involving a former president whenever there are allegations that the investigation was politically motivated".

In its filing to the Supreme Court, the committee told the justices that current tax policy "does not address what to do regarding a president who, like former President Trump, owned hundreds of business entities, had inordinately complex returns, used aggressive tax avoidance strategies and allegedly had ongoing audits".

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2022-11-22 23:03:13Z
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