Odesa Mayor Dismissed, Energy Infrastructure Under Strain as War Enters Day 1,330
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Serhiy Lysak as the new mayor of Odesa, following the revocation of Gennadiy Trukhanov‘s citizenship. Trukhanov’s dismissal was automatic upon losing his Ukrainian citizenship, amid allegations he holds a Russian passport – claims he denies.
The Kremlin dismissed US President Donald Trump’s warnings of a Russian economic collapse, asserting Moscow possesses “sufficient adn considerable margin of safety” to achieve President Vladimir Putin’s objectives.
EU economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis announced the bloc will urge G7 partners to explore utilizing immobilized Russian assets to aid Ukraine, coinciding with finance ministers’ meetings in washington.
Efforts to restore power to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, controlled by Russia sence early in the 2022 invasion and disconnected from the Ukrainian grid since September 23, are scheduled to begin “soon,” according to IAEA head Rafael Grossi.
Crude oil prices rose by 1 percent after Trump stated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured him India would cease purchasing Russian oil. Brent crude futures increased 54 cents (0.87 percent) to $62.45 a barrel by 04:30 GMT Thursday, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures climbed 57 cents (0.98 percent) to $58.84.
The US is also pressing Japan to halt Russian energy imports,as communicated by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato.
The International monetary Fund (IMF) announced a visit by managing Director Kristalina Georgieva to Ukraine to discuss a potential new loan package. Ukraine has already received $10.6 billion of a $15.5 billion loan from the IMF.
Zelenskyy discussed the potential for US natural gas supplies to Ukraine with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Ukraine’s Energy Ministry implemented emergency power cuts in all regions except two, responding to recent russian attacks on energy infrastructure. Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal cautioned that Ukraine faces a “very tough, very challenging winter” due to damage to its energy production capabilities.
