Morning Briefing

Ukraine — Russian Strikes Disrupt Electricity Supplies Across Four Regions

Russian attacks on energy infrastructure in four Ukrainian regions left hundreds of thousands of households without electricity on 1 November, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Ukraine’s air force said it had shot down 371 of 433 long-range drones launched since Saturday evening. The governor of Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region said a Ukrainian drone attack overnight caused significant damage to an industrial facility.

Sources: Reuters

Sudan — Drone Strikes Disable Power Substations in Two Northern Towns

Drone strikes disabled electricity substations in Al-Dabbah and Abu Hamad on 1 November, leaving both towns without power, according to the Associated Press. Sudan’s government and the rights group Emergency Lawyers blamed the Rapid Support Forces for the attacks. Emergency Lawyers said 15 substations had been targeted since early October, while the Sudan Doctors Network warned that the outages endanger hospitals, dialysis centres and blood banks.

Sources: AP

Ukraine — Air Force Says Public Air-Raid Alert App Was Hacked

Ukraine’s air force said on 1 November that the public air-raid alert app “appears to have been subjected to enemy influence”. The app briefly showed a nuclear alert for Kyiv and other areas before the abnormality went away. The air force said there was no radiation threat and asked the public to follow its official updates.

Sources: Reuters

Strait of Hormuz — Iranian Navy Reports Two Tankers Struck Mines

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said on 1 November that two oil tankers exploded after hitting mines while sailing through what it called an unauthorised route in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media. Reuters reported that Iran has placed limits on vessels transiting the strait and has attacked ships it says break them.

Sources: Reuters

Ukraine — Pope Leo Calls for Further Dialogue Following Oleshky Ceasefire

Pope Leo said in his Sunday prayer on 1 November that he hoped the cooperation behind the humanitarian operation in Russian-occupied Oleshky would strengthen the parties’ willingness to engage in dialogue. Ukraine and Russia announced on 23 October that they had agreed to a pause in fighting in the town, which allowed aid deliveries and evacuations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said negotiators would hold fresh talks in early November.

Sources: Reuters