Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 254

Because the Russia-Ukraine battle enters its 254th day, we check out the primary developments.

A priest sprinkles holy water on Russian reservists earlier than their departure to the battle zone in Ukraine [File: Sergey Pivovarov/Reuters]

Right here is the scenario because it stands on Friday, November 4.

Combating

• A Moscow-installed official within the Kherson area has indicated Russian troops may pull again from the west financial institution of the Dnieper river, however as america sounded an optimistic word on Ukraine’s potential to retake the strategically vital southern metropolis of Kherson, Kyiv expressed extra wariness.
• The Kyiv authorities and Western navy analysts remained cautious, suggesting Russia may very well be setting a entice for advancing Ukrainian troops.
• Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant has been disconnected from the ability grid after shelling broken the remaining high-voltage strains, leaving it with simply diesel turbines, Ukraine’s nuclear operator Energoatom stated.
• Some 4.5 million Ukrainians, greater than 10 p.c of the pre-war inhabitants, had been quickly with out energy due to Russian assaults, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated.

Diplomacy

• The United Nations nuclear watchdog stated it discovered no signal of “undeclared nuclear actions” at three websites it inspected in Ukraine at Kyiv’s request following Russian allegations regarding a so-called “soiled bomb“.
• Russia and Ukraine exchanged 214 captured troopers within the newest of a sequence of prisoner swaps. Many had been wounded Ukrainians who survived a failed try to defend town of Mariupol in April and Could.
• UN chief Antonio Guterres urged Russia and Ukraine to prolong a grain deal that expires in two weeks because the Kremlin stated it has not dedicated to extending the Black Sea settlement past its present finish date of November 19.
• US embassy officers in Moscow met imprisoned American basketball star Brittney Griner, the Biden administration stated, pledging to proceed to push for her launch after she was convicted of drug expenses for bringing cannabis-infused vape cartridges into Russia and sentenced to 9 years in jail.
• Sweden and Finland haven't but fulfilled all obligations underneath a deal clearing their bids to affix NATO, Turkey’s International Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated, including no concrete steps have been taken but.