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Rishi Sunak met with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in his first visit to Kyiv since becoming prime minister. Britain’s prime minister is set to confirm a new £50m air defense package for the war-torn country, including 125 anti-aircraft guns and technology to counter deadly Iranian-supplied drones, including dozens of radars and an electronic warfare capability against drones. , said No. 10. It follows more than 1,000 new anti-aircraft missiles announced by the Defense Secretary earlier this month. Elsewhere, the head of Ukraine’s largest private energy company said those who are able to leave the country to help reduce demand on the country’s crippled energy system. Maxim Timchenko, chief executive of DTEK, said those who have an “alternative place” to stay should go there for “three out of four months”. His comments to the BBC came after Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, said half of the country’s energy system had been destroyed by recent missile attacks by Russia.
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Thanks so much for watching along with our coverage. We’re taking the live blog off for the evening, but here’s a roundup of the news from today:
Rishi Sunak meets Volodymyr Zelensky on first visit to Ukraine as Prime Minister
Power Boss asks Ukrainians to leave country to ease burden on damaged energy grid
‘We are Ukraine’s second army’: Workers struggle to restore country’s bombed railways
Holly Bancroft19 November 2022 18:10 1668881275
Ukrainian troops could reach Crimea by Christmas – deputy defense minister
Ukrainian forces could reach Crimea by Christmas, the country’s deputy defense minister said. Volodymyr Havrylov, a retired general, said Ukrainian troops could “step into Crimea” within months and bring an end to the war by spring. Speaking to Sky News about whether the war could be over by February 24, he said: “To be realistic… it will take some time. “But my feeling is that by the end of Spring, this war will be over.” Holly Bancroft19 November 2022 18:07 1668881119
Power Boss asks Ukrainians to leave country to ease burden on damaged energy grid
Citizens of Ukraine have been advised to leave the country – if they can – to help reduce demand on the energy grid. Ukrainians should consider leaving for “three to four months” as “it will be very useful for the system,” said Maxim Timchenko, head of Ukraine’s largest private energy supplier. Almost half of the country’s energy system has been damaged by attacks launched by Russia since it launched its invasion in February. Kyiv has called on Ukrainians to limit the use of household appliances such as ovens and washing machines in a bid to save energy. Mr Timchenko, chief executive of DTEK, told the BBC that the energy system becomes less reliable whenever Russian troops fire missiles at the electricity infrastructure. Read the full story here: Holly Bancroft19 November 2022 18:05 1668876004
‘We survived’: Kherson comes to life after the Russians leave
A week since the liberation of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, residents can’t escape the reminders of the terrifying eight months they spent under Russian occupation: missing people, mines everywhere, closed shops and restaurants, lack of electricity and water — and explosions daily and night as Russian and Ukrainian forces battle just across the Dnieper River. Despite these hardships, the people of Kherson express a mixture of relief, optimism, and even joy – mostly because of their regained freedom to express themselves at all.
‘We survived’: Kherson comes to life after the Russians leave
Residents of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson can’t escape reminders of the terrifying eight months under Russian occupation: missing people, landmines everywhere, power and water shortages and explosions day and night as Russian and Ukrainian forces continue to battle Matt Mathers November 19, 2022 4:40 p.m 1668874804
Watch: The moment Sunak meets Zelensky
President Volodymyr Zelenksy said that with “friends” like the UK, Ukraine is “confident of our victory” after meeting with Rishi Sunak. Zelensky earlier met the UK prime minister for the first time, with a video showing the pair embracing in Kyiv. Watch the moment of the meeting between the two leaders here: Rishi Sunak meets President Zelensky in Kyiv Matt Mathers November 19, 2022 4:20 p.m 1668872052
ICYMI: Hungary won’t support EU aid plan for Ukraine, Orban says
Hungary will not support a European Union plan to give Ukraine billions in financial aid next year, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday, addressing his country’s blocking of a major aid package presented by the EU last week. Speaking at a conference in Budapest, Orban said that while Hungary condemns Russia’s aggression and supports the Ukrainian people, he is not prepared to put Ukraine’s interests ahead of his own. Justin Spike has the full report: Matt Mathers November 19, 2022 3:34 p.m 1668870080
Sunak was “humiliated” to be in Ukraine
Rishi Sunak said he was “humbled” to be in Ukraine as the prime minister had his first face-to-face meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky. The visit came as the prime minister, in power for just a few weeks, pledged continued British support to the war-torn country in its fight against Russia. Mr Sunak’s arrival was accompanied by the announcement of a £50m defense aid package including 125 anti-aircraft guns and technology to help Ukraine counter drones supplied by Iran, including radar and anti-drone technology. Matt Mathers November 19, 2022 3:01 p.m 1668868239
Putin’s forces ‘dig in 60km behind Ukraine frontline’ as Russia fears more casualties
Russian forces are digging new trenches about 60 kilometers behind the current front line in Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Defense (MoD), suggesting the Kremlin is preparing for further Ukrainian advances. After retreating from Kherson – the only regional capital captured during the war so far – Russia continues to lose ground and its forces are focused on reorganizing, preparing and renewing defense vehicles across Ukraine, the Ministry said Foreign in its latest information update. My colleague Shweta Sharma reports: Matt Mathers November 19, 2022 2:30 p.m 1668866056
Rishi Sunak meets Volodymyr Zelensky on first visit to Ukraine as Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak traveled to Ukraine to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky and confirm the UK’s continued support for the war-torn country. The visit is Mr Sunak’s first to the region since becoming prime minister last month. Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports: Matt Mathers November 19, 2022 1:54 p.m 1668863584
ICYMI: “We are Ukraine’s second army.” Workers struggle to restore the country’s bombed railways
Bel Trew reports from the recently liberated city of Kherson, where – facing a constant threat from mines and possible artillery fire – railway workers are trying to get trains back into service Read Bel’s full report here: Matt Mathers November 19, 2022 1:13 p.m
