Energy
The Kyiv Funicular's operation has been temporarily suspended due to a lack of electricity supply. The city is experiencing scheduled power outages, which has affected public transport operations.
Serbia's only oil refinery, located in the city of Pančevo, could cease operations due to US sanctions against Russian companies Lukoil and Rosneft. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić warned that without supplies, the refinery would be unable to operate after November 1, although fuel storage facilities are filled until the end of the year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Great Britain for its support and stated that Putin is pushing Ukraine towards a "humanitarian catastrophe. "
Russian President's envoy Kirill Dmitriev arrived in the US for talks with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff. The meeting will take place after the US imposed new sanctions against Russia.
Ukraine plans to raise 2 billion euros for additional gas imports. Funding will come from internal reserves and external assistance from partners.
The leadership of the Netherlands and Romania believe that Lukoil will sell its plants located in the territories of these countries.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that the country is working on how to circumvent US sanctions against Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft.
Russian strikes on civilians in Ukraine and the Kremlin's maximalist demands forced Trump to impose new sanctions against Russia. This happened after realizing the immutability of Putin's course regarding the war's goals.
US President Donald Trump this week imposed sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, using the surplus of oil on the global market to weaken Russia's war chest. This move was made possible by a significant drop in global oil prices, which allowed Washington to more aggressively target Russian oil.
Today, electricity outage schedules are in effect in 12 regions from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM due to Russian attacks that caused blackouts in three regions. Electricity consumption remains high, so "Ukrenergo" calls for economical use of electrical appliances.
Today, a meeting of the "coalition of the willing" is taking place in London to discuss increasing pressure on Russia and supporting Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will call for the removal of Russian energy from the world market and the acceleration of long-range weapons supplies.
Russia may pause or slow its interest rate cutting cycle this week due to intensifying inflation risks and the threat of tax increases. This is linked to Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries, which have led to rising gasoline prices.
US Senator Lindsey Graham expects the Senate to hold a "Russia week" to consider sanctions bills. This comes after President Trump imposed sanctions on Moscow's energy sector.
In Chernihiv region, the situation with electricity supply remains difficult due to daily shelling, with the Koriukivka community being the most affected. Energy workers are actively working on restoration, blackout schedules are in effect, and issues with communication and water supply are also being resolved.
US President Donald Trump chose a moderately tough option for sanctions against Russia, targeting the energy sector. This happened after Trump concluded that Putin was "leading him on" by continuing to strike Ukraine.
German Economy Minister Katharina Reiche arrived in Kyiv to discuss the restoration of Ukraine's energy infrastructure and the expansion of German-Ukrainian defense cooperation. She promised to explore how Germany can provide more concrete support in this area.
US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker stated that US President Donald Trump is putting equal pressure on Putin and Zelenskyy. Recent sanctions against Russian oil companies "Lukoil" and "Rosneft" were the result of Trump's meeting with the NATO Secretary General.
The National Bank of Ukraine set the official exchange rate of the dollar at 41. 89 hryvnias, and the euro at 48.55 hryvnias. In the cash market, the dollar remained unchanged, while in banks, the rates fluctuate.
Train traffic in Kirovohrad, Kharkiv, and Sumy regions was complicated on October 24 due to infrastructure damage and traffic restrictions. Combined transportation, backup traction, and bypass routes are being used, leading to delays of up to 2 hours for some services.
On the night of October 24, the Russian army attacked the Kirovohrad region, hitting critical infrastructure facilities in the Novoukrainskyi district. As a result of the shelling, 19 settlements were left without electricity; there were no casualties.
The European Union faces the risk of a severe supply crisis for critical materials. China has introduced new export restrictions on rare earth magnets and the raw materials for their production.
German authorities are trying to protect Rosneft's subsidiaries in Germany from new US sanctions. At the same time, both German branches of the company are absent from the US Treasury's fresh sanctions list.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has resumed oil and gas exploration and production in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northern Alaska. This decision overturns previous restrictions by the Joe Biden administration and raises concerns among environmental organizations.
In Ukraine, the installation of solar power plants in medical facilities continues in preparation for winter and to strengthen energy autonomy. In Sambir, a 55.68 kW solar power plant was installed on the roof of the city hospital, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of critical infrastructure.
The European Union has confirmed financial support for Ukraine until 2027 and is increasing sanctions pressure on Russia. The use of frozen Russian assets to protect against aggression is also being considered.
DTEK has published electricity outage schedules for household consumers in Kyiv on October 24. The outages will occur in turns, covering different time intervals throughout the day.
Donald Trump reacted to Vladimir Putin's statement about Russia's alleged imperviousness to American sanctions. The US President ironically noted that he was glad to hear about the dictator's 'confidence,' but preferred to see how Russia would cope with the restrictions.
Kuwait states OPEC's readiness to increase oil production if demand rises, especially after new US sanctions against Russian energy companies. The price of Brent crude rose by more than 5%, reaching $66 per barrel.
On October 24, measures to limit electricity consumption will be applied in certain regions of Ukraine. Blackouts will occur from 07:00 to 23:00, affecting 1.5 to 2.5 queues of consumers.
The government has allocated UAH 8. 4 billion for gas imports for the heating season for the population. This decision is part of preparations for winter amid shelling, which will increase the reliability of gas and heat supply.