241st day of fighting: the main thing

Russian troops strike again on Ukraine's energy infrastructure Two killed and 14 injured in Shebekino shelling in Belgorod Oblast Mediazona* and BBC confirm 7,822 Russian troops killed in Ukraine Pro-Russian authorities order Kherson residents to leave city ISW : Russian troops began a retreat from the west of the Kherson region

• This morning, Russian troops struck yet another blow to Ukraine's energy infrastructure. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, 36 rockets were fired at Ukrainian settlements, most of the strikes were repelled by air defense. Despite this, it was not possible to avoid arrivals.

According to the office of the President of Ukraine, as a result of the shelling, almost one and a half million Ukrainians were left without electricity: 672,000 people in the Khmelnytsky region, 188,400 people in the Mykolaiv region, 102,000 people in the Volyn region, 242,000 people in the Cherkasy region, Rivne region - 174,790 people, in the Kirovohrad region - 61,913 people, in the Odessa region - 10,500 people.

Ukrenergo reported that the scale of damage after today's attack is comparable to or may exceed the consequences of the October 10-12 attack. Repair crews will begin to restore after the rescuers eliminate the consequences of missile strikes.

• Two people were killed, 14 more were injured as a result of the shelling of the city of Shebekino in the Belgorod region. The victims of the blow were a man and a 14-year-old teenager. Arrivals fell on civilian infrastructure facilities, and fires broke out at the scene. In addition, the shelling led to a shutdown of water and electricity in the city.

A few hours later, the governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reported on the elimination of fires, as well as the restoration of water, heat and electricity. "Protective structures" are currently being installed in the region, he added .

• The pro-Russian authorities of the Kherson region demanded that the residents of Kherson leave the city on October 22. The occupying authorities referred to the "tense situation at the front", the "increased danger of massive shelling" and the "threat of terrorist attacks". Civilians were reminded of the need to take documents, money, valuables and clothing with them.

The Ukrainian edition "Strana", citing local residents , reported that many refuse to leave the city, because they are confident in the imminent victory of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the retreat of Russian troops "without a fight." At the same time, some still leave Kherson, fearing the flooding of the city in connection with statements about the threat of undermining the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station. In the meantime, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine claims that the pro-Russian authorities are preparing the city for street fighting.

• At least 10 Iranian instructors who taught Russian soldiers how to operate the Shahed-13 6 kamikaze drones have been killed in Ukraine. This is reported by The Jerusalem Post , citing a Ukrainian official.

According to the publication, the instructors were killed in the last week. The Ukrainian and American sides claim that Russia brought them to the Crimea and Kherson region to train Russian soldiers to operate Shahed-136 drones.

Meanwhile, Iran "strongly condemned" sanctions imposed by the European Union and Britain against the country. In addition, the Iranian leadership opposed the call by Germany, Britain and France to the UN to investigate the use of Iranian drones by Russian troops.

• Mediazona* and the BBC, with the support of volunteers, continue to collect official reports on Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine. As of October 21, journalists managed to confirm the death of 7822 soldiers. When the mobilization was announced on September 21, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke of the loss of 5937 people.
• British intelligence reports that the Russian military built a crossing bridge on civilian barges near the shelled Antonovsky bridge. This is the first case in recent decades when the Russian troops had to build such a structure. Experts explain that this could bring the Russian army, which has lost a significant amount of military equipment, "additional logistical benefits."

When and if the barges on which the bridge is laid are damaged by shelling, they will be quickly replaced, since crossings across the Dnieper are extremely important for the Russians, the British say. The fact is that Ukrainian troops are strengthening their presence on the right bank of the Dnieper.

• The American Institute for the Study of War ( ISW ) recorded the retreat of Russian troops from the west of the Kherson region. Analysts believe that they intend to stretch the retreat for several weeks, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine may interfere with their plans. In order to cover up their retreat, the Russian troops can undermine the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station and blame Ukraine.

The fact that Russian troops are preparing provocations at the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station in order to blame the Armed Forces of Ukraine for them ISW was reported by in a report for October 19. Analysts then suggested for the first time that the destruction of the dam could cover the retreat of the Russians from the right bank of the Dnieper and slow down the advance of the Ukrainian army.

ISW . also reported that Russian troops continue to prepare for the destruction of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric dam Institute experts pointed out that the Russians are actively exporting equipment and equipment from the western bank of the Dnieper in anticipation of the upcoming offensive of the Ukrainian army.

Information about the preparation of the Russian Federation of provocations at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station was confirmed by Ukrainian intelligence. They said the Russians this week parked two trucks filled with explosives on the station's dam.

* "Mediazona" is considered by the Russian Ministry of Justice to be a "foreign agent".