Russia-Ukraine War: Putin imposes martial law in ‘annexed’ regions; India asks citizens to leave Ukraine ASAP

After a few months of relative calm, the Ukraine-Russia war has intensified in the last few weeks. India has issued an advisory to its citizens discouraging travel to Ukraine and asking those in the country to leave at the earliest.

Advisory for Indian Nationals@MEAIndia @DDNewslive @DDNational @PIB_India @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/bu4IIY1JNt

— India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine) October 19, 2022

The martial law: Russia's President Vladimir Putin has imposed martial law in regions (Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia provinces) it claims to have annexed as Ukrainian forces continue to push forward to retake the territories. 

• Little is known about what the law would entail on the ground, but it could mean a ban on large gatherings, more censorship, etc.

Putin's "martial state" is an act of desperation and agony.

Even mobilization and energy terrorism doesn't let him keep the annexed territories, stop the advances of Ukrainian Army and stop the civilized world from supporting Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/dHm1U8HV3v

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) October 19, 2022

The evacuation: Kremlin-appointed leaders of the four illegally 'annexed' regions are asking residents to leave for Russia immediately as combat intensifies. 

• Russian state media showed visuals of people fleeing Kherson on boats from the right to the left bank of the Dnipro river.
• Moscow claims that 5 million residents of Donbas and other southeastern regions of Ukraine have left for Russia. However, it is unknown within what time frame and how the residents arrived in Russia. 

• Ukrainian official has called the "evacuation" of civilians equal to deportations, like Russia did during the Soviet times.

"Evacuation" in Kherson.

People have been under Russian occupation for many months.

Now Russia is trying to make locals panic, frightening them with the offensive of Ukrainian Army. They are trying to cover up self-evacuation - fleeing of "administration" and collaborants. pic.twitter.com/SxxoSwtuOO

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) October 19, 2022

Power supply in Ukraine: Ukraine is restricting power supply in the country for the first time due to Russian drone and missile attacks destroying nearly 30% of the energy plants. 

• Electricity will be restricted between 7 am and 11 pm. Ukrainians have been asked to minimise electricity use and informed of possible blackouts. 

EU Prize: The European Union Parliament gave its highest Human Rights award to the Ukrainian people. The award named after Soviet dissident, Andrei Sakharov, was given to the Ukrainian people for their resistance to the Russian invasion. 

Today, @Europarl_EN awarded the 2022 Sakharov Prize to the brave people of Ukraine, represented by President @ZelenskyyUa
A nation that fights for Freedom will win.
Any tyrant, as it has always been through history, will be left with infamy and dishonor.

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) October 19, 2022

Russia's warning to UN Chief: Moscow has warned UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that it would stop cooperating with him if he sends a team of experts to assess the drones used by it in Ukraine. 

• Western allies have been pushing for the UN to inspect whether the drones used by Russia recently were indeed supplied by Iran. 
• Iran would be in breach of UN sanctions if it is proved that Tehran supplied Moscow with the military equipment. 
• On the other hand, EU countries have agreed upon a new wave of sanctions on Iran for allegedly supplying Russia with military equipment.