This has been CNBC's live blog covering updates on the war in Ukraine. [Follow the latest updates here.]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said there is new damage to Ukraine's energy infrastructure as Kyiv imposed nationwide limits on power usage.
Meanwhile, close followers of developments in Ukraine will be watching to see what happens after Russian president Vladimir Putin imposed martial law on four illegally annexed regions in Ukraine: Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south, and Donetsk and Luhansk in the east.
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Zelenskyy called on men in what Ukraine regularly describes as "temporarily occupied areas" of southern and eastern Ukraine to resist being recruited into Russia's armed forces. "Please avoid it as much as you can. Try to leave the occupied territory," he said.
Kherson is particularly interesting right now after the Russian-installed administration there began a mass evacuation of civilians Wednesday.
Russian officials said residents should leave the area of Kherson to the west of the Dnipro river and should travel on to Russian regions, warning that Ukraine was about to renew its counteroffensive to retake Kherson, saying military hardware and personnel were being amassed near the region.
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Russian TV footage on Wednesday showed crowds gathering and waiting to cross the Dnipro river. Ukraine said Russia was using "propaganda" to scare Kherson residents and coerce them to flee.
Blinken discusses humanitarian crisis in Ukraine with UN chief
Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on continued coordination to address the urgent security and humanitarian crises in Ukraine.
"Secretary Blinken and Secretary-General Guterres emphasized the importance of safeguarding UN principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, especially in light of Russia's illegal attempted annexation of Ukraine's territory," according to a State Department readout of the call.
— Amanda Macias
Vladimir Putin visits military training center outisde town of Ryazan, Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defese Minister Sergei Shoigu meet soldiers during a visit at a military training center of the Western Military District for mobilized reservists, outside the town of Ryazan.
— Mikhail Klimentyev | AFP | Getty Images
Ukraine's military says it shot down 15 Iranian drones out of 20 launched by Russia
Ukraine's military said that Russia launched more than a dozen Iranian-made drones against civilian infrastructure.
"The enemy has once again launched a massive attack using Iranian attack UAVs on the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine," Ukraine's military said in an update on Facebook. "Out of 20 UAVs, 15 were successfully shot down by the Defense Forces of Ukraine."
Russia and Iran have repeatedly denied that the drones in Ukraine are Iranian.
— Amanda Macias
Three ships carrying more than 140,000 metric tons of agricultural products to leave Ukraine
The organization overseeing the export of grain from Ukraine said it has approved three vessels to leave the besieged country.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal announced in July among Ukraine, Russia, the United Nations and Turkey, said the vessels are carrying 141,500 metric tons of grain and other crops.
Two ships will depart from Ukraine's Yuzhny-Pivdennyi for Spain and Turkey carrying corn, sunflower meal and sunflower oil. One vessel will leave Odesa for various European Union countries and is carrying 60,000 metric tons of rapeseed.
Read more about the Black Sea Grain Initiative here.
— Amanda Macias
Photos show concrete bomb shelters being installed near bus stops in Kharkiv
Photos show concrete bomb shelters being installed near bus stops in Kharkiv.
— Vyacheslav Madiyevskyi / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Pentagon says drones Russia uses in Ukraine 'clearly are' from Iran
The Pentagon reiterated Western allegations that Russian forces are using Iranian drones on the battlefield in Ukraine.
"It's indicative of the kinds of rhetoric that you hear from Russia and Iran," said Pentagon press secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder when asked about Moscow and Tehran's denials that Russia used Iranian drones.
"They clearly are," Ryder said referencing downed Iranian drones found in Ukrainian cities.
On Wednesday, Iran and Russia's U.N. representatives sharply denied reports that Tehran supplied Moscow with a fleet of drones for use in Ukraine.
When asked about potential steps Washington would take to address the Iranian arms transfer, Ryder declined to elaborate on any potential diplomatic or economic actions Washington would take.
"Our focus continues to be on supporting the Ukrainians and their fight," Ryder said, adding that the U.S. was coordinating with Ukrainian officials on additional security assistance packages and the possible delivery of air defense systems to counter Russian drone and missile strikes.
— Amanda Macias
U.S. establishes joint task force with Ukraine on infrastructure
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov signed a joint statement of intent to create a U.S.-Ukraine Infrastructure Task Force.
The new task force will focus on addressing Ukraine's wartime needs and post-conflict infrastructure reconstruction.
The U.S.-Ukraine Infrastructure Task Force will also seek collaboration with the U.S. private sector.
"Infrastructure reconstruction will be an essential pillar of Ukraine's prosperity and national security," Raimondo said in a statement.
"The Department of Commerce is proud to help lead the U.S.-Ukraine Infrastructure Task Force, which will facilitate the collaboration necessary to build a safe and resilient Ukraine," she added.
— Amanda Macias
Zelenskyy reiterates accusations that drones used in Ukraine are Iranian
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Tehran of supplying Moscow with a fleet of drones for use in Ukraine.
"Iran supplies them [Russia] drones," Zelenskyy said in an interview with Canada's CTV Television Network.
He said Iran is earning "bloody money" as Ukrainians die in strikes, according to the Associated Press.
In recent days, Moscow has carried out several devastating missile and drone strikes against what Ukraine said were civilian targets, as well as critical infrastructure such as energy facilities. Russia and Iran have repeatedly denied that the drones in Ukraine are Iranian.
Dmitry Polyanskiy, first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the United Nations, told reporters that the drones found in Ukraine are not Iranian but Russian-made. He said that images of the drones downed in Ukraine clearly have Russian inscriptions on them. He added, though, that he is not a drone expert and could not elaborate further.
— Amanda Macias
Nearly 8 million metric tons of agricultural products have left Ukrainian ports under UN-backed deal
The organization overseeing the export of grain from Ukraine said that more than 360 vessels have left the besieged country under an agreement to reopen ports.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal among Ukraine, Russia, the United Nations and Turkey, reopened three Ukrainian ports in August.
So far, 7.9 million metric tons of grain and other food products have left Ukrainian ports.
Read more about the Black Sea Grain Initiative here.
— Amanda Macias
Not much progress in talks to renew Black Sea Grain deal, Russia says
Russia's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva told reporters that there has not been much progress in renewing the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal announced in July among Ukraine, Russia, the United Nations and Turkey, reopened three Ukrainian ports for agricultural product export.
Thus far, nearly 8 million metric tons of grain and other food products have left Ukrainian ports.
"I wouldn't say that much has been achieved as a result of the latest consultations. The dialogue is continuing," Gennady Gatilov told reporters at the U.N. in Geneva.
The current deal ends in November.
— Amanda Macias
Biden says Truss resignation will not affect efforts to hold Russia accountable
President Joe Biden said that British Prime Minister Liz Truss' resignation would not change Western commitment to holding Russia accountable for its war in Ukraine.
"The United States and the United Kingdom are strong Allies and enduring friends — and that fact will never change," Biden wrote in a statement thanking Truss for her service.
"We will continue our close cooperation with the U.K. government as we work together to meet the global challenges our nations face," Biden added.
— Amanda Macias
Iran denies Western allegations that it supplied Russia with drones
Iran's U.N. representative sharply denied Western allegations that Tehran supplied Moscow with a fleet of drones for use in Ukraine.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has taken a clear and consistent position on the situation in Ukraine which has been pronounced since the start of the conflict," Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's representative at the U.N., told reporters.
"Iran has consistently advocated for peace and the immediate end to the conflict in Ukraine," Iravani said.
He added that the claims are "unfounded and unsubstantiated" and contended that the West was mounting a disinformation campaign against his country. Iravani, who took no questions from reporters, also said the allegations were "disappointing."
Read the full story here.
— Amanda Macias
U.S. economy is resilient despite shocks from war in Ukraine, Treasury official says
Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo emphasized the harmful economic effects of Russia's war with Ukraine and pushed for a price cap on Russian oil at a meeting of finance ministers from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member countries.
Adeyemo discussed how shocks from the conflict, including high energy and food prices, have particularly harmed low-income countries, according to a Treasury Department summary of his conversations there. The deputy Treasury secretary also noted that the U.S. economy has remained resilient amid global economic headwinds caused by the war and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adeyemo said economies will also benefit from the G-7's planned price cap on Russian oil, which the U.S. hopes will deprive Russian President Vladimir Putin of a funding source for the war in Ukraine while maintaining a low-priced supply on the market.
The APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting concludes Friday.
— Chelsey Cox
Russian aircraft fired missile near British plane over Black Sea, UK official says
A Russian aircraft released a missile near a British aircraft patrolling in international airspace over the Black Sea on Sept. 29, defence minister Ben Wallace said on Thursday.
Wallace told parliament Britain had suspended patrols following the incident and expressed their concerns to Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. Russia said it was a technical malfunction and Wallace said Britain has now resumed patrols.
The patrols now have fighter aircraft escorts, he added.
— Reuters
Russians could be 'seriously considering' withdrawing from part of Kherson, UK says
Britain's Ministry of Defense said it's likely that Russia is considering pulling troops out of the part of the Kherson region west of the Dnipro river after it began to evacuate the civilian population there.
The ministry noted that, given recent comments by the newly appointed commander of Russian forces in Ukraine about a "a difficult situation" emerging in Kherson in southern Ukraine — plus his approval of plans to evacuate residents from there — that "likely indicates that the Russian authorities are seriously considering a major withdrawal of their forces from the area west of the Dnipro river."
"As the overall operational commander, Surovikin's announcement highlighting negative news about the 'special military operation' is highly unusual," the ministry noted.
It would be difficult for Russian forces to withdraw, however. "A key challenge of any Russian withdrawal operation would be extracting troops and their equipment across the 1000 meter wide river in good order."
"With all the permanent bridges severely damaged, Russia would highly likely rely heavily on a temporary barge bridge it completed near Kherson in recent days, and military pontoon ferry units, which continue to operate at several locations," the ministry said.
— Holly Ellyatt
Scorched earth tactics will not help Russia win the war, Scholz says
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Europe was being put to the test as Russian President Vladimir Putin used energy and hunger as weapons.
"The brutal war in Ukraine, Putin's ruthless use of hunger and energy as a weapon, the enormous price increases here in Germany and around the world — Germany and Europe are going through tests that we have not experienced for decades. Tests that Putin has forced on us with his imperialist war of aggression," he told the German Parliament Thursday.
Scholz said Germany, a country that received more than half of its gas imports from Russia prior to the war, would make it "through this winter," having set up alternative import infrastructures.
"With all of these measures, we managed to fill our storage facilities in Germany and Europe in good time before winter," he said, with storage levels exceeding 95%.
Nonetheless, Scholz said Germany would bring coal-fired power plants back online as a temporary measure. "We remain committed to our declared climate goals," he said.
— Holly Ellyatt
Try to resist Russian conscription, Zelenskyy tells men in occupied regions
President Zelenskyy called on men in occupied areas of southern and eastern Ukraine to resist being recruited into Russia's armed forces. "Please avoid it as much as you can. Try to leave the occupied territory," he said in his nightly address Wednesday.
"If you cannot do this and find yourself in Russian military structures, at the first opportunity try to lay down your arms and come to Ukrainian positions. And most importantly, protect your life. And be sure to help our other people who are close to you," he added.
Zelenskyy's comments come after Russian President Vladimir Putin put both Russia and occupied areas of Ukraine on a firmer war footing after introducing martial law in the illegally annexed regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south and Donetsk and Luhansk in the east.
Russia had already begun mobilizing men in occupied regions to fight in the war against Ukraine after "annexing" the regions, a move Ukraine and its allies have condemned as illegal. Martial law means the civil administrations in those regions are now essentially a military ones.
— Holly Ellyatt
Ukraine imposes curbs on energy usage after further infrastructure damage
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said there is new damage to Ukraine's energy infrastructure as Kyiv called on civilians to limit their energy usage.
"There is new damage to critical infrastructure. Three energy facilities were destroyed by the enemy today," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address Wednesday. "We assume that Russian terror will be directed at energy facilities until, with the help of partners, we are able to shoot down 100% of enemy missiles and drones," he added.
Kyiv imposed nationwide curbs on energy use on Thursday as a result of widespread attacks on critical energy infrastructure this week.
Ukraine's national energy company Ukrenergo said on Telegram Thursday that Russia's "constant missile attacks are destroying our energy infrastructure, and energy workers need time to restore it."
"At the same time, it is getting colder outside, which traditionally encourages us to consume more electricity. But now we need to be very conscious and frugal with our electricity consumption in order to get through the next winter as well as possible."
"Today, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., consumption restriction measures may be applied in Ukraine. Your distribution network operator determines when exactly your street will be disconnected," it said.
— Holly Ellyatt
Zelenskyy says Ukraine preparing for breakdown of energy systems throughout the country
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the government is preparing for a breakdown of energy systems throughout the country.
"We are working to create mobile power points for the critical infrastructure of cities, towns and villages. We are preparing for various scenarios of possible consequences," Zelenskyy said on the Telegram messaging app.
Zelenskyy said that options were discussed during a strategic meeting on security at energy supply facilities. The meeting comes as Kyiv accuses Moscow of purposefully targeting critical infrastructure like energy facilities.
"Ukraine will defend itself. No matter what the enemy plans and does," Zelenskyy said.
— Amanda Macias
Russia says seized Ukrainian lands are under its nuclear protection
Russia said the four Ukrainian regions it illegally annexed last month are now under the protection of its nuclear arsenal.
The statement from the Kremlin came at a moment of acute tension, with both NATO and Russia expected to hold military exercises shortly to test the readiness of their nuclear weapons forces.
Asked by reporters if the regions were under Moscow's nuclear umbrella, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "All these territories are inalienable parts of the Russian Federation and they are all protected. Their security is provided for at the same level as [it is for] the rest of Russia's territory."
President Vladimir Putin said last month that Moscow was ready to use nuclear weapons if necessary to defend Russia's "territorial integrity." U.S. President Joe Biden said on Oct. 6 that his threat had brought the world closer to "Armageddon" than at any time since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, when many feared a nuclear war might be imminent.
Read more on NBC News.
— NBC NEWS
IAEA chief expects to return to Ukraine 'soon' for nuclear plant talks
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi expects to return to Ukraine "soon," as talks to establish a security protection zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remain ongoing, Reuters reported.
Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly blamed the other for shelling at the site, which has been plagued with power outages in the last few weeks. On Monday, Ukraine's state nuclear energy firm said Russian shelling cut off the plant's external power supply.
"There is a possibility I will return to Ukraine and Russia, it is in fact what we have agreed in principle, at this moment we are continuing the consultations aimed at establishing the protection zone," Grossi told Reuters.
"This implies an interaction where I receive answers and reactions from the two sides and I am looking for new ways to move forward and for that, at some point, probably very soon I will have to return."
Grossi also told Reuters that he believes Russia's nuclear threats are not an immediate possibility, though "nothing can be ruled out."
— Natalie Tham
Putin introduces martial law in four illegally annexed regions
Russian President Vladimir Putin has introduced martial law in the four regions of Ukraine that Moscow illegally annexed last month.
Martial law will be introduced in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia — the four regions in Ukraine that Moscow claimed as Russian territory following sham referendums in September that Ukraine and its allies have condemned as illegal and illegitimate.
The decision, announced as Putin addressed a meeting of the Russian Security Council on Wednesday, will likely mean that the regions' civil administrations will be replaced by military ones.
— Holly Ellyatt
Russian official insists Kherson is not being surrendered despite evacuation
The Russian-installed deputy governor of the Kherson region has insisted Russia is not surrendering the city of Kherson, despite calling on residents to evacuate immediately.
"We are not going to surrender the city. We will hold our ground to the end. We will not let the Nazis enter the city," Kirill Stremousov said. Russian officials frequently and baselessly refer to Ukrainian forces as "Nazis" in a bid to demonize them.
Civilians in Kherson, which Russia claims to have annexed and which is only partially occupied by its forces, have been told to leave the region as Russian officials expect that a large-scale counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces to retake the region could be about to begin.
Residents on the west bank of the Dnipro river have been told to cross to the opposite side of the water and to travel on from there to Russian territories. Russian-installed officials say up to 60,000 people could evacuate the area over the next six days.
In a further development, the acting governor of the region Vladimir Saldo told the Rossiya-24 TV channel on Wednesday that entry to the Kherson region for civilians will be very limited for seven days due to the turbulent situation.
"Only those who will be given a pass by the commandant's office" will be able to enter the region, Saldo said, according to comments reported by the Tass news agency. "These are those who are engaged in providing, supplying, working in public utilities," he added.
— Holly Ellyatt
