A Russian court has placed opposition politician Yevgeny Roizman under conditions similar to house arrest as he awaits trial on charges of “discrediting” the Russian army. One of the last opposition figures still in the country and not behind bars, the former mayor of the Urals city of Yekaterinburg was detained for his comments about Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine. A court in Yekaterinburg ruled to place Roizman under “restricted movement” – conditions similar to house arrest – until September 29, the RIA Novosti news agency reported. Roizman, 59, is allowed to leave his place of residence for only one minute a day, he can’t attend public events, use the internet, or send and receive letters. He is only allowed to communicate with close family members, his lawyer and investigators.
an hour ago (15:28 GMT) Spanish parliament upholds energy-saving decree Spain’s parliament approved the minority government’s energy-saving decree, ratifying a set of unpopular measures in force since August 10 that the administration says has already cut electricity consumption. Introduced as part of the European Union’s push to wean itself off Russian gas, the emergency energy savings range from mandatory temperature limits for air-conditioning or heating to turning off lights in public buildings and shop windows. Whether the measures, approved by 187-161 votes, will help Spain meet its European commitment to cut gas usage by 7 percent remains to be seen, however, as utilities have been using more gas lately after a severe drought limited hydro-electric output. Further measures are expected next month. The main opposition parties have criticised the measures as improvised, inefficient and harmful to the economy.
2h ago (14:36 GMT) After deadly attack, UN official calls on all actors to respect international law The top United Nations official in Ukraine said she was shocked by military attacks that killed children and other civilians in Chaplyne in central Ukraine, and called on all parties to adhere to international law. “I am truly shocked by the strikes that yesterday killed and injured civilians close to the rail station in Chaplyne, in central Ukraine. Children were killed in this attack and they died in places where they expected to be safe, in their homes or travelling with their families,” UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine Denise Brown said in a statement.
2h ago (14:34 GMT) Latvia removes controversial Soviet monument Latvia has dismantled a Soviet-era monument in its capital city Riga following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, despite protests from the Baltic state’s ethnic Russian minority to keep it. Demolition machinery was used to remove the 79-metre (259-foot) World War II memorial, which has become a rallying point for the Kremlin’s supporters in Latvia, AFP news agency reported. Built in 1985, the Monument to the Liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga from the German Fascist Invaders had featured statues of soldiers and a woman surrounding a central obelisk. Local officials were forced to take down the monument after Latvia’s parliament voted to remove all remaining Soviet statues, plaques and bas-reliefs by mid-November.
3h ago (13:47 GMT) IAEA says it’s ‘very, very close’ to going to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant The UN nuclear watchdog is “very, very close” to being able to go to the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, its chief Rafael Grossi told France 24 TV. Asked if talks about gaining access to the facility had succeeded, in which case he has said his agency would go within days, Grossi said, “We are very, very close to that.” Ukrainian staff are still operating the plant but the site has been controlled by Russian forces since early in the six-month war. Each side has accused the other of shelling the site, creating international concern about the potential for a nuclear accident.
3h ago (13:38 GMT) Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant disconnected from power grid: Operator Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant under occupation by Russian troops was disconnected from the national power supply, the state energy operator has said. “The actions of the invaders caused a complete disconnection of the [Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant] from the power grid – the first in the history of the plant,” Energoatom said on Telegram.
4h ago (12:02 GMT) Putin signs decree to increase Russian armed forces’ strength President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to increase the strength of the Russian armed forces from 1.9 million to 2.04 million, the RIA Novosti news agency reported. The figure, which includes an increase of 137,000 military personnel taking it to 1.15 million, comes into effect on January 1.
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