'Difficult winter' looms in Ukraine

After seven months of war, Ukraine is bracing for what its president is calling "the most difficult winter in the whole world."

It's Julius, with an update on Ukraine. 

As temperatures start to fall, Russian missiles and exploding drones are targeting water systems and energy plants. The collapse of infrastructure has put millions of people at risk of losing access to electricity, water and even shelter, the International Rescue Committee warns.

Dale Buckner, a retired U.S. Army colonel and CEO of the international security firm Global Guardian, said "we're likely to see Russia continue to use the cold as a weapon against the Ukrainian people." 

Rolling blackouts have become a way of life in areas that have any power at all. And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns that Russia will do everything it can to break the resistance of Ukraine this winter. 

"These will be 90 days that will be a test for our faith in victory," Zelenskyy said. "A test for our endurance and unity, for our ability to protect ourselves, the whole world."

In response, the U.S. has taken some practical steps to help the Ukraine military prepare for winter. The U.S. committed 50,000 parkas, 4,700 trousers, 39,000 fleece hats, 23,000 pairs of boots, 18,000 pairs of gloves and 6,000 tents. Several other countries also pledged cold weather gear.

And with Russia's struggles to maintain supply lines, a harsh winter would make it even more difficult for the Kremlin to keep its troops fed and equipped. 

• Afghan special forces soldiers trained by American troops are now being recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine, three former Afghan generals told The Associated Press.
• Russia has decided to halt participation in a grain export deal with Ukraine, raising fears of a global food crisis.