There’s a veneer of normality to life in Ukraine’s major cities if you ignore the air raid sirens, the booming sounds of anti-aircraft fire, the threatening buzz of drones passing overhead, and the darkened streets of neighbourhoods taking their turn as part of rolling power cuts affecting all of Ukraine.

As I say, if you ignore all of the above it’s fine, and many people do.

Kyiv appears particularly normal. Shops and restaurants are open, I’m told theatre performances are sometimes sold out, and at times you can still see families taking photos in front of the capital’s exquisite churches and cathedrals.

Late at night though, the city starts to change.

In the past few days, mostly throughout the night, air raid apps have been lighting up with warnings to “seek shelter”, while the sound of the sirens pierces the still and freezing air of the city.

From different directions I watched the anti-aircraft batteries tracking and following Russian drones swarming over Kyiv in unprecedented numbers – the tracers from their machine guns shooting into the night skies and ominous orange glows in the distance from possible missile strikes.

The capital is being targeted as never before, so much so that the military has assigned special anti-air units particularly for the defence of Kyiv.

Attacking this city is partly a Russian tactic to wear its population down and create fear and uncertainty.

But many of its drones and missiles are targeting the country’s energy infrastructure. Russia wants to switch the lights out here and, if possible, literally freeze this people’s resistance.

A necessity, rolling blackouts are the norm now while engineers repair power stations and supply lines. Power producing capacity is already limited after years of targeting, and as the temperature drops the authorities must save wherever they can.

For families the threat of attack from the skies never goes away

I drove through the streets of Kyiv’s left-bank suburbs, darkened apartment blocks silhouetted against the city’s skyline.

The dimly lit lights inside apartments are provided by generators or car batteries hooked up to makeshift electrical circuits tacked on to walls and ceilings.

Alona emerged from the doors of her apartment building into a pitch-black car park, her torch glinting off the remains of the first snows of winter, now turned into ice.

I followed her up three flights of stairs into her apartment and was introduced to her husband, Yevhen, and their two-year-old, Oles.

For families in particular, the threat of attack from the skies never goes away. In many ways it is psychological warfare, and Alona said it’s taking its toll on her and her little boy Oles.

“The hardest part, by far, is at night when you’re putting your child to sleep in the bathroom or when you have to rush to the shelter in the middle of the night. It’s really tough because it disrupts the child’s routine,” she explained.

“He doesn’t get proper sleep, everything is upside down for him, he’s terrified and he had started to become scared of the alarms.”

‘It’s still deeply frightening to be in the open’

Alona talked me through how her family tries to work out the risk of a strike in their area when the air raid sirens go off, and then they make a decision whether or not to seek shelter accordingly.

This family is typical of thousands here – scared to stay at home and scared to go out.

“I saw a missile being shot down and let me tell you, it was terrifying,” Alona said.

“It’s a haunting experience, even though I’m standing here now, telling you about how we ‘measure’ the scale of the danger, it’s still deeply frightening to be in the open.”

The soldiers who do their best to track Russian drones

After travelling to see the family, I went to meet an air defence mobile group belonging to the National Guard. I followed them on to a frozen field where they set up to man their position in the dark of night and sub-zero temperatures.

They are just a handful of hundreds, even thousands, of soldiers across the country doing the same.

These men, led by their commander Serhii, do their best to track the incoming drones with radar and use large spotlights to search the skies when they believe a Russian drone is nearby.

‘The enemy is changing tactics’

Russian tactics have changed though. As many as half are harmless decoys designed to waste time and bullets. The other half are deadly.

“The enemy is changing tactics, trying out different manoeuvres,” Serhii told me.

“They are attempting to approach in groups at low altitudes to avoid detection by radar, some targets fly high and are visible on radar, while another group flies low and slips past air defence systems.”

He showed me a Ukrainian-developed program on a tablet that tracks and monitors the movement of drones and missiles.

“Here it shows the movement of aerial targets in real-time within our zone of engagement,” he explained, pointing at a swarm of drones on his screen flying over Ukrainian territory.

People try to carry on as normal as attacks increase

Whether Russia’s main tactic is to target energy infrastructure or to sow fear, or both, nobody really knows. What they do know is that the attacks have increased.

“I cannot say the specific [reason for] that, whether it’s just the terror to make people feel unsafe and create [an] unstable situation or it’s some kind of facilities they’re trying to target, but they are operating, it’s like regular,” Pavlo Yurov of the National Guard’s “Hurricane” brigade told me.

Beneath the National Guards’ rudimentary dome of protection, people try to carry on with life as staff in restaurants and shops dress Christmas trees and hang fairy lights, but this war is grindingly depressing for everyone.

Young men fear being drafted, many hide out of sight. The news from the eastern front lines is never good, the Russians are taking more land.

Another Christmas is coming and like the last two it will likely pass without any sign of peace.

The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York has been disrupted by protests over the conflict in Gaza for the second year running.

The steady rain drenching the city didn’t put New Yorkers off celebrating the 98th running of the event, with ponchos and umbrellas much in evidence amid the traditional assortment of balloons, floats, live performances, and marching bands.

But New York City police said they arrested 21 people after protesters sat down and tried to block the parade route just ahead of the Ronald McDonald float.

They were carrying Palestinian flags and a banner with the message: “Don’t Celebrate Genocide” and “Arms embargo now!”

After the group ignored a request to leave, a team of bicycle-riding officers arrived and clashes occurred before they were moved on, a Reuters witness said.

People protesting against Israel’s war in Gaza also interrupted last year’s parade.

The annual event was still well attended, despite the weather and protest disruption.

Kylie Minogue and Jennifer Hudson were among the singers performing and the festivities were rounded off by Santa Claus arriving on a giant sleigh.

Hip-hop artists and a country duo were also among the performers, along with The Temptations, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, and Glow star Alison Brie.

The parade featured new versions of Spider-Man and Minnie Mouse among its 17 giant, helium-filled character balloons.

The 22 themed floats included a homage to Big Apple coffee and bagels, while another celebrated the Bronx Zoo’s 125th anniversary with representations of a tiger, a giraffe, a zebra, and a gorilla.

Read more from Sky News:
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Israel accused of ‘violating’ ceasefire
Man charged with threatening to kill Trump

The procession followed a 2.5 mile (4km) route from West 77th Street and Central Park West on Manhattan’s Upper West Side to Macy’s flagship store on 34th Street.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! As you enjoy time with your loved ones enjoying full meals, we have a few select Green Deals for you to browse at your leisure, starting with Blix’s Black Friday sale that is taking up to $700 off a selection of e-bikes starting from $1,399 with 30% accessory discounts, some free gear, and more. Next, there’s Hiboy’s updated Black Friday sale which has lowered some prices across its lineup even more and still features the 2024 P6 Fat-Tire All-Terrain e-bike at its new $940 low. We also have two appliance deals for you today, with the first being Traeger’s Pro 575 Electric Pellet Grill and Smoker at the $599 low, while Anker’s EverFrost Dual-Zone Portable Electric Cooler 50 has fallen to a new $569 low for today only. Plus, all the other live Green Deals from Black Friday sales are in the links at the bottom of the page, collected together in our seasonal shopping hub for your one-stop-shopping needs.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Featured deal: Buzz Bicycles is bringing readers an exclusive promotion this Black Friday to save $400 on its Centris class 2 folding e-bike that drops costs to the best price of the year on top of including a free accessory – all for $799, after using the promo code ELECTREK200 at checkout. Featuring a step-thru and folding frame, you’ll enjoy cruising through the streets at 20 MPH top speeds for up to 40 miles, making it a great entry-level model for new riders as well as veteran riders seeking a more affordable option. There are two colorways here to choose from, and plenty of solid features like the 4-inch fat tires, front suspension, front and rear lighting – and even front and rear cargo racks too. Adding an electric solution to your commuter needs doesn’t have to break the bank with this deal.

Featured deal: With more than 130 years in the bicycle business, Huffy is well-known across the market, especially for its large lineup of kid-friendly models. For Black Friday, the brand is providing some exclusive savings on its iconic Electric Green Machine Trike at $419, after using the promo code ELECTREKGM at checkout for 30% off. Ideal for riders aged 8+ and falling under the 180-pound max weight, it gives kids the chance to experience 15 MPH top speeds thanks to its 250W front hub motor alongside the 36V battery. This model will also grow with your child, as its seat provides three different adjustable settings to keep them safe while they tear up the pavement with plenty of spins and drifts.

Huffy Electric Green Machine Trike: $419 (Reg. $599)

Blix Black Friday sale takes up to $700 off e-bikes starting from $1,399 with 30% accessory discounts and more

‘Blix’s full Black Friday sale is in full swing, taking up to $700 off e-bikes, and up to 30% off accessories, while also giving away free gear and extra savings when buying two models together. Among them is the Packa Genie Cargo e-bike which is down to $1,599 shipped while the savings last. This model would normally cost you $2,099 at full price, with most of the discounts dropping things between $1,699 and $1,899, though we did see one fall to the $1,499 low in April. It’s coming in today at the second-lowest price we have tracked, beating out last year’s Black Friday and Christmas rates by $100 to save you $600 in total here. Along with your purchase, you’ll also be getting free running boards and a rear rack cushion valued at $148. Don’t forget that if you buy any two e-bikes together, you can get an additional $200 off your order by using the promo code RIDETOGETHER at checkout.

Blix’s Black Friday sale has the Packa Genie cruising into view at 20 MPH with a 40-mile travel range thanks to the combination of its 750W geared rear hub motor (peaking at 1,350W) and the 672Wh battery – plus, there is a dual-battery option for $400 more that bump its travel distance to 80 miles on a single charge. There are five levels of pedal assistance to see to it that you get the full scope of its mileage, as well as a throttle for pure electric action which cuts down its expected travel range to around 25 miles.

It comes with some nice extra features on Blix’s Packa Genie for the Black Friday rate, with a full digital display that even has a USB port for charging your phone as you ride – which is always appreciated as someone who uses my phone’s GPS to navigate the city streets. There’s also puncture-resistant tires, fenders over top both of those, integrated head and taillights, a smart bell, hydraulic disc brakes, 7-speed gear shifter, as well as the obvious mounting points along the rear rack which boasts a 200-pound payload. A rear wheel net guard has even been thrown on, which is essential, in my opinion, if you plan to take any kids on the ride with you.

Other Blix Black Friday e-bike deals:

• Vika X Folding e-bike (new model): $1,399 (Reg. $1,799)
  • 20/28 MPH for up to 70 miles
  • features auto-shifting
• Sol X Comfort e-bike (new model): $1,499 (Reg. $1,899)
  • 20/28 MPH for up to 70 miles
  • features auto-shifting

Blix Black Friday accessory discounts:

Featured deal: Mokwheel Bikes is offering up to $900 in savings across its e-bike lineup this Black Friday, with free gear coming along with select purchases too. You can buy any two ebikes and get a FREE accessory or FREE Gift Package ($499.99~$699). The biggest of these deals comes in on the brand’s latest models, the Obsidian and Obsidian ST Power Station e-bikes at $2,099, down from $2,999, with a choice between three different gifts, all worth $599. Coming with either the standard high-step or step-thru fames, what makes these newer models stand out is their built-in power station capabilities when you choose to receive the 1,000W inverter as your free gift, providing on-the-go juice for your devices using the bike’s 940W battery (on top of solar charging functionality too)

Hiboy’s Black Friday savings drops the 62-mile 2024 P6 fat-tire e-bike to new $940 low (Save $540)

Hiboy launches its Black Friday sales that will be running through December 2 and taking up to 50% off its lineup of e-bikes and e-scooters. A notable standout is the price drop on the brand’s 2024 P6 Fat-Tire e-bike for $939.99 shipped. Normally this newer model would run you $1,480, with most sales we’ve seen this year keeping costs above $1,000, though just before these early Black Friday deals switched into gear, we saw it down at the short-lived former $960 low during the brand’s Halloween sale. That rate is being beaten here today as you’ll get a 36% markdown that cuts $540 off the price tag to land it down at a new all-time low price. You’ll even find it matching in price over at Amazon right now too.

Hiboy’s P6 fat-tire e-bike arrives onto the scene with a 750W brushless geared hub motor alongside a removable 11.6Ah waterproof battery that provide a 28 MPH top speed and enough power to tackle 20% inclines. With two main options for cruising (and the third “bike” option for manual pedaling), the travel distance can reach up to 62 miles when utilizing the five pedal assist modes, or you can get up to 30 miles using only the throttle for pure electric action. While many of the features are pretty standard for entry-level e-bikes, for such a low price, you’re mostly getting your money’s worth in its performance capabilities. Some of the standout features include the hydraulic suspension fork and puncture-resistant tires, as well as the more standard Shimano 7-speed derailleur, mechanical disc brakes, 26-inch by 4-inch fat tires, and a simple control panel for adjusting through the settings.

Hiboy Black Friday e-bike deals:

Hiboy Black Friday e-scooter deals:

Hiboy Black Friday kids’ EV deals:

Hiboy Black Friday bundle deals:

Take your cooking to the next level with Traeger’s smart Pro 575 electric pellet grill and smoker at $599 low

As part of its Black Friday sale, Amazon is offering the Traeger Grills Pro 575 Electric Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker for $599 shipped. Down from $800, we’ve been seeing regular discounts as low as $650 over 2024, with occasional dips lower to $600 and one previous fall to $599 back during Labor Day sales. Today, you can score 25% off the going rate, saving you $201 while upgrading your BBQ game at the lowest price we have tracked for only the second time that we’ve seen.

Designed for simpler and easier meals throughout the year, the Pro 575 model from Traeger uses wood pellets for six different functions: grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and BBQ – all with one versatile device. It can reach temperatures up to 500 degrees, and offers the brand’s WiFIRE tech, giving you connectivity through a Wi-Fi network to the companion app for remote smart controls. You can even go hands-free with your voice through Alexa too – with either option of controls allowing you to pre-heat the grill without stepping outside, for example, which is especially handy for fall and winter use. The main body boasts 575 square-feet of cooking space that can accommodate “24 burgers, five rib racks, or four chickens.”

More Traeger Black Friday deals:

Anker’s 53L EverFrost dual-zone portable electric cooler falls to new $569 low through the rest of the day

Running alongside Best Buy’s Black Friday sale and part of its Deals of the Day, the outlet is offering the Anker EverFrost Dual-Zone Portable Cooler 50 for $569 shipped through the rest of the day. Normally priced at $949 most of the time, we’ve seen a mix of some sales inclusions with an overwhelming amount of one-day discounts like this one – often taking costs down between $699 and $799 – though, we did spy it earlier in November hitting $599. For today only, you can score $380 off its usual going rate, giving you the biggest and most advanced of Anker’s three electric coolers at a new all-time low price.

Anker’s EverFrost cooler series makes ice runs a thing of the past thanks to its battery-powered system, with this 53L model sporting what its two smaller counterparts lack: dual-zone refrigeration and freezing capabilities. It comes with an internal battery that provides a 299Wh capacity which keeps your stowed food and beverages cold and crisp for up to 27 hours on a single charge. A nice feature that Anker has included here is the 100W solar input maximum that lets you benefit from solar charging (as well as three additional recharging options) to further extend its battery life.

You can even utilize its two USB-A ports or one USB-C port to recharge your devices while it’s taking care of your perishables. It also comes designed for portability too, with an EasyTow handle and two 6-inch wheels to provide support when walking to your destination while also including an extendable table, a built-in bottle opener, and remote control of its settings via the Anker app.

Best Black Friday e-bike deals!

• MOD Limited Edition Easy SideCar Sahara (new): $3,499 (Reg. $3,899)
• MOD Easy SideCar 3: $3,499 (Reg. $3,899)
• Aventon Ramblas Electric Mountain Bike: $2,599 (Reg. $2,899)
• Rad Power RadWagon 5 Cargo e-bike with extra battery (new): $2,399 ($2,998 value)
• MOD Easy 3 e-bike: $2,199 (Reg. $2,399)
• Rad Power Radster Road Commuter e-bike w/ extra battery (new): $2,199 ($2,798 value)
• Rad Power Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike with extra battery (new): $2,199 ($2,798 value)
• Lectric XPedition 2.0 35Ah Cargo e-bike w/ $713 in free gear (new): $1,999 (Reg. $2,712)
• Rad Power RadExpand 5 Plus e-bike w/ extra battery (new): $1,899 ($2,498 value)
• MOD City+ 3 Folding Step-thru e-bike: $1,799 (Reg. $1,999)
• MOD City+ 3 Folding High-Step e-bike: $1,799 (Reg. $1,999)
• Velotric Discover 2 Premium Commuter e-bike (new): $1,699 (Reg. $1,899)
• Lectric XPedition 2.0 26Ah Cargo e-bike w/ $564 in free gear (new): $1,699 (Reg. $2,263)
• Lectric XPeak 2.0 Long-Range e-bike w/ $365 in free gear (new): $1,599 (Reg. $1,964)
• Rad Power RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike with free cargo bag: $1,599 (Reg. $1,799)
• Aventon Pace 500.3 Step-Over e-bike with free extra battery: $1,499 (Reg. $1,799)
• Aventon Pace 500.3 Step-Through e-bike with free extra battery: $1,499 (Reg. $1,799)
• Lectric XPeak 2.0 Standard e-bike with $365 in free gear (new): $1,399 (Reg. $1,764)
• Lectric XP Trike with $419 in free gear: $1,499 (Reg. $1,918)
• Lectric XPeak Step-Thru e-bike with $781 in free gear (extra battery): $1,399 (Reg. $2,180)
• Tenways CGO600 Pro-C e-bike with $118 in free gear (new): $1,399 (Reg. $1,899)
• Lectric XPedition 2.0 13Ah Cargo e-bike with $296 in free gear (new): $1,399 (Reg. $1,695)
• Tenways CGO600 Pro e-bike with $118 in free gear: $1,299 (Reg. $1,899)
• Lectric XPress 750 High-Step with $365 in free gear: $1,299 (Reg. $1,664)
• Rad Power RadRunner 2 Utility e-bike: $1,299 (Reg. $1,499)
• Velotric Nomad 1 Plus e-bike: $1,249 (Reg. $1,799)
• Lectric XP 3.0 Long-Range e-bikes with $454 in free gear: $1,199 (Reg. $1,653)
• Velotric T1 ST Plus e-bike: $1,149 (Reg. $1,549)
• Rad Power RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike with free accessory: $1,099 (Reg. $1,599)
• Velotric 2024 Discover 1 Plus Commuter e-bike: $1,049 (Reg. $1,599)
• Lectric XP 3.0 e-bikes with $ 454 in free gear: $999 (Reg. $1,453)
• Lectric XP Lite 2.0 Long-Range e-bikes with $365 in free gear: $999 (Reg. $1,364)
• Aventon Soltera.2 Urban Commuter e-bike: $899 (Reg. $1,199)
• ENGWE EP-2 PRO e-bike (use exclusive code 9TO5RIDE250): $549 (Reg. $849)

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.