Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reported that over 100,000 homes in Ukraine have lost power due to recent Russian drone attacks targeting energy infrastructure. The regions primarily affected include Poltava, Sumy, and Chernihiv. The Ukrainian energy ministry described these actions as part of Russia’s ongoing strategy to damage civilian infrastructure as winter approaches, noting that last year approximately half of Ukraine’s electricity-generating capacity was reportedly destroyed by Russian forces.
Zelensky disclosed that almost 100 drone strikes were carried out by Russia overnight, with energy facilities being the primary focus of the attacks. However, other locations including a school in the Kharkiv region and a residential building in Kherson were also impacted. Zelensky called for new measures to exert pressure on Russia to cease its attacks and ensure security, emphasizing ongoing collaboration with international partners to achieve this goal.
In military developments, a Ukrainian official indicated that Russian forces had crossed into the Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time, although their advance was reportedly halted. Moscow has not laid claim to this region, unlike other eastern areas such as Donetsk. Additionally, Russia’s defense ministry announced that its troops had taken control of a village in Donetsk, where Russian forces continue to make field gains despite suffering significant casualties.
Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump initiated a diplomatic effort for a ceasefire in Ukraine, meeting with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky. While Zelensky has expressed support for a potential summit, he also seeks security guarantees from Western allies to protect against future attacks in the event of a peace agreement. In related discussions, Zelensky conferred with Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, head of the British armed forces, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the importance of long-term security guarantees for Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c207lj58p1qo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss