Russian airstrikes targeting Ukraine’s infrastructure have led to widespread power outages across the country, according to Ukrainian authorities, who have reported several injuries as a result. Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Grechushkina stated on social media that Russia is once again conducting a large-scale missile and drone assault on Ukraine’s energy facilities.
She indicated that restrictions on electricity supplies have been implemented across various regions. The energy provider DTEK reported significant damage to thermal power station equipment in multiple Ukrainian areas, condemning this as the third significant attack on its thermal facilities since the beginning of October.
President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned that overnight, Russia launched more than 650 drones and 50 missiles targeting Ukraine.
Through the platform X, he noted that these drones and missiles struck energy installations and civilian targets. He added, “Many were shot down, but unfortunately, there were injuries.”
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 170 Ukrainian drones over several regions during the night before last.
The statement indicated, “Air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 170 Ukrainian drones.” It detailed that 48 drones were destroyed over Bryansk, 21 over Voronezh, 16 over Nizhny Novgorod, 15 over Kaluga, 14 over Rostov, and ten over Kursk.
In a related statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russian forces are encircling Ukrainian troops in two key cities in eastern Ukraine and offered to negotiate terms for their surrender, a statement firmly denied by Ukrainian military officials.
During a meeting with injured soldiers at a military hospital in Moscow, Putin announced that the Russian military is prepared to establish safe corridors for Ukrainian and Western journalists to witness the situation firsthand. He specifically mentioned the encirclement of Ukrainian forces in the cities of Bakhmut and Kupiansk.
On the political front, U.S. President Donald Trump, following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, stated that Washington and Beijing would collaborate to end the war in Ukraine. He remarked:
“We discussed this matter in depth, and we will work together to see if we can achieve any results. According to Trump, both he and President Xi agreed that Russia and Ukraine find themselves in a deadlock, adding: ‘But Xi will assist us, and we will work together on Ukraine.’