By: The Trek News Desk
More than 600,000 residents in Kyiv and surrounding areas were left without electricity early Saturday after a wave of Russian missile and drone strikes hit Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Officials said over 500,000 outages occurred in Kyiv alone, with the remainder spread across the wider region.
According to Ukrainian authorities, Russia launched around 36 missiles and nearly 600 drones overnight. The barrage killed three people and left dozens injured, underscoring a renewed escalation as winter approaches.
Energy Network Targeted as Winter Sets In
Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s civilian and power infrastructure in recent weeks. With temperatures dipping and winter tightening its grip, these strikes place additional pressure on a population already bracing for harsh conditions.
The Russian Defence Ministry claimed the operation was aimed at “military-industrial facilities and the energy systems that support them.”
However, Ukrainian officials reported that multiple residential buildings also sustained direct hits.
Kyiv residents were jolted awake by loud explosions across the city. Emergency teams were later seen extinguishing fires and evacuating civilians from damaged apartment blocks.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed 29 injuries, including a 13-year-old child.
Ukraine’s Countermeasures: Majority of Drones Intercepted
Ukraine’s Air Force stated it successfully intercepted 558 drones and 19 missiles, but acknowledged that the scale of the assault placed immense strain on the already fragile electricity network, an issue the country has struggled with for the past two winters.
Temperatures in Kyiv are expected to drop to 2°C on Sunday, with December averages typically falling below freezing.
Ukraine’s Strikes on Russian Energy Assets
In response, Ukraine has expanded its use of long-range weapons to target Russian oil refineries and fuel depots deep inside Russian territory.
Kyiv says these operations aim to curb one of Moscow’s key sources of wartime revenue: energy exports.
Diplomatic Movements: U.S. and Ukraine Prepare for Talks
Amid the intensifying attacks, Ukrainian negotiators are preparing for discussions with U.S. officials this weekend.
U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing forward a draft peace proposal, which initially leaned heavily in Russia’s favour but has since been revised in consultation with Ukraine and European partners in Geneva.
President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the diplomatic efforts but reiterated that any agreement must protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and ensure it can defend itself from future aggression.
Putin Repeats Demands as Battle Lines Harden
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin restated that Russia will halt its offensive only if Ukrainian troops withdraw from territories claimed by Moscow.
Russian forces currently control much, but not all, of the Donbas region, along with parts of southern Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
The U.S. and European allies have signalled support for freezing the conflict along the current front line.
Putin also confirmed that a U.S. delegation, including special envoy Steve Witkoff, is expected in Moscow early next week to continue negotiations on the peace plan.
Source: News Agencies
