Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of attempting to "plunge Kyiv and the entire country into a blackout" following an overnight assault on capital infrastructure. The attack deployed 172 drones and 36 ballistic missiles, injuring five people including a 14-year-old girl. This violence coincides with peace talks scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Abu Dhabi involving Russian, Ukrainian, and American negotiators.
Infrastructure damage and civilian impact
The strikes targeted substations across five regions, including one connecting two nuclear power plants to Kyiv. Residents faced serious difficulties with electricity, water, and heat supplies, compounding day-long power cuts that have plagued the city this week. Ukrainian officials state the Kremlin aims to freeze civilians into submission over the brutal winter months, a tactic they classify as a war crime.
Zelenskyy appealed to the US Congress, which Democrats won in midterm elections, for increased bilateral support. He emphasized that "Ukraine must not be left alone." In a CNN interview, he described Jared Kushner’s latest blueprint as "Yalta 2.0," referencing the 1945 summit that divided postwar Europe. Kushner suggested discussions would include a new security framework for Europe alongside guarantees for Ukraine, a move Western diplomats warn could effectively end NATO if it accepts Russia’s demand to reverse its expansion.
Military context and diplomatic skepticism
Russia’s defence ministry reported its strikes early on Saturday hit energy and transport targets. The Northern Bridge, a major transport artery, closed on Saturday while workers repaired damage to the road surface and power lines. Since summer, Moscow has dramatically stepped up air attacks as frontline progress stalled. Last month, Kyiv reported Russia lost 54,000 troops killed or injured, the highest monthly loss in the war.
Trump recently claimed a "big beautiful agreement" involving all of Europe could be close. However, Ukraine and European partners remain deeply sceptical about these talks yielding concrete results. Zelenskyy insisted Moscow must end the war first before wider security architecture is considered. He stated, "We don’t want to be divided by Russia." The president noted that meaningful security guarantees are required before any broader discussion can proceed, rejecting the premise that security frameworks should precede the cessation of hostilities.
