At least two people were killed and dozens injured in overnight Russian drone attacks across Ukraine, with strikes on energy infrastructure triggering widespread power and heating outages amid freezing winter temperatures, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday.
More than 200 drones launched
In a post on X, Zelenskyy said Russia launched more than 200 drones targeting the Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhia, Khmelnytskyi and Odesa regions. The attacks damaged critical energy facilities, leaving thousands without electricity, heating and water.
“Dozens of people have been injured, including a child. As of now, two people have been reported killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones,” Zelenskyy wrote.
Energy system under strain
The Ukrainian leader warned that the country’s energy system remains under severe pressure as Russian attacks continue almost daily. He said that in the past week alone, Russia launched more than 1,300 drones, around 1,050 guided aerial bombs and 29 missiles of various types.
Despite the challenges, Zelenskyy praised emergency crews working to restore essential services in harsh winter conditions. “The situation remains difficult, but we are doing everything possible to restore all services as quickly as we can,” he said.
Air defence interceptions
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 201 drones overnight from Saturday to Sunday, of which 167 were intercepted. Russian authorities, meanwhile, claimed that 63 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight.
In Russian-occupied parts of southern Ukraine, Moscow-installed officials reported significant power outages. Yevgeny Balitsky said attacks left 213,000 customers across 386 localities without electricity. In neighbouring Kherson, Vladimir Saldo reported a strike on an electrical substation, temporarily cutting power to multiple towns and villages.
Diplomacy amid renewed attacks
The bombardment came as Ukrainian negotiators arrived in the United States for talks with the administration of Donald Trump on steps towards ending the nearly four-year conflict. Discussions are expected to focus on security guarantees and post-war recovery, with a draft peace proposal reportedly prepared by Kyiv and Washington.
Humanitarian concerns grow
The renewed attacks have intensified Ukraine’s winter energy crisis, with the damaged power grid reportedly meeting only about 60 per cent of national demand. Exceptionally low temperatures have compounded the hardship, particularly for children and the elderly.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, repeated winter strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have drawn condemnation from the United Nations, which has warned of mounting humanitarian risks as the conflict drags on.