Russian strikes cut off electricity to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians

Russian strikes targeting energy infrastructure in Ukraine caused power outages to hundreds of thousands of homes in the Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions, according to what the authorities and an energy supply company announced on Sunday. This came as the European Union confirmed its participation in the negotiations scheduled between Moscow and Kiev under American sponsorship in Abu Dhabi next Tuesday and Wednesday. Moscow is intensifying its daily attacks using drones and missiles to target electricity networks, which raises Ukrainians’ fear of spending a new harsh winter that will witness power and heating outages, in light of the war that Russia began in February 2022.

In the Dnipropetrovsk region in the center of the country, the energy supplier DTEK announced via Telegram that “more than 600,000 residents of the region were cut off from electricity” after “a night attack caused damage to vital energy facilities.” The company explained that it is working to restore electricity, but the task is “complicated by repeated attacks.” In another attack, a Russian drone hit a “vital infrastructure facility” in the Kharkiv region in the northeast of the country. The mayor of the city of Zlatopl, Mykola Baksheev, said on social media that “about 250,000 customers in the Kharkiv region were cut off from electricity,” noting that repairs had begun, but “the exact date for the return of the electricity supply is still unknown.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of intensifying its strikes to pressure Kiev ahead of tripartite US-brokered talks scheduled in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Zelensky said the night strikes caused “a widespread power outage across the country.” He added: “In the Zhytomir region alone, heating was cut off in 140 residential buildings following a Russian strike,” at a time when temperatures in Ukraine were approaching zero. He also pointed out that Russia launched a drone towards Kumichovakha, a village in the Zaporizhya region, where Moscow targeted an aid distribution center on Monday, in one of the bloodiest attacks since the outbreak of the war.

Zelensky revealed that the death toll had risen to 55 people, after emergency services had previously announced the death of 50 people, adding: “This morning, the Russians attacked Kumichovakha with an FPV drone, as search and rescue operations have been continuing for seven days... Unfortunately, there may be more people under the rubble.”

The new strikes came the day after the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy announced that a large-scale attack on vital facilities caused a power outage to residents of five regions, and greatly hindered power transmission in Kiev. Russia has been targeting the Ukrainian energy network and infrastructure throughout the war, but its impact becomes more painful as winter approaches, in light of the extreme cold and temperatures near zero. The strikes also coincided with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot's announcement that his country and the European Union would attend the negotiations scheduled for Abu Dhabi, without clarifying the nature or level of representation. Barrow said in radio statements on Sunday: “The Europeans will be representatives, and France will be present in Abu Dhabi to participate in these discussions.” He added: “I cannot tell you yet who will represent France on this occasion, but it will be present.”

The French minister continued, “Some of the discussions took place without the Europeans, and others were in the presence of the Europeans.” They will participate this time. France will be present and Europe’s voice will be heard.”

The French Foreign Minister's position came after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized the European "confusion" in these negotiations, demanding that the bloc clarify who is speaking on its behalf, according to a letter seen by Agence France-Presse on Thursday.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas stressed on Friday the need for the bloc to participate in any settlement of the most violent conflict in Europe since World War II. Barrow did not specify the nature of French or European participation in Abu Dhabi, but he stressed that the Europeans recently informed the Americans that “any discussion related to the future of this continent cannot ignore our aspirations or requirements.”

Since his return to the White House in early 2025, the Donald Trump administration has been making diplomatic efforts to reach a settlement to the war that has been raging in Ukraine since 2022, without achieving any significant breakthrough yet.

After meeting with an envoy of his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Thursday, the US President expected to reach a “very large” agreement with Russia that is not limited to Ukraine only, but may include “the entire Europe.” However, the following day, the European Union stressed that peace in Ukraine still requires “a lot of work,” and that the final decision on issues related to the continent’s security rests with the bloc and no one else.

Ukraine and its European allies fear that Washington will put pressure on them to accept a settlement agreement that meets many of what Russia demands. US envoy Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, stressed on Thursday that Washington "will consult closely with our European partners" on the sidelines of the talks in Abu Dhabi, and that if progress is made, "the goal will be to move to an expanded multilateral formula in which they will participate directly."

Six people were killed and at least 15 others were injured in the city of Krakow, located in southern Poland, on Saturday, by shooting carried out by a gunman influenced by far-right ideas, according to what the authorities reported, in an incident that Prime Minister Donald Tusk described as a “terrorist act.”

According to Agence France-Presse, Tusk confirmed, in an interview with reporters during his inspection of the city on Saturday, that “the bodies of two women and a man were found in the perpetrator’s house,” speaking about indications that “they are members of his family.”

The Prime Minister also declared two days of mourning for the victims of the shooting incident, which he described as a “terrorist.” For his part, Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kervinski said, “All indications suggest that the perpetrator of the attack was fascinated by far-right ideologies.”

Police reported that the suspect, a Polish man born in 2002, drove his car into Krakow's main market square and began shooting randomly at passers-by.

The police indicated that two of its officers were injured, before they opened fire on the suspect, who was taken to the hospital.

The Polish News Agency (PAP) reported that the Public Prosecution in Poland had begun an investigation into the attack.

The police confirmed that among the dead was a British citizen, while the authorities reported to Bab News Agency that citizens of Austria, Britain, Germany, Portugal and Russia were among the 15 wounded. Three more bodies were later found in the suspect's house in Ostrowiec Świentokjeski, about 150 kilometers northeast of Krakow. The police said it belonged to his family members, according to Agence France-Presse.

The attacker was injured by police gunfire during the attack and is currently in critical condition in hospital. Two police officers were also injured.

Police chief spokesman Andrei Vigolik said the suspect used a semi-automatic rifle in the attack.

Tusk said: “We have the utmost appreciation for the heroic police officers who risked their lives in the line of duty.”

On Saturday evening, Agence France-Presse reporters saw the main market square, which is usually bustling with activity, completely closed, while heavily armed police officers and criminal investigators examined the site of the attack.

Two police officers were injured while chasing the suspect, who was wearing a mask and wearing a military uniform, including a bullet-proof vest.

Police reported that he left his car at an intersection and began shooting at the two officers using a semi-automatic rifle.

Annette, who was at the site, told Agence France-Presse: “I saw a man shooting people while he was walking around the square. “It is a tragedy for Krakow, we have never seen anything like this before.”