At least two individuals lost their lives in a drone strike in the Saratov region of Russia, while parts of Ukraine experienced power outages due to targeted attacks on energy infrastructure, local authorities confirmed on Saturday. These incidents occurred alongside ongoing U.S.-led peace negotiations aimed at bringing an end to the conflict.
A meeting is scheduled in Berlin on Sunday, involving foreign policy advisers from the U.S., Ukraine, Germany, and other nations. German news agency dpa reported that German officials are preparing to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday as part of the European leaders’ efforts to guide the peace talks.
In the Saratov region, a residential building was damaged in the drone attack, which also shattered windows at a kindergarten and clinic, according to Saratov regional Gov. Roman Busargin. The Russian Defence Ministry reported intercepting and downing 41 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory during the night.
In Ukraine, Russia launched drone and missile strikes on five regions overnight, focusing on energy and port facilities. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko stated that over a million people were left without electricity. President Zelenskyy disclosed that Russia had deployed more than 450 drones and 30 missiles into Ukraine overnight.
An assault on Odesa, a city on the Black Sea, led to fires at grain silos in the port area, as per Oleksiy Kuleba, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister and reconstruction minister. Additionally, two individuals sustained injuries in attacks across the broader Odesa region, according to regional head Oleh Kiper.
Kyiv and its allies allege that Russia aims to disable the Ukrainian power grid, depriving civilians of essential utilities during the winter months, which Ukrainian officials criticize as “weaponizing” the cold.
The recent offensive actions occurred following statements by Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov, indicating that Russian law enforcement and National Guard would remain in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region to oversee its industries, even if a peace agreement concludes Russia’s near four-year incursion into Ukraine. This underscores Moscow’s intent to maintain a presence in Donbas post-conflict.
Ukraine is expected to reject such terms, as Moscow reportedly conditions a ceasefire on Ukrainian forces pulling back from the front lines, as outlined in comments by Ushakov published in the Russian newspaper Kommersant.
