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At least two people have been killed in a drone strike in Russia’s southwestern Saratov region, local authorities confirmed on Saturday, while parts of Ukraine suffered power outages following targeted attacks on energy infrastructure.
Saratov regional governor Roman Busargin said the drone strike damaged a residential building, and windows of a kindergarten and a clinic were also blown out.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had intercepted 41 Ukrainian drones over its territory overnight, as US-led peace talks continued.
In Ukraine, Russia launched drone and missile strikes overnight on five Ukrainian regions, targeting energy and port infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia sent more than 450 drones and 30 missiles into Ukraine overnight.
“Thousands of families are left without electricity after last night’s strike in Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odessa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson and Chernihiv regions,” he wrote on Telegram.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Reconstruction Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said the attack on the Black Sea city of Odessa caused a fire in grain stores at the port.
Two people were wounded in the attacks in the wider Odessa region, according to regional head Oleh Kipar.
Kyiv And its Western allies say Russia is trying to paralyze the Ukrainian power grid and deny citizens access to heat, light and running water for the fourth winter in a row, in what Ukrainian officials call “weaponizing” the cold.
The latest round of attacks comes after Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Friday that Russian police and National Guard would remain in Donbass in eastern Ukraine and monitor the industry-rich region, even if a peace deal ends Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine. This underlines Moscow’s ambition to maintain its presence in Donbass after the war. Ukraine may reject such a stance as US-led talks drag on.
moscow Ushakov said in comments published in Russian business daily Kommersant that he would give his blessing to the ceasefire only after Ukrainian forces withdrew from the front lines.
Meanwhile, Germany is set to host Zelensky for talks on Monday as peace efforts gain momentum and European leaders look to advance talks.
For months, US negotiators have tried to resolve each side’s demands as US President donald trump Russia is pressing for an early end to the war, while its resentment over the delay is increasing. A major hurdle in the search for possible agreements has been over who keeps the Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Russian forces.