Widespread Blackouts Grip Ukraine After Major Russian Assault
Ukrainian citizens are navigating life in darkness after one of the most severe Russian attacks on the nation's energy infrastructure since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. A poignant image captured two women negotiating a Kyiv street by torchlight during a blackout caused by Russian missile and drone strikes targeting Ukraine’s energy grid.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that repair crews scrambled on Sunday to address the extensive damage. “Although the situation is difficult, thousands of people are involved in stabilising the system and repairing the damage,” he stated. The north-eastern regions of Kharkiv and Sumy were reported to be facing the most challenging conditions.
Diplomatic Moves and Nuclear Posturing
In a significant diplomatic development, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, ended a weeks-long public absence. He announced his readiness to meet with the US Secretary of State to discuss the war in Ukraine and mend bilateral relations. This follows the collapse of attempts to stage a summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Hungary.
Speaking to Russia’s Ria state news agency, Lavrov signalled no shift in Moscow’s stance, insisting peace was impossible without “taking Russian interests into account.” He was later seemingly contradicted by the Kremlin after suggesting work had begun on Putin's order to prepare for a possible Russian nuclear test. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later clarified that Russia remains committed to its obligations and has no intention of conducting such tests unless the US does so first.
Reciprocal Strikes and Royal Diplomacy
Ukraine responded to the assaults on its infrastructure with strikes of its own. Russian officials reported that Ukrainian attacks disrupted power and heating to the large border cities of Voronezh and Belgorod. In Voronezh, a drone reportedly started a fire at an energy facility, while a missile strike in Belgorod affected approximately 20,000 households, causing severe damage to the electricity and heating network.
In an exclusive interview, President Zelenskyy addressed global anxieties about a potential second Trump presidency, stating, “No … we are not enemies with America. We are friends. So why should we be afraid?” He revealed that King Charles played a crucial behind-the-scenes role during Trump's UK state visit, sending “important signals” that encouraged the then-US president to support Ukraine more enthusiastically.
On the battlefield, Zelenskyy reported that the war is at its most brutal in Donetsk province, where Moscow has committed 170,000 troops. He claimed that in October alone, Russian forces suffered a record 25,000 soldiers killed and wounded, despite making incremental gains in areas like the eastern city of Pokrovsk.
