Russia is attempting to influence the situation in Ukraine with widespread airstrikes on the country's energy infrastructure. In these attacks carried out on Tuesday, more than 33 people lost their lives, and vast areas of Ukraine faced power outages. These attacks come less than a week before peace negotiations facilitated by the United States in Abu Dhabi.
Casualties and Damage from the Attacks
Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, announced that 33 people were killed following the bombing of a school in the village of Kremenchuk. This school is currently being used as a humanitarian aid distribution center, and there are reports of 50 people still trapped under the rubble. On the other hand, Russian officials claimed that Ukraine attacked a major oil refinery in the city of Yaroslavl.
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The recent attacks occurred just two days after the end of a humanitarian ceasefire in the city of Olshki, which had been brokered with the help of Melania Trump, the former First Lady of the United States. This situation casts a shadow over the peace negotiations scheduled for November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi.
Officials' Stances and Concerns About the Negotiations
Zelensky stated at a press conference in Berlin with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that these attacks demonstrate Moscow's intent to continue the slaughter of civilians instead of respecting the humanitarian ceasefire. Merz emphasized that peace negotiations should move towards ending the conflicts and urged Russia to seriously participate in the peace talks.
On the eve of these negotiations, the European Commission announced that a meeting will be held on Wednesday with the participation of Ukraine, the United States, NATO, and other European countries. Zelensky noted that this meeting will discuss economic plans and security guarantees for Ukraine.
Russia's recent attacks, which included the launch of 289 drones, 17 ballistic missiles, and 59 cruise missiles on Ukraine's energy facilities, including power plants and substations across the country, resulted in power outages in Kyiv and six other regions. These attacks have also had serious impacts on water supply and transportation in Ukraine's capital.
In light of the bitter memories of last winter when millions of Ukrainians were left without electricity and heating for days, many people in Ukraine are worried about the challenges ahead this winter. Olha Hyria, a 49-year-old resident of Dnipro, said, "This winter will be very hard."
Zelensky also called for increased air defense from his Western allies and emphasized that these attacks occurred on the day of the U.S. congressional elections. He stated, "Russia is trying to send a message that should not be ignored."
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