Russia strikes Ukrainian energy facilities ahead of Abu Dhabi talks

Russian missile and drone attacks struck Ukraine's energy infrastructure on Tuesday, prompting widespread blackouts days before US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi. The assault, conducted in multiple waves with dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones, left several Ukrainian towns without power. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed at least 33 fatalities resulting from the Monday night strike, which targeted a school used as an aid distribution center in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Around 50 people are reported to be still buried under the debris. Russian officials claimed a Ukrainian strike earlier in the day led to a fire at a major oil refinery in Yaroslavl. These assaults could negatively impact talks slated for November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi. They occurred less than two days after a ceasefire with the assistance of US First Lady Melania Trump ended in the Russian-controlled town of Oleshky.

Moscow stated that up to 25 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, alongside 15 vehicles and an electronic warfare station destroyed. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky emphasized Moscow's intent to kill rather than cooperate during the humanitarian ceasefire. Germany, Ukraine's largest supporter in the ongoing war against Russia, expressed support for new talks between Ukraine, the US, and Russia, emphasizing Europe's involvement in the process.

The European Commission plans to host a meeting on Ukraine with representatives from the US, Ukraine, NATO, and allies. Zelensky called for discussions on a "growth plan" and security guarantees for Ukraine, while NATO announced additional consultations. Russian strikes reportedly caused power and heating plants to cease operations, disrupting electricity, heating, water supplies, and transportation in Kyiv.

Ukrainian officials highlighted the potential severity of the approaching winter, with several cities already experiencing prolonged outages.