Russia strikes Ukrainian energy facilities ahead of Abu Dhabi talks

Russia launched multiple waves of attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure on Tuesday, using dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones, resulting in widespread power outages across the former Soviet republic just a week before US-brokered peace talks are set to resume.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at least 33 people were killed on Monday when Russia struck a school, now used as an aid distribution center, twice in the frontline town of Komyshuvakha in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. He added that around 50 people are believed to still be buried under the rubble.

Russian officials said a Ukrainian attack overnight sparked a fire at a major oil refinery in the city of Yaroslavl.

These attacks could negatively impact talks scheduled by the United States in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11. The strikes came less than two days after a brief humanitarian truce ended in the Russian-controlled town of Oleshky, which had been brokered with the help of US First Lady Melania Trump.

Moscow said its forces targeted Ukrainian military units in areas around Komyshuvakha and two other locations in Zaporizhzhia. In a statement Tuesday, it claimed up to 25 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, with 15 vehicles and an electronic warfare station destroyed.

At a press conference in Berlin with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Zelensky said the attack showed Moscow’s determination to kill rather than take advantage of the humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshky and surrounding areas.

*Meetings for Ukraine, allies, US, and Russia

Germany has become Ukraine’s largest supporter in its war against the Russian invasion since Donald Trump returned to the US presidency last year and American financial support was withdrawn.

Merz said a new round of talks between negotiators from Ukraine, the US, and Russia is “the right step” to help end the fighting, stressing the importance of Europe’s involvement in the process.

He added, “But I also say it is important that Russia finally engages in serious negotiations on a ceasefire and subsequent peace agreement... I have seen no sign of that so far.”

Ahead of those talks, the European Commission announced it will host a meeting on Ukraine on Wednesday with representatives from the US, Ukraine, NATO, and European allies. Zelensky said they will discuss a “growth plan” and security guarantees for Ukraine. NATO also announced it will hold additional consultations on Thursday.

Zelensky said Russia launched 289 drones, 17 ballistic missiles, and 59 cruise missiles overnight, targeting power plants and substations from the Black Sea port of Odesa in the south to Rivne in the west.

DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private power producer, said three of its five thermal power plants have stopped operating.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the city’s electricity situation as “extremely difficult” in a post on Telegram.

He said Russia “continues to destroy Ukraine’s unified energy system,” damaging generation capacity and transmission lines. Facilities in and around Kyiv have also been hit in recent days, prompting emergency power outages.

After meeting with Western ambassadors, Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal wrote on Telegram that Russian forces sent three drones toward a critical substation powering the Khmelnytskyi nuclear plant.

He added that these actions “pose a threat not only to Ukraine but to nuclear safety across Europe.” Khmelnytskyi is one of four nuclear plants in Ukraine; Zaporizhzhia has been under Russian control since the early weeks of the February 2022 invasion.

With memories of last winter’s severe cold still fresh—when Russian strikes left millions without power and heating for days—many Ukrainians fear the coming months, as several cities are already experiencing prolonged blackouts.

Olha Hyria, 49, a resident of central Ukraine’s Dnipro, said, “This winter will be very harsh.”

She added, “Russia is bombing power and heating plants, which means this winter will be extremely difficult.”

Officials in Dnipro said two people were killed and about 20 injured in the attacks.

Prime Minister Serhiy Kurytsky said Russian strikes also hit a railway station, passenger cars, and locomotives.

*Russian attacks coincide with US elections

Zelensky said, “It is interesting that all this is happening on the day of the US congressional elections,” appealing to allies for additional air defenses. He added, “The Russians believe America will not notice this signal from them. But such terrorism must be noticed and stopped.”

The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces struck power facilities in several regions supplying energy to military factories and the Ukrainian army.

Throughout the more than four-year war, Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy system, destroying power and heating generation and distribution facilities. These attacks intensify each year as winter approaches. Ukraine has also stepped up attacks on Russian oil refineries this year.

Ukrainian officials said the overnight attack was among the largest of the war, causing blackouts in Kyiv and at least six other regions, and disrupting water supplies and transportation in the capital.

Nataliia Daniliuk, 49, from Dnipro, said residents have been stockpiling water, power banks, and other supplies.

She added, “We bought (winter) clothes and sleeping bags for warmth... Let them do what they want to us. Ukraine has endured, is enduring, and will endure.”