In a stark scene of resilience and hardship, residents of Kyiv queued for free hot meals on Friday, their homes left without power following recent Russian air assaults. The image, captured in a residential neighbourhood, underscores the daily struggles faced by Ukrainians as the conflict grinds on.
Peace Talks Rescheduled Amid Ongoing Violence
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that a new round of trilateral peace talks involving Russian, Ukrainian, and US officials, originally slated for Sunday in Abu Dhabi, has been postponed. The discussions, based on a US-drafted plan to end the war, are now expected to commence this Wednesday and Thursday. Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine's readiness for "substantive" negotiations, though neither Moscow nor Washington has confirmed the revised dates. This delay comes despite Russia's continued military actions throughout the diplomatic process.
Deadly Drone Strikes Target Civilians and Infrastructure
In a tragic escalation, a Russian drone strike on a bus carrying miners in the south-eastern Dnipropetrovsk region resulted in at least 12 fatalities on Sunday. Ukrainian officials condemned the attack as "cynical and targeted," noting the vehicle was approximately 65 kilometres from the frontline. First deputy prime minister Denys Shmyhal highlighted the assault on energy workers, while regional authorities reported additional casualties from overnight drone attacks in Dnipro, where a man and woman were killed.
Further south, a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia region was struck by a drone on Sunday, injuring at least seven individuals, including two women undergoing medical examinations. These incidents occur against a backdrop of a purported ceasefire on energy infrastructure, initiated at the request of Donald Trump and set to last until Friday, though Zelenskyy noted Russian attacks on railway and logistics targets persist.
Energy Grid Under Strain in Freezing Conditions
As temperatures plummeted to around minus 15 degrees Celsius on Sunday, with forecasts predicting further drops below minus 20 degrees in Kyiv, Ukraine's power grid faced immense pressure. Grid operator Ukrenergo implemented planned outages across the nation to manage the strain, exacerbating the challenges for civilians already coping with war-induced disruptions. Zelenskyy reported attacks on power grids in cities near the Dnipro river, though he stopped short of accusing Russia of violating the energy ceasefire outright.
International Support and Territorial Shifts
In a gesture of gratitude, Ukraine's defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, thanked Elon Musk for efforts to curb Russia's use of Starlink satellites in drone operations, citing "real results" from the initiative. Meanwhile, Russian forces claimed control over the village of Zelene in Kharkiv region and the settlement of Sukhetske in Donetsk, according to the Russian defence ministry. Tass news agency reported strikes on transport infrastructure used by the Ukrainian army, highlighting ongoing territorial tensions.
Abroad, tens of thousands of Czechs rallied in Prague to support their pro-Ukrainian president, amidst a political dispute with nationalist leader Andrej Babis. Organisers estimated up to 90,000 participants, with flags from the Czech Republic, Europe, and Ukraine waving in solidarity, reflecting broader European backing for Ukraine's cause.
As the war enters its 1,440th day, the combination of humanitarian crises, diplomatic manoeuvres, and military actions paints a complex picture of a nation enduring profound adversity while striving for peace and stability.
