Major Assault on Ukraine's Power Grid
Ukrainian energy minister Svitlana Grynchuk confirmed a large-scale Russian attack on the country's energy infrastructure in the early hours of Saturday, leading to emergency power cuts across most regions. The minister stated that the enemy is 'massively attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure again', forcing authorities to implement outages until the system can be stabilised.
Regional Impacts and Military Developments
In the southern Odesa region, governor Oleg Kiper reported that drones struck an energy facility late on Friday, causing damage but no casualties. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Russian forces are gathering near the north-eastern city of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region. He suggested that Moscow's assault on Pokrovsk aims to demonstrate battlefield success to US President Donald Trump.
The Institute for the Study of War noted marginal Russian advances near the largely destroyed city, with the objective of bringing Kharkiv city within range of tube artillery. In a separate incident, Ukrainian units reported that Russian troops who filmed themselves raising a flag in Vovchansk were quickly eliminated by Ukrainian drones.
International Responses and Economic Fallout
In diplomatic developments, the European Union has cancelled the right for most Russian nationals to apply for multiple-entry visas, requiring new applications for each trip to mitigate security risks. Exceptions will be made for dissidents, journalists, and family members of EU citizens.
The United States granted Hungary a one-year exemption from sanctions on Russian oil and gas, with a White House official noting Hungary's commitment to purchase approximately $600 million worth of US liquefied natural gas. This follows Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's meeting with Donald Trump.
On the economic front, Russia's sanctioned tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod plans job cuts of up to 10% amid declining demand, while other major industrial companies are implementing furloughs and layoffs as the war economy slows.
Ukraine's Naftogaz has secured a deal to import at least 300 million cubic metres of US liquid natural gas through Poland's Orlen to help stabilise the upcoming heating season. Energy Minister Grynchuk assured that 'despite the enemy's plans, Ukraine will have light and heat this winter.'
In military appointments, President Zelenskyy named Yuri Cherevashenko as the new commander for drone air defences, tasking him with improving Ukraine's interceptor drone capabilities as part of a layered defence system advocated by General Oleksandr Syrskyi.
