KIEV.- Russia gave the starting signal this Saturday a new attack with drones and missiles against Kyiv, At the same time, in a show of force, he announced the occupation of two more cities, just hours before the expected meeting of the leaders of the United States and Ukraine, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, in Florida on Sunday.
The anti-aircraft alarm was activated for hours after powerful explosions occurred overnight, causing one death and at least eleven injuries a massive power outage that affected millions of people, amid low winter temperatures.
Energy supplier DTEK said one million households remained without power in the capital and the surrounding region. “The first attack left the power out more than 700,000 customers on Saturday morning, and another 400,000 were offline in the region around the capital,” DTEK said on Telegram.
The Russian Defense Ministry said it conducted one “Massive attack” Use of “long-range precision weapons on land, air and sea, including hypersonic aeroballistic missiles of the Kinzhal type” and drones.
While it said it targeted energy infrastructure facilities used by Ukrainian forces and companies in the military-industrial complex, the recurring explanation for each massive attack is: According to Ukrainian authorities, more than ten residential buildings were damaged. Rescuers had to free people from the rubble of collapsed buildings.
The Russian government said the offensive was a response to Ukraine’s attacks “civilian goals” in Russia. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defenses intercepted more than 20 drones flying “towards” the Russian capital. No damage or loss was reported.
Russia also claimed the occupation of two cities in eastern Ukraine, in a new advance at the front. According to a Kremlin statement, President Vladimir Putin received a report from the General Staff on “the liberation of the cities of Dimitrov (the Russian name for Mirnograd) and Guliaipole.” The first is in the region Donetsk and the second in the eastern part of the region Zaporizhia.
The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Valeri Gerasimov, said that the Russian army “Progress in all directions” and boasted that the Ukrainian high command “tried to stop without success.” his progress.
Putin reinforced the triumphant message by expressing satisfaction with recent steps. “I see that all the tasks before us are being carried out properly the special military operations plan approved and developed by the General Staff,” he explained.
“The creation of a security zone in the border areas of Sumi, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions is progressing well. In Donbass and Zaporizhia, the offensive continues along the entire line of contact. “Russian troops are increasing pressure on Ukrainian troops,” the Russian leader added.
Since the first months, Moscow has partially occupied the provinces Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia. It also managed to invade Kharkiv, Sumi and Dnipropetrovsk, in addition to annexing the Crimean peninsula in 2014. In recent months it has made progress, particularly in Donetsk.
The attacks occurred on the eve of the planned meeting in Florida Trump and Zelenskyin which they will discuss the United States-sponsored plan to end the conflict, which turns four years old in February.
Zelensky said this Saturday that the Russian attack on Kiev shows that Moscow “He doesn’t want to end the war.” The Russians “They are looking for any excuse to inflict more suffering on Ukraine and increase pressure on others.” He added, specifying that Moscow has deployed around 500 drones and 40 missiles over Kiev and its periphery.
Ahead of the meeting with Trump, Zelensky met with the prime minister this Saturday Mark Carney during a stopover in Canada.
The Canadian leader condemned this “Barbarism” about the new Russian attacks in Kiev and stressed that any peace agreement requires “a Russia willing to cooperate.”
“We have the conditions for peace fair and sustainable“But that requires a willing Russia, and the barbarism we saw last night shows how important it is that we stand with Ukraine,” he said.
Zelensky also held a conference call from Canada several allied European leaders as a prelude to her crucial meeting with Trump, including the President of the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union (EU), Ursula von der Leyen.
“We welcome all efforts that lead to our common goal: a just and lasting peace that preserves Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. And that strengthens the country’s security and defense capabilities as an integral part of the security of our continent,” von der Leyen said in X.
The Ukrainian president hopes for talks with Trump “very constructive” to the new 20-point peace plan.
The plan should a superior version an initial version that did not contain any points in favor of Ukraine and which turned out to have been prepared between Putin and Trump officials. This suggestion would freeze the front line in their current positions and would open the door for Ukraine to withdraw its troops from the east, where demilitarized zones could be created, as Zelensky explained this week.
However, the Ukrainian leader noted that there are disagreements between Kiev and Washington over the Donbass region. The United States has pressured Ukraine to withdraw from the 20% of territory it controls in Donetsk, a member of Donbass, Russia’s main territorial claim.
However, Zelensky said that a cession of territory would only be possible if the Ukrainian people agreed to it in a referendum.
Washington’s updated plan also suggests a joint American-Ukrainian-Russian control of the Zaporizhzhia power plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, which Russia took over during the invasion.
At the same time, the demand that Kiev renounce its desire to join NATO was rejected by the previous plan. The plan also includes agreements between the United States and Ukraine on security, reconstruction and economic guarantees, as well as strong European economic support.
Moscow criticized this new version and accused Kyiv of poor misconduct “Torpedo” The negotiations explaining this Saturday’s bombings in Kiev and the occupation of two other cities are a way to improve their prospects and warn that there will only be peace on their terms.
AP, AFP and ANSA agencies
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