Russia struck a thermal power generation facility in the Kyiv region overnight into Monday as President Donald Trump threatened to impose a second round of sanctions on Moscow.
Russia deployed about 140 drones into Ukraine overnight. The Ukrainian Air Force said it intercepted or suppressed most of the drones, but 26 aerial projectiles came into contact with seven locations. Among the targets was a Kyiv power plant.
Recommended Stories
- Palestinian attackers open fire at Jerusalem bus stop, killing six
- Russia damages Ukrainian government building in largest attack since war began
- Pope declares 15-year-old computer programmer Carlo Acutis first millennial saint
“One of the thermal generation facilities in the Kyiv region has come under massive shelling,” Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said.
The Ukrainian government accused Russia of targeting critical civilian infrastructure.
“The goal is obvious — to cause even greater hardship for Ukraine’s civilian population, to leave homes, hospitals, kindergartens and schools without light and heat,” it added. “Power generation facilities, electricity transmission and distribution systems and gas infrastructure are not military targets. The enemy clearly understands that it is striking critical civilian infrastructure.”
The attacks caused blackouts in parts of Kyiv surrounded by the larger Kyiv Oblast, according to media reports. Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed it had hit Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Emergency responders extinguished a fire at the power plant. No casualties were reported by Ukraine.
The strikes came a day after Russia’s largest aerial attack against Ukraine since the war started in February 2022. The bombardment involved about 810 drones and 13 missiles launched by Moscow. Ukraine’s air force said nine missiles and 54 drones impacted across 33 locations, including the Cabinet of Ministers building in Kyiv, after most of the projectiles were shot down.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his European allies quickly condemned the attack.
Trump also weighed in, saying he was planning to implement a “second phase” of sanctions against Russia to deter future attacks. He did not specify or elaborate on what the new sanctions would entail.
A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin brushed off Trump’s renewed threat, saying sanctions “have proven absolutely useless in terms of putting pressure on Russia.”
After Moscow’s assault Saturday night into Sunday, Trump said he was “not happy about the whole situation.” He has been trying to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine for months.
“I am not thrilled with what’s happening there, I will tell you,” Trump told reporters on Sunday. “I think it’s gonna get settled. So, I settled seven wars. This, I would’ve said, would’ve been maybe the easiest one to settle of all. But with war, you never know what you’re getting.”
Some progress was made in peace talks when Trump hosted separate meetings with Zelensky and Putin last month. Zelensky and Putin have not finalized plans to meet directly, with both leaders wanting the other to meet in their respective capitals.
TRUMP SAYS HE’S READY TO IMPLEMENT SECOND PHASE OF SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA
Trump said without naming the leaders that some European leaders are expected to visit the United States this week to discuss ending the war. European leaders previously joined Zelensky when he visited the White House in August. The president added that he would speak with Putin “soon.”
“I believe we’re going to get it settled, but I am not happy with them,” Trump said of Russia. “I’m not happy with anything having to do with that war. It’s such a waste of great humanity.”