Ukraine and Russia Trade Blows in Ongoing Energy War

Ukraine and Russia are locked in a battle over energy, with both sides striking power infrastructure. In southern Ukraine, areas under Russian control faced blackouts after Ukrainian drone attacks. Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russia-installed governor, reported that over 200, 000 homes lost power due to damage to energy networks. Meanwhile, Russia continued its campaign against Ukraine's energy grid. Overnight attacks targeted the Odesa region, sparking a fire that was quickly put out. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, six people were injured from Russian strikes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed two deaths from attacks across multiple regions, including Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia. Zelenskyy acknowledged the challenges in repairing Ukraine's energy system but assured that efforts are underway to restore power swiftly. He also highlighted the extensive use of drones, guided bombs, and missiles by Russia this week, totaling over 1, 300 drones and nearly 1, 050 guided aerial bombs.In a diplomatic move, a Ukrainian delegation arrived in the U. S. to discuss a proposed peace settlement. Zelenskyy hopes to finalize documents related to postwar security guarantees and economic recovery. If approved, these documents could be signed at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next week. However, Russia's input is still necessary for any agreement. The conflict extended to Russia's Caucasus region, where a Ukrainian drone strike injured two children and an adult in North Ossetia. Debris from the drone damaged a residential building, leading to the evacuation of 70 people. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down or suppressed 63 Ukrainian drones overnight. Amidst the chaos, Ukrainian crews began repairing a crucial backup power line at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe and currently under Russian occupation. This repair work, facilitated by a ceasefire brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency, is vital for maintaining the plant's electricity supply.