A Russian drone attack has severely damaged a thermal power plant in Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine, leaving at least 100,000 people without heating as freezing temperatures grip the region, Ukrainian officials reported on Sunday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the attack, calling it a direct assault on civilians rather than a military operation. "This has nothing to do with the fighting and the situation at the front, but it proves once again that the Russians are fighting against our people and against life in Ukraine," he stated on Telegram. He further accused Russia of showing no intention of pursuing peace.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also denounced the strike, stating that it was deliberately aimed at creating a humanitarian crisis by depriving people of heating in sub-zero temperatures. The nighttime attack came as Ukraine braces for an expected low of minus 7 degrees Celsius (19.4 Fahrenheit) in Mykolaiv.
According to Ukraine’s military, Russia launched 143 drones overnight, but air defense systems intercepted 95 of them, while 46 failed to reach their targets, likely due to electromagnetic countermeasures. Despite these efforts, the attack injured at least one person and caused damage to houses in the Kyiv region.
Zelenskiy renewed calls for increased Western military support, particularly air defense systems, as Russia continues its offensive. He cited figures indicating that Russia had launched approximately 1,220 aerial bombs, over 850 drones, and more than 40 missiles in the past week alone.
Meanwhile, international diplomatic tensions surrounding the war have intensified. U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent direct call to Russian President Vladimir Putin, made without prior consultation with European allies or Ukraine, has sparked concerns. Trump’s Ukraine envoy later suggested that Europe would not have a role in upcoming peace negotiations, raising uncertainty about the future of Western support for Kyiv.
European leaders are set to convene on Monday to discuss the ongoing conflict and assess security commitments to Ukraine. Amid growing global concerns, Zelenskiy urged unity in the fight against Russian aggression, stating, "Together with Europe, the U.S., and all our partners, we can end this war with a just and lasting peace."