Russia and Ukraine Pause Energy Strikes Amid Freezing Blackouts (Worthy News Radio)

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

WASHINGTON/KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Russia and Ukraine say they have briefly halted strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure after U.S. President Donald Trump urged an end to attacks that left many people without power in freezing temperatures. Yet, differences remain over when the U.S.-brokered moratorium will expire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia stopped targeting most of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as of early Friday local time.

He explained there were no overnight strikes on energy facilities in most regions, except in the Donetsk area, where Russian forces hit natural gas infrastructure.

Zelenskyy stressed that the clock has started on what he called a weeklong energy ceasefire.

But Moscow indicated the measure could end as early as Sunday.

POWER OUTAGES DEEPEN WINTER HARDSHIP IN KYIV

Despite a brief energy truce, Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, has experienced widespread power outages, heightening fears for civilians amid extreme winter cold.

Ukraine has faced repeated electricity disruptions in recent weeks, with major Russian strikes reportedly leaving about 1.2 million properties without power nationwide at one point.

Zelenskyy said Saturday’s emergency in Kyiv was caused by technical issues on interconnection lines between Ukraine and neighboring Moldova, which also saw widespread power disruptions.

That prompted Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko to declare an emergency blackout. Services on Kyiv’s metro— the city’s subway system— were also suspended, with metro stations doubling as shelters during relentless Russian strikes.

The power troubles added to residents’ anxiety, with temperatures expected to plunge overnight to minus 24 Celsius—minus 11 Fahrenheit—in the heart of winter.

One resident, Olena Janchuk, a former kindergarten teacher suffering from severe rheumatoid arthritis, said she was trapped on the 19th floor of her apartment building during frequent blackouts.

NUCLEAR WATCHDOG WARNS AS DIPLOMACY CONTINUES

Her family has relied on candles and improvised heaters to survive the freezing cold. With elevators out of service and power cuts lasting up to 17 hours, even basic daily tasks have become a struggle.

If that wasn’t enough, the United Nations nuclear watchdog raised alarm about the perilous condition of Ukraine’s atomic power plants, citing persistent Russian airstrikes.

Yet President Trump remained hopeful that a peace deal can be reached despite deep animosity between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Zelenskyy and Putin hate each other. And it makes it very difficult, but I think we’re getting very close to getting a settlement,” Trump said.

Russia’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev was expected to hold talks with U.S. officials in Miami later Saturday on efforts to end the nearly four-year-long war.

The conflict has raged since February 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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