Russia Unleashes Major Attack on Ukraine’s Power Grid Amid UAE Peace Talks
Russia launched a massive overnight missile and drone assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, officials said Friday, even as Ukrainian diplomats pursued peace talks with Chinese officials in the United Arab Emirates.
Key Takeaways
- Russia fired 32 missiles and dozens of drones, damaging power stations across western, central, and southern Ukraine.
- This marks the sixth mass attack on DTEK’s facilities in under three months, inflicting “serious damage”.
- Parallel peace talks in the UAE involved China, with Ukraine seeking support for a June summit in Switzerland.
Scale of the Energy Infrastructure Attack
Ukrainian air force reported intercepting nine missiles and 27 drones out of the barrage. The state grid operator, Ukrenergo, confirmed damage to equipment at multiple power stations.
“The enemy is trying to cause as much damage as possible… to deprive Ukrainians of light, water, heat and communication,” Ukrenergo stated.
Russia’s defence ministry claimed the 35 strikes were retaliation for Ukrainian attempts to target Russian oil and gas facilities. This campaign has intensified since late March, following attacks on the DniproHES dam and the Trypilska thermal plant.
Peace Diplomacy Continues in the UAE
Amid the bombardment, a Ukrainian delegation held what it called “productive” talks in the UAE. Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential office, said discussions focused on achieving a “just and lasting peace”.
While the participant list wasn’t fully disclosed, a source confirmed China’s involvement. Beijing maintains a neutral stance but faces Western criticism for its close ties with Moscow.
Ukraine is actively courting China and other Global South nations for a peace summit scheduled in Switzerland this June. Russia, which has not been invited, dismisses the initiative as meaningless without its participation. President Zelensky hopes the summit will create a peace framework to present to Moscow.
