"Energy Terror": Russia Batters Ukraine’s Power Grid with 440 Missiles and Drones Amid Record Cold

In a massive aerial assault, Russia targeted the heart of Ukraine’s infrastructure on Saturday night, launching over 400 drones and 40 missiles. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the strikes crippled thermal power plants and distribution substations across the country, particularly in western regions. The attack coincides with a brutal cold snap, with temperatures expected to plummet to -14°C (7°F).

Zelenskyy condemned the move as a rejection of the recent U.S.-brokered trilateral talks, stating, "Russia chooses strikes over diplomacy." Ukrainian officials accuse Moscow of using "winter as a weapon" to force political concessions. This escalation places immense pressure on the ongoing diplomatic efforts in Abu Dhabi, signaling that while negotiators talk, the battlefield—and the civilian infrastructure—remains Russia’s primary leverage.