Kyiv, 19 January (H.S.): Ukrainian drone strikes on Saturday (January 17, 2026),severely damaged power infrastructure in Russia-occupied portions of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, plunging over 200,000 households across nearly 400 settlements into darkness amid sub-freezing temperatures, according to Kremlin-appointed governor Yevgeny Balitsky.

Reciprocal Energy Warfare Intensifies

Balitsky reported on Telegram Sunday that repair crews were mobilizing despite ongoing hostilities, as roughly 75% of southeastern Zaporizhzhia remains under Russian control. Concurrently, Russian overnight assaults targeted Ukraine's energy grid in Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, and Odesa regions, killing at least two civilians, wounding six in Dnipropetrovsk, and sparking fires swiftly contained by responders.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy detailed Russia's weekly barrage—exceeding 1,300 attack drones, 1,050 guided bombs, and 29 missiles—while underscoring repair challenges: We are doing everything we can to restore everything as quickly as possible.

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Gains Critical Lifeline

Under an IAEA-brokered ceasefire, Ukrainian teams initiated repairs Sunday on the damaged 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 backup line linking Europe's largest nuclear facility at Zaporizhzhia to the grid, vital for its electricity supply amid occupation and recurrent shelling.

Zelenskyy's delegation, arriving in the United States Friday for talks on postwar security guarantees and economic recovery, eyes finalizing documents potentially signable next week at Davos alongside President Trump, pending Russian consultation.

Caucasus Fallout and Russian Interceptions

In Russia's North Ossetia, drone debris wounded two children and an adult in Beslan's residential building early Sunday, prompting evacuation of 70 residents and roof/window damage, per Governor Sergei Menyaylo. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed neutralizing 63 Ukrainian drones over Russia and Crimea, with one hospitalization in Krasnodar.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar