Residents of the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia were confronted with a scene of devastation on Wednesday, as they passed a large crater and damaged vehicles near an apartment building struck by a Russian attack. The assault formed part of a wider barrage across the country, which officials said killed a couple near the capital, Kyiv, and injured four people, including two children.
Widespread Strikes Target Civilian Areas
The attacks, involving drones and missiles, came just one day after five people died in a strike on a passenger train. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly condemned the targeting of the apartment block in Zaporizhzhia, as well as another rocket attack on what he described as a purely residential area devoid of military targets. "We will respond fairly to Russia for this and other similar attacks," he declared in a social media post. Beyond Zaporizhzhia, Russian strikes also hit the strategic southern port of Odesa and the central city of Kryvyi Rih.
Peace Talks and a 'Very Difficult' Territorial Issue
This fresh wave of violence precedes a new round of peace talks scheduled for the weekend. The US Secretary of State has indicated that resolving the territorial status of the Donetsk region remains a significant obstacle. "It's still a bridge we have to cross," he stated, adding that while the issue set has been narrowed, this central point will be "very difficult" to reconcile. The US may participate in the upcoming talks, though reportedly in a more junior capacity than during previous negotiations.
Energy Crisis and Escalation in Odesa
A senior Ukrainian lawmaker warned that the coming three weeks will be particularly harsh for citizens, due to freezing temperatures and intense Russian attacks on the energy infrastructure that have already left millions without power and heating. "The bad news is that there will indeed be frosts, and it will be difficult," said Andriy Gerus, head of parliament's energy committee, while expressing hope that conditions would ease afterwards.
Reporting from Odesa, correspondents note a sharp escalation in strikes on the city in recent months, as Black Sea conflict has reignited. A major attack on 13 December, involving 160 drones and missiles targeting energy facilities, left large parts of the city without water or electricity for days, heralding a period of near-daily assaults.
Calls for Stronger Sanctions Enforcement
During a visit to Berlin, a Ukrainian sanctions representative urged the European Union not to shy away from taking "physical" action against Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of oil tankers used to circumvent international sanctions. He cited the example of US seizures of Venezuela-linked tankers and called for "robust actions", arguing that only increased pressure could aid negotiations to end the war. He also highlighted the ongoing presence of western components in Russian weaponry as evidence that sanctions are being bypassed.
