Pig Triggers Landmine, Spares Two Russian Soldiers — Survives Blast; Zelensky Orders Energy Sector Overhaul

Pig Sets Off Mine, Soldiers Escape, Animal Survives

Drone footage circulating on verified social channels shows a pig inadvertently triggering an anti-personnel mine reportedly left by retreating Ukrainian forces. The animal was walking several yards ahead of two Russian soldiers when it was startled, leapt away and — as it fled — one of its hind hooves detonated the device. A cloud of smoke followed the explosion; the pig appeared injured but alive, and the soldiers avoided the blast and debris.

The location and exact timing of the footage are unclear, and independent verification of the incident has not been made public. The clip has nonetheless attracted attention for the unexpected role the animal played in preventing casualties.

Fighting Continues Around Pokrovsk

Street battles were reported on Saturday in the besieged city of Pokrovsk. Maj Gen Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine’s defence intelligence, warned that if Russian forces capture the city they are likely to advance toward the borders of Donetsk region.

“It’s their next direction of movement, it’s obvious,” he said.

Zelensky Orders Overhaul of State Energy Firms

Also on Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced an overhaul of state-owned energy companies after anti-fraud investigators said roughly £80m had been embezzled from the sector. Zelensky ordered two ministers to resign and sanctioned a former business associate accused of orchestrating the scheme.

He called for a new supervisory board at Energoatom, the state nuclear company at the centre of the scandal, to be appointed "within a week" to enable a full management overhaul. He also demanded swift new leadership at Ukrhydroenergo and further reforms at Naftogaz.

Cross-Border Strikes and Air Defences

On the battlefield front, Ukrainian forces said they struck an oil refinery in Russia’s Ryazan region, near Moscow, describing the move as part of efforts to reduce the enemy’s ability to launch missile and bomb strikes. Pavel Malkov, governor of Ryazan, said Russian air defences shot down 25 Ukrainian drones over the region overnight and that falling debris started a fire at one enterprise; he reported no casualties.

Civilian Impact and Local Incidents

The attack followed Russian strikes on apartment blocks across Kyiv that killed at least seven people. Kyiv officials said an elderly woman wounded during shelling on Nov. 14 later died in hospital; other victims included a couple in their 70s and a 62-year-old.

Regional authorities in Dnipropetrovsk reported that a Russian drone wounded five people — one seriously — in the city of Nikopol, which lies on the Dnipro River opposite the frontline. On the occupied bank, Moscow-installed official Yevgeny Balitsky said a Ukrainian drone struck power lines and cut electricity for roughly 44,000 subscribers.

Note: All details reflect reports circulating on social media and official statements; some aspects remain unverified.