At least two people were killed in a drone strike in Russia’s Saratov region, and a blast damaged nearby civilian facilities. Russia said it shot down 41 Ukrainian drones overnight. Ukrainian regions, including Kherson, reported power outages after strikes on energy infrastructure—an action Kyiv calls "weaponizing" the cold. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Russian security forces would remain in Donbas after any settlement, while Germany prepares to host President Zelenskyy as U.S.-led talks continue.
Two Killed in Saratov Drone Strike as U.S.-Led Peace Talks Continue
At least two people were killed when a drone struck a residential building in Russia’s southwestern Saratov region on Saturday, local officials said. The blast also shattered windows at a nearby kindergarten and a clinic, Saratov Governor Roman Busargin reported.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had shot down 41 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight. The ministry did not provide details on casualties beyond the Saratov fatalities.
In Ukraine, regional authorities in Kherson reported widespread power outages after Russian strikes targeted energy infrastructure. Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson region, said parts of the region — including the regional capital, Kherson — lost electricity following the attacks.
Kyiv and its Western allies accuse Moscow of trying to cripple Ukraine’s power grid and deny civilians access to heat, light and running water for a fourth consecutive winter, a tactic Ukrainian officials describe as “weaponizing” the cold.
Diplomatic Standoff Over Postwar Presence
The strikes came after Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Russian police and the National Guard would remain in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas and oversee the industry-rich region even if a peace settlement formally ended Russia’s nearly four-year war with Ukraine. Ushakov also said Moscow would approve a ceasefire only after Ukrainian forces had withdrawn from the front line.
Those comments underscore Moscow’s aim to maintain a post-war presence in Donbas — a position Kyiv is likely to reject as U.S.-led negotiations continue. A central sticking point in talks remains who would control territory currently held by Russian forces.
Germany said it will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for talks on Monday as diplomatic momentum builds. American negotiators have been trying to reconcile the demands of both sides while U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for a swift end to the fighting and expressed frustration at delays in negotiations.
Humanitarian impact: Beyond military and diplomatic fallout, attacks on energy infrastructure raise urgent concerns for civilians facing another winter with reduced access to power and heating.
