Russia and Ukraine trade attacks amid talks on energy strike halt

Russian and Ukrainian forces continued reciprocal strikes overnight despite diplomatic efforts and planned visits by United States envoys to both Kyiv and Moscow. Russian drone and missile bombardments inflicted civilian casualties across several Ukrainian regions, including Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Ukrainian forces retaliated by targeting a Russian oil refinery along with sites in Sochi and Belgorod.

The ongoing hostilities coincide with diplomatic discussions involving US President Donald Trump, who claimed both nations reached an understanding to halt attacks on energy infrastructure. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy clarified that Kyiv will only refrain from hitting Russian energy facilities if Western partners guarantee that Moscow stops targeting Ukraine's energy grid, transportation routes, and food supply chains. Concurrently, European Union leaders condemned recent Russian attacks near the Polish border as calculated attempts to disrupt European unity.

Sources: Avaz, Beta, CDM, N1, Vijesti