• Ukrainian President Zelenskyy plans new deep strikes in Russia following drone attacks.
• Recent Russian attacks on energy facilities left 60,000 Ukrainians without electricity.
• Ukraine's military downed the majority of Russian drones during recent assaults.
• International calls for peace negotiations are amplified amidst the ongoing conflict.
• Ukrainian officials report significant infrastructure damage and casualties from Russian strikes.

Ukraine has announced its intention to carry out new strikes deep inside Russia following recent Russian drone attacks that left nearly 60,000 Ukrainians without electricity. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed these plans after a meeting with military leaders, emphasizing that “new deep strikes have also been planned” for Ukraine’s defense. This escalation comes amid intensified airstrikes from both sides, with Russia targeting Ukraine’s energy and transport systems, while Ukraine retaliates against Russian oil refineries and pipelines, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Channel News Asia.

Overnight, Russian drone attacks specifically targeted four energy facilities in the Odesa region, which resulted in significant power outages affecting 29,000 residents, particularly in the port city of Chornomorsk. Regional authorities reported that critical infrastructure in the city was operating on generators, with local governor Oleh Kiper noting that one individual sustained injuries due to the strikes. DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, stated that emergency repair work would commence once it received military clearance, highlighting the damage inflicted on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

The Ukrainian military reported that, despite the severity of the drone attacks, they managed to shoot down 126 out of 142 launched by Russian forces. In contrast, Russia's Defense Ministry asserted that it had successfully neutralized 112 Ukrainian drones within a similar timeframe, indicating a significant exchange of firepower and an ongoing escalation of conflict, as noted in Al Jazeera and Channel News Asia.

Additionally, Moscow continues to assert that external forces, particularly European powers, are obstructing peace efforts led by U.S. President Donald Trump, reiterating that military actions will persist until tangible signs of willingness to negotiate from Ukraine are evident. Analysts and military officials have expressed skepticism about Russia's claims of territorial gains, describing them as exaggerated and highlighting Ukraine’s resilience amidst ongoing assaults, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

In the midst of this turmoil, international calls for cessation of hostilities, such as those from Pope Leo, emphasize the pressing need for dialogue and negotiation to achieve lasting peace. “It is time for those responsible to renounce the logic of arms and take the path of negotiation and peace with the support of the international community,” he remarked during a recent address, underscoring the global desire for resolution, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.