Overview
- President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the emergency after Russian attacks and severe weather caused widespread blackouts, heating and water disruptions across multiple cities.
- Authorities said nearly 70% of Kyiv lost power at the peak of the crisis, with repairs restoring much of the network but leaving critical infrastructure exposed to further strikes.
- Ukraine will set up a permanent coordination headquarters for the capital and task the government with population support while seeking Western equipment and additional aid.
- President Donald Trump told Reuters he considers Zelensky the main obstacle to a settlement, as the United Kingdom signaled a tougher response to Russia’s so‑called “ghost fleet.”
- The specialized outlet DeepState reported Russian advances near Stepnohirsk and in Donetsk, and Ukraine’s new defense minister cited 200,000 deserters along with a major budget shortfall.