Ukraine Reports Brief Respite in Energy Strikes, But Frontline Attacks Continue
KYIV, Feb 2 (Reuters) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Monday that Russia had not launched any targeted missile or drone attacks against the country's energy infrastructure over the past day. The announcement offered a glimmer of relief for a power grid battered by months of systematic strikes, though Zelenskiy cautioned that facilities in active combat zones remain under artillery fire.
The president's remarks underscore the fragile and limited nature of an energy ceasefire reportedly negotiated last week at the urging of U.S. President Donald Trump. While providing a narrow window for repair crews to address weekend malfunctions in high-voltage lines—compounded by prior damage—Zelenskiy warned that challenges persist. "The system is operating stably," he said via Telegram. "However, given the extremely cold weather and the impact of Russian strikes, all challenges remain serious."
Analysts suggest Russian forces may have temporarily shifted focus, with Zelenskiy noting intensified attacks on transport and railway logistics—critical for Ukrainian military supply lines.
Confusion surrounds the terms of the reported pause. The Kremlin claimed it agreed to a personal request from Trump to refrain from striking Kyiv until February 1. Ukrainian officials, however, insisted the understanding was for a week-long truce beginning January 30. The discrepancy highlights the lack of formal agreements and the ongoing volatility on the ground.
Any semblance of a ceasefire was contradicted by reports of continued violence in frontline regions. Regional authorities reported that a Russian drone strike on Sunday killed 12 miners at a coal mine in Dnipropetrovsk, an attack the energy company DTEK said was repeated within 24 hours. In Donetsk, officials said a separate strike killed a father and son, wounding two children and their mother.
The developments come as both sides prepare for anticipated talks in Abu Dhabi later this week, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. The negotiations, aimed at exploring pathways to end the nearly two-year conflict, will unfold against a backdrop of persistent tactical strikes and disputed humanitarian pauses.
(Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka and Olena Harmash; Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Reaction & Analysis
Markus Weber, Security Analyst at the European Policy Centre: "This 24-hour lull is tactical, not strategic. It allows Russia to regroup and reassess targeting while testing Ukrainian repair responses. The continued attacks in the east show the 'truce' was never comprehensive."
Dr. Anya Petrova, Energy Infrastructure Specialist, Kyiv Polytechnic Institute: "Every hour without a targeted strike is crucial. Our teams are racing against time and temperature. But restoring infrastructure under constant threat of artillery is like building on sand."
James Cartwright, Former U.S. Diplomat (via social media): "This is a farce. Calling this a 'truce' while civilians are killed in mines and homes is a grotesque misuse of the word. It exposes the utter failure of backchannel diplomacy to impose any real restraint."
Olga Ivanova, Donetsk Region Evacuee: "They say no big missiles hit power plants today, but what does that matter to my sister in hospital without stable heat? Or to the families in Dnipropetrovsk? The war hasn't paused; it just changed its address."