On Saturday, August 8, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during his first official visit to Belgrade, warned that Ukraine is bracing for a difficult winter with virtually no operational thermal power plants. This comes after overnight Russian ballistic missile strikes killed four people, including a child, in the Kyiv region.

Speaking alongside Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Zelenskyy reported that Moscow's recent attacks and shelling of frontline communities have resulted in 13 deaths in the past 24 hours. He emphasized that "Russian missiles are aimed precisely at making the lives of Ukrainians unbearable," often targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Ukraine's thermal power plants, which complement its nuclear energy supply, have been largely destroyed, leaving the country vulnerable as it approaches the heating season. Zelenskyy also highlighted the need for increased access to interceptor missiles to counter the growing number of long-range strikes.

During his two-day trip to Serbia, Zelenskyy renewed calls for tougher sanctions to halt the flow of missile parts into Russia from "almost every continent, including from our close partners." He also shared that four more people were hospitalized following a double-tap strike: the child's parents, his 15-year-old brother, and a neighbor who came to their aid.

The Ukrainian State Emergency Service released a photograph on August 8 showing a burning building in the Kyiv region following the missile strikes, underscoring the ongoing impact of the conflict.

Sources