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 in the Kyiv region killed four people, including a child.

Speaking alongside Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Zelenskyy reported that Moscow's recent overnight attacks and shelling of frontline communities had resulted in 13 deaths within the last 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 grid, have been left almost entirely inoperable as the country prepares for the upcoming heating season. Zelenskyy also highlighted the need for increased access to interceptor missiles to counter the growing number of long-range strikes.

In an earlier post on X, Zelenskyy stated, "Four more people were hospitalised: the child's parents, his 15-year-old brother, and a neighbour who came to the family's aid and was wounded in a double-tap strike."

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 clarified that no military cooperation was discussed during the visit, noting, "What will happen when the war ends is another matter."

The Ukrainian State Emergency Service released photographs showing burning buildings in the Kyiv region following the missile strikes, underscoring the ongoing impact of the conflict.

Sources