On Saturday, August 8, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned during a visit to Belgrade that Ukraine faces a difficult winter with almost no operational thermal power plants. This comes after overnight Russian 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 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 the country's energy infrastructure.

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

In an earlier post on X, Zelenskyy noted that four additional people were hospitalized following a double-tap strike: the child's parents, his 15-year-old brother, and a neighbor who came to assist the family.

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 with Serbia was discussed during the visit.

A handout photograph released by the Ukrainian State Emergency Service showed a burning building in the Kyiv region following the missile strikes.

Sources