Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Saturday, August 8, 2026, during his visit to Belgrade, that Ukraine is bracing for a winter with virtually no working thermal power plants following overnight Russian missile strikes that killed four people, including a three-year-old child, in the Kyiv region.

Speaking alongside Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Zelensky said 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," noting that the attacks frequently target Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Zelensky highlighted that Ukraine was left with "virtually no intact thermal power plants" as it prepares for the upcoming heating season. These thermal plants are crucial complements to the country's nuclear energy grid.

More than four years into Russia's large-scale offensive against Ukraine, both sides have intensified long-range strikes, increasing civilian casualties. Moscow has escalated attacks on Kyiv in recent months, often using salvos of hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles. Ukraine has called for more US-made Patriot interceptors and other Western air-defense systems to counter these attacks.

During his two-day trip to Serbia, Zelensky renewed calls for tougher sanctions to block the flow of missile parts into Russia, stating these components come from "almost every continent, including from our close partners." He also stressed the need for greater access to interceptor missiles amid the rising number of long-range strikes.

In an earlier post on X, Zelensky reported that four additional people were hospitalized: the child's parents, his 15-year-old brother, and a neighbor who was wounded in a double-tap strike while aiding the family.

Sources

France 24 English