Ukraine is experiencing a worsening energy crisis as a result of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, including substations at nuclear power plants, which raises nuclear safety concerns across Europe. In Kharkiv, the subway could not be started due to power shortages, and many cities are relying on backup energy devices to maintain electricity supply.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has urgently convened the IAEA, urging a response to the attacks and protection of nuclear safety. Last night saw over 69 drone attacks, with more than 30 hitting civilian infrastructure. The country faces ongoing issues with water, heating, and electricity.
Meanwhile, a political scandal is unfolding around Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who was exposed manipulating information about sanctions against Russia. According to the White House, Orban and Hungarian officials’ claims about lifted sanctions are not true—only a temporary one-year exemption was granted for energy system adaptation.
International figures like Angelina Jolie have visited Ukraine, bringing attention to the situation in global media and urging Western governments to provide more support. The US acknowledges slow aid delivery, and Ukrainian authorities are calling on the West for stronger action.
Analytical reviews in the Western press emphasize the risk of Russia extending its aggression to Europe, with airport closures in Vilnius and drone attacks in Brussels and Germany. Experts debate whether Putin will stop in Ukraine or go further into Europe, while the need for greater European financial and human support for Ukraine is highlighted.
Additionally, in Russia, a helicopter crash killed leading figures from the Kizlyar plant, which produces military components, amid rumors of internal purges and technical failures.
Ukraine calls on the West to take more decisive steps to address the energy and security crisis and to prepare for a potential influx of refugees this winter. The issues of new sanctions, financial, and military aid are seen as essential for containing Russian aggression.
