Russian strikes cut power in Ukraine as Kherson truce ends
A rare humanitarian ceasefire to evacuate civilians from Oleshky ends as Russian strikes target energy infrastructure across Ukraine.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The localized ceasefire in the front-line Kherson region ended at 22:59 Ukrainian time on Sunday.
- Ukraine's air alert system was reportedly hacked, issuing a false radiation threat over Kyiv.
- Russian overnight strikes damaged energy infrastructure across four regions, leaving hundreds of thousands without power.
- Evacuation efforts allowed trapped residents from Oleshky to reunite with their families after years apart.
A rare humanitarian ceasefire in Ukraine's front-line Kherson region, which enabled civilians to evacuate the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, has officially concluded. The localized truce was scheduled to end at 22:59 Ukrainian time, or 21:00 GMT, on Sunday. Although the ceasefire had held since its implementation the previous week, active combat continued in other parts of the country.
On Sunday evening, Ukraine's air alert system was apparently compromised by a cyberattack, with the country's air force warning of a potential radiation threat over Kyiv, signaling a simulated nuclear attack. The Air Force stated that the application had likely experienced hostile interference, urging citizens to remain calm and assuring them there was no actual radiation threat while monitoring official updates.
The combination of physical attacks on critical infrastructure and digital disruption, such as hacking warning applications, highlights the multi-domain nature of the ongoing conflict. Adversaries frequently utilize psychological pressure alongside conventional bombardments to disrupt civilian morale and destabilize major urban centers.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russian forces struck energy infrastructure across four regions overnight on Saturday, plunging hundreds of thousands of homes into darkness. While power connections were partially restored by Sunday, another overnight strike tragically killed two people, including a 13-year-old girl, in the Vinnytsia region, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
In retaliation, Ukraine targeted a major missile fuel production facility in Russia's Rostov region, sparking a fire and damaging four production facilities. Meanwhile, repair crews worked around the clock in Ukraine to restore electricity. The governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region noted that while most customers had their supply restored by early evening, more than 60,000 residents remained without power. Regular emergency blackouts have been implemented nationwide due to ongoing attacks, leaving the capital city of Kyiv without electricity and water supplies for most of the day.
The limited pause in hostilities, initiated on Tuesday, was brokered with diplomatic assistance from US First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo. Originally confined to Oleshky—which has been occupied by Russian forces since the full-scale invasion in February 2022—the truce was later expanded throughout the wider Kherson region. Oleshky had been entirely cut off by the Dnipro river and occupying forces, leaving exit routes heavily mined and targeted by drones. Trapped residents suffered acute shortages of food, water, and electricity, forcing many to cook garden weeds just to survive.
"The evacuation brought emotional scenes of reunions between loved ones who hadn't seen each other for years."
Evacuation Report
The truce permitted Oleshky residents to evacuate voluntarily. According to Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, the oldest evacuee was 94 years old while the youngest was just one. Evacuees had to travel through Russian-occupied territory to southern Russia, board flights to Belarus, and finally be driven across Ukraine's northern border to reunite with their relatives.
Source: BBC World
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