Russia Strikes Ukrainian Power Grid as Three-Way Talks Begin in Abu Dhabi

Russian forces struck 10 Ukrainian regions overnight, targeting five major electrical substations, causing widespread power outages and killing two people, officials said Tuesday. The attacks came as Russian, Ukrainian and US negotiators began two days of talks in Abu Dhabi. Ukrainian Prime Minister Sergiy Koretskyi said Russia hit substations in the Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Vinnytsia and Kirovohrad regions, with the two fatalities occurring in Vinnytsia. State grid operator Ukrenergo reported energy infrastructure strikes in eight regions, leaving homes without power in six, including Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk, as Ukraine struggles to intercept attacks amid a shortage of weapons. The Abu Dhabi talks mark the first three-way meeting since February, with US envoy Jared Kushner saying recent contacts had "narrowed the gaps." However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia would not agree to an immediate ceasefire without knowing what would happen next.