Russia and Ukraine reached an agreement earlier this week in Riyadh, with the mediation of the United States, for a ceasefire on a list of energy infrastructures in Russian and Ukrainian territory. The Black Sea was also discussed, where Putin pledged not to bomb "energy infrastructures." However, just hours after the announcement, the mayor of the port of Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine reported power outages in the city early Wednesday morning, after seven drones were shot down in the region overnight.
Russia has accused Ukraine in the past week of violating the agreement reached with Trump to suspend these attacks, which have targeted several facilities in the south of the country in recent days, including the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that their air defense units destroyed nine Ukrainian drones overnight, including two over the waters of the Black Sea.
The agreement reached includes power plants, hydroelectric plants, substations, transformers, and any electricity-generating or transmitting facilities, the statement notes. Additionally, both sides are prohibited from attacking gas pipelines, gas compression stations, oil pipelines, oil depots, and refineries. Russians and Ukrainians also commit to not targeting nuclear plants, an accusation both sides have made against each other since the beginning of the war, especially concerning the Zaporizhia plant, the largest in Europe.
The new Russian attacks on Ukraine are a "clear signal" that Moscow is not seeking peace
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski denounced Russia's relentless attacks, which sent a hundred drones towards Ukrainian territory overnight, hours after agreeing to halt bombings in the Black Sea and against energy infrastructures, reports Efe.
"Launching attacks of this scale after ceasefire negotiations is a clear signal to the whole world that Moscow is not seeking real peace," Zelenski stated on social media.
Russian Journalist Killed by Mine Explosion in Belgorod
A journalist from Russian state television died in the explosion of an "enemy mine" in the Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine, announced the channel she worked for on its website on Wednesday, reports Afp.
"Anna Prokofieva, a war reporter for Pervy Kanal, died in the line of duty. It happened in the Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine, where the filming team [...] ran over an enemy mine," stated the public channel, indicating that a cameraman was also injured.
The cameraman is in "serious" condition, according to the governor of the neighboring Kursk region, where he was hospitalized, Alexander Khinshtein.
Russia Sentences 23 Ukrainians for Terrorism
Russia on Wednesday sentenced 23 Ukrainians captured on terrorism charges stemming from the fighting in Ukraine in a trial that Kiev denounced as a sham and a violation of international law, reports AP.
The accused included 14 current or former fighters from the elite Azov brigade, which Russia designated as a terrorist group, and nine women and one man who worked as cooks or support staff, according to Russian media reports and human rights activists.
Twelve of the accused were not in court: 11 had returned to Ukraine in two prisoner exchanges and were sentenced in absentia. Another died while in detention last year.
All were charged with carrying out a violent coup and organizing activities of a terrorist group. Some faced an additional charge of training to carry out terrorist activities.
Marco Rubio Seeks Turkey's Support for Peace in Ukraine
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio "sought Turkey's support for peace in Ukraine" during his first meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the State Department reported Tuesday night, according to AP.
Fidan is on a two-day trip to Washington, seeking to strengthen ties between Turkey and the United States that deteriorated progressively during Joe Biden's presidency. The visit follows a phone call between the presidents of both countries described as "transformative" by Donald Trump's Middle East special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Turkey has maintained close ties with Russia and Ukraine during the three years of war and previously offered to mediate in the talks. The country hosted unsuccessful peace talks in 2022. During the Biden administration, Ankara's continued trade with Russia prompted repeated warnings from Washington.
Albares Hopes the Ceasefire Commitment Between Ukraine and Russia Will Become Definitive
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares is hopeful that the ceasefire agreed upon Tuesday between Russia and Ukraine, still pending implementation, will be "a first step towards a definitive ceasefire," reports Efe.
Albares expressed this hope in Congress after the two countries committed to suspending attacks on each other's energy infrastructures and ensuring free navigation in the Black Sea. However, both parties have imposed several conditions for the ceasefire to be implemented.
Albares referred to this agreement in the corridors of the Chamber, where Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is appearing to explain the EU's security and defense plan, which aims to mobilize up to 800 billion euros within the framework of the geopolitical changes occurring in the world.
Russia Poses a Long-Term Threat to the US
Russia poses a "long-term" threat to the power, presence, and global interests of the United States, according to a report from the country's intelligence services that contrasts with President Donald Trump's favorable stance towards his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, reports Efe.
The annual report from the various agencies, made public on Tuesday, highlights that Russia's current geopolitical, economic, military, and internal political trends underscore the threat the country poses to the US.
US federal intelligence agencies also emphasize that despite having paid "enormous military and economic costs in its war with Ukraine," Russia has demonstrated its adaptability and resilience, partly thanks to strong support from China, Iran, and North Korea.
Russian Submarine Conducts Missile Firing Practice with 'Iskander' Missiles in the Sea of Japan
The Russian submarine 'Ufa' launched two 'Kalibr' cruise missiles in a firing practice in the Sea of Japan, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported on its Telegram channel on Wednesday. According to the military report, the two missiles hit their respective targets.
The Russian military command specified that the first 'Iskander' destroyed a surface target, while the second hit a coastal target located in the Siurkum range in the Jabarovsk region, over 1,000 kilometers from its launch.
Ukrainian Army Claims to Have Shot Down 56 of the 117 Drones Launched by Russia Overnight
Ukrainian air defense units shot down 56 of the 117 drones launched by Russia in a nighttime attack on Wednesday, according to the air force, reports Reuters.
They added that 48 drones were lost, referring to the Ukrainian army's use of electronic warfare to redirect them.
Russia Claims to Have Shot Down Several Ukrainian Drones Over the Black Sea
Russian defense units destroyed nine Ukrainian drones overnight, including two over the Black Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday, reports Reuters.
The United States separately reached agreements on Tuesday with Ukraine and Russia to pause their attacks on the Black Sea and against each other's energy targets, with Washington agreeing to push for the lifting of some sanctions against Moscow.