Zelenskyy says Ukraine has no undamaged thermal plants left after strikes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that Russian military strikes have destroyed nearly all of the country's thermal power infrastructure, leaving the war-torn nation facing catastrophic energy shortages ahead of winter.

Infrastructure devastated

Zelenskyy made the disclosure during a joint briefing with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, where the two leaders signed a memorandum of understanding on animal health and food safety. "We also talked about the challenges of this winter for Ukraine, when we practically do not have a single whole thermal power plant left because of Russian strikes," Zelenskyy said, noting that Moscow's attacks have also damaged train stations, hospitals, universities and civilian businesses.

Humanitarian cooperation

The Ukrainian leader thanked Serbia for its support and announced that Belgrade would provide a new package of humanitarian assistance targeting the medical and energy sectors. The two presidents discussed accelerating negotiations on a free trade agreement that Zelenskyy said should be finalized by year-end, covering infrastructure, food security and reconstruction projects.

Diplomatic push

On diplomatic efforts to end the war, Zelenskyy stressed that Kyiv seeks "a decent peace" with guaranteed security. "We want to use all available opportunities in Washington and Beijing, in the capitals of Europe, our partners in the Middle East and the Gulf, and in all capitals of the world that have influence on these processes," he said. The leaders discussed bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors during Zelenskyy's visit to the Serbian capital.