Ukrainian Strikes Disrupt Power in Russian Cities; Lavrov Open to Talks with Rubio

Ukrainian strikes have disrupted power and heating in the Russian cities of Voronezh and Belgorod, according to local officials. In Voronezh, a drone attack caused temporary blackouts and heating outages, with a fire at a utility facility quickly extinguished. In Belgorod, a missile strike damaged power and heating systems, affecting approximately 20,000 households.

These incidents are part of ongoing reciprocal assaults on energy infrastructure between Russia and Ukraine, as the conflict nears its fourth year. Ukraine has targeted Russian refineries to disrupt oil revenue, while Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine's power grid, aiming to deny civilians essential utilities.

In diplomatic developments, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed readiness to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations. Lavrov emphasized that peace cannot be achieved without considering Russian interests, including Ukraine renouncing NATO aspirations and withdrawing from regions claimed by Moscow.

U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have yet to yield significant progress, with both sides continuing to escalate attacks.