MOSCOW - Russia has taken control of the settlement of Prylipka in eastern Ukraine's Kharkiv region and Andriivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region within the last 24 hours, according to the country's defense ministry.
The ministry said Russian forces also launched a large-scale strike against Ukrainian military-industrial sites and energy infrastructure in retaliation for Ukraine's attacks on civilian facilities inside Russia.
"The objectives of the strike have been fully achieved. All designated targets have been neutralized," the ministry said.
ALSO READ: EU renews Russia sanctions as it pushes to shape US-led peace deal
On Tuesday, one person was killed and three others injured in Ukrainian drone strikes in Russia's Belgorod region, Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
"As a result of another terrorist attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one person was killed and three were wounded," Gladkov said via his Telegram channel.
According to local authorities, the strikes hit targets including a vehicle in a village, the entrance of a commercial premise, and a private residence.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's Khmelnytsky and Rivne nuclear power plants reduced power output on Tuesday morning after extensive military activities affected energy infrastructure critical to nuclear safety and security, according to a statement by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said several electrical substations were damaged.
READ MORE: Ukraine says latest peace talks with US, Europe ‘productive’
"Once again, substations were affected by military activities, impacting nuclear safety and security. The electrical grid has become increasingly degraded and unstable during the conflict, posing a serious threat to the safety of nuclear power plants," Grossi said.
Electrical substations transform and regulate voltage levels to ensure reliable power transmission. For nuclear power plants, they are essential for maintaining secure off-site power supplies that support safety systems and reactor cooling functions.
Earlier this month, the IAEA assessed the condition of more than 10 substations vital to nuclear safety and security in Ukraine. The mission concluded that the grid is now in its worst condition since the agency began monitoring substations in September 2024.
