*Update*: Zelenskyy sees Russia in retreat — drone hits Zaporizhzhia again

Ukrainian drones have again struck Russian energy targets – and Kyiv explicitly denies attacking the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Nevertheless, n-tv.de reports that a drone impact on the power plant grounds has prompted radiation experts to monitor measurement values around the facility. The situation remains tense after the IAEA had already confirmed damage to the turbine building the previous day.

In parallel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported a strategic turning point: Russia is losing the initiative on the battlefield, which according to his words opens the way to a diplomatic solution. Deutschlandfunk reports that Zelenskyy has observed a changed dynamic at the front since the end of December and is now pushing for progress in peace talks before winter – an unusually concrete timeframe from Kyiv.

New conflict zones in space

On a technological level, Ukraine is meanwhile demonstrating how it conducts the war from a distance. Die Welt reports on an escalation in space: Russian satellites are deliberately maneuvering close to Western reconnaissance satellites that monitor Ukrainian troop movements – a new conflict zone beyond the front line. At the same time, Ukrainian drones have destroyed two rare Russian special aircraft far behind the front, significantly weakening Russia's reconnaissance capabilities and its ability to coordinate with possible NATO scenarios.

Romania reports another incident: State leader Dan confirmed, according to Tagesspiegel, that a drone that crashed in the Romanian border area came from Russia according to expert assessment – an impact on NATO territory that puts the alliance under pressure once again.

The combination of Zelenskyy's peace signal, continued drone attacks on Russian infrastructure, and the incident in Romania paints a contradictory picture: Kyiv negotiates rhetorically but continues to fight with all available means.