Russia continued its deadly bombardments on Ukrainian cities, killing at least three people in the Kharkiv region overnight, local officials said on Monday.
The attacks came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prepared for the next stop on his European tour to secure further support.
The Ukrainian Emergency Services reported that three people were killed and at least 13 others wounded, including four children, in a Russian strike on the eastern city of Balakliya, a key railway hub in the Kharkiv region, according to RFE/RL.
Vitaliy Karabanov, head of the military administration in Balakliya, stated that the strike hit the city center and injured at least three children. Nine people were hospitalized, while emergency crews remained on site.
Details of the strikes could not be independently confirmed, and it is unclear which facilities were targeted. Balakliya was occupied by Russian forces immediately after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 but was later recaptured by Ukrainian forces.
Russia has intensified attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure as winter approaches, raising fears of power shortages during the cold months. Moscow has also regularly struck civilian areas in Ukraine, though it denies targeting such sites.
Meanwhile, Zelensky embarked on a trip to key European capitals to secure weapons and energy supplies for Ukraine, which continues to face relentless air and ground offensives from Russia.
In France and Spain
Zelensky is expected to arrive in Paris today to meet French President Emmanuel Macron, a strong supporter of Ukraine. Their initial meeting is scheduled at Villacoublay Air Base outside the capital.
Zelensky has indicated that “a major agreement with France” is being prepared, although it remains unclear whether any significant announcement will be made during this visit. He has requested additional long-range missiles from Western partners to strike deep within Russian territory. France has previously pledged to supply Aster missiles for Ukraine’s defense.
The Ukrainian leader will travel to Spain on November 18.
Addressing the Energy Crisis
To mitigate the energy crisis caused by Russian missile strikes, Zelensky visited Athens on Sunday, signing an agreement to import U.S.-supplied liquefied natural gas starting next month through March 2026.
The move comes as Zelensky pledged to reform Ukraine’s energy sector, which has been plagued by scandals, in an effort to address widespread corruption allegations. On November 10, Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency announced a “major operation,” raising suspicions of tens of millions of dollars in corruption in the energy sector.
Zelensky said on Sunday that executives from at least three state-owned energy companies will be dismissed and replaced promptly, with further changes underway.
It remains to be seen whether these measures will ease pressure on Zelensky and satisfy Western allies, who have demanded stronger action against endemic corruption while the country continues to resist the full-scale Russian invasion.
