Russia claims launch of large-scale airstrikes, Ukraine reports nationwide blackouts

Russia said on Saturday that its armed forces had destroyed multiple Ukrainian military-industrial enterprises, while Ukraine, on the same day, reported nationwide power outages due to Russia's airstrikes.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said in its latest report that between late Friday and early Saturday, the Russian forces attacked several Ukrainian military-industrial enterprises and energy systems related to their operations, using land-based and sea-based high-precision weapons, Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and long-range unmanned aerial vehicles.

It said the center group of forces is continuing to clear Ukrainian troops trapped in the eastern and western districts of the city of Dimitrov (known as Myrnohrad in Ukraine).

On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media that from Friday night to Saturday morning, Russia launched a new round of air attack on Ukraine, using over 450 drones and 30 missiles, primarily targeting energy infrastructure, which caused widespread blackouts across Ukraine.

Due to the extensive military activity affecting the power grid, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine briefly lost all off-site power overnight, marking the 12th complete loss of off-site power at the plant since the conflict began.

Both power lines supplying off-site electricity have been restored, according to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. He said on Saturday that it is essential to keep restraint in military activities to prevent a nuclear accident.

Also on Saturday, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi, said the situation on the Pokrovsk (known as Krasnoarmeysk in Russia) front remains complex and intense. Russian forces continue to increase pressure on Ukrainian defense positions and are deploying additional reserves, including elite airborne units, to the area.

He added that Ukrainian forces are holding their core defense positions in the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad urban cluster.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is preparing for meetings with its allies of the United States and Europe in the coming days. Zelenskyy said on Saturday that he will travel to Berlin, capital of Germany, to meet with U.S. and European representatives to discuss "the foundations for peace."

He described these consultations as "decisive" for Ukraine, with the core objective being to secure a "dignified and just peace."

Germany had announced earlier on Saturday that it would host U.S. and Ukrainian delegations on Sunday for talks regarding a potential ceasefire and other matters and is preparing for a summit in Berlin on Monday involving leaders from several European countries and President Zelenskyy.

It is reported that U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner have already departed for Germany.

Russia claims launch of large-scale airstrikes, Ukraine reports nationwide blackouts

Russia claims launch of large-scale airstrikes, Ukraine reports nationwide blackouts

A China Media Group (CMG) reporter helped evacuate Chinese nationals stranded at Dubai International Airport before it was damaged in an ''incident" early on Sunday morning.

The reporter, who went to the airport by car to investigate flight delays, met several stranded Chinese nationals at the airport who had been unable to leave on their scheduled flights as the Middle East conflict forced airlines to stall operations.

The Chinese passengers said after they arrived a little before 19:00, the check-in counter was closed, raising their concern that the airport might be taken over by the military.

"I was thinking of finding some chairs for the kids to sleep on before going back to ask what was going on. At first, the airport staff offered to help, but then some people who looked like soldiers came and told us to leave," said a Chinese passenger.

Footage from the reporter showed that the area outside the airport was almost deserted, with very few vehicles. Public transportation had been suspended early, and only police cars were parked on both sides of the road, with emergency staff signaling all civilian vehicles to leave immediately.

Dubai Airports confirmed that a concourse at Dubai International Airport later sustained minor damage in what it referred to as an “incident”. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed and were managing the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities. Aviation sources told Reuters news agency that one of the terminals had been damaged during an overnight Iranian attack.

The Dubai Media Office said that four staff members sustained injuries and received prompt medical attention.

CMG reporter helps evacuate Chinese nationals from Dubai airport