The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) acknowledged reports linking a transformer fire to military activity but clarified it had not independently confirmed the incident. This follows rising concerns over escalating attacks affecting energy infrastructure in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

In another related event, a fire broke out at the port of Ust-Luga in Russia’s Leningrad region, a major fuel export hub. Local officials attributed the blaze to debris from Ukrainian drones that were reportedly intercepted in the area. Newsweek reported that ten drones were shot down before reaching their targets.

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that its air defense systems intercepted 95 Ukrainian drones overnight across several regions. Simultaneously, Ukraine reported that Russia launched 72 drones and one cruise missile, with Ukraine claiming to have jammed or intercepted 48 of the drones during the assault.

These attacks occurred amid U.S. political developments, with former President Donald Trump seeking to broker a peace deal between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump recently held separate meetings with both leaders—Zelensky in Alaska and Putin at the White House.

One of the key issues in these peace talks is the matter of security guarantees for Ukraine. Discussions include the possibility of Ukraine joining the European Union as an alternative to NATO membership, a compromise that might ease Russian concerns while still supporting Ukraine’s Western integration.

European leaders have encouraged Trump to involve Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, urging him to back Ukraine’s EU membership. However, Orbán rejected the idea that EU membership would provide real security for Ukraine, calling the approach “unnecessary and dangerous.” Though there is talk of a potential summit in Budapest between Zelensky and Putin, both sides remain skeptical as intense fighting continues on the battlefield.