Zaporizhzhia Ceasefire: Ukraine and Russia reach pact to avert nuclear risk

WISE NEWS PRESS / KYIV, UKRAINE — DEC. 29, 2025

In a rare diplomatic breakthrough amid ongoing hostilities, Ukraine and Russia have reached a temporary ceasefire agreement concerning the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). The pact, brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is designed to allow critical repairs to the facility’s power infrastructure and prevent a potential nuclear catastrophe.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi confirmed on Sunday that technicians have begun repairing damaged external power lines that are essential for cooling the plant's reactors. Grossi thanked both sides for their cooperation, emphasizing that maintaining the integrity of Europe’s largest nuclear plant remains a global priority.

Nighttime Assaults: Casualties in Donetsk and Kherson

Despite the localized ceasefire at the nuclear site, the rest of the country faced a barrage of attacks. Overnight, Russia launched 48 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) across various Ukrainian regions. In the city of Sloviansk, located in the Donetsk region, a 51-year-old man was killed in his garden by a drone strike. Local authorities in Kherson also reported at least five civilians injured following heavy shelling.

Further north in the Sumy region, an infrastructure facility was targeted twice. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported that rescuers were already on-site during the second strike; fortunately, no injuries were recorded among the first responders. In the southern port city of Odesa, dozens of firefighters battled blazes in residential areas sparked by intercepted drone debris.

Retaliation and High-Stakes Diplomacy

The Ukrainian military responded to the overnight waves by targeting Russian energy infrastructure. Reports indicate that Ukrainian drones successfully struck the Syzran Oil Refinery in Russia's Samara region and hit several Russian military assets in occupied territories. Meanwhile, the Kremlin released footage of its artillery units targeting Ukrainian positions in undisclosed locations within the Donetsk sector.

This escalation on the ground coincides with a pivotal diplomatic mission. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Miami, Florida, to present a comprehensive peace proposal to US President Donald Trump. As the conflict approaches its fourth year, Zelenskyy expressed optimism that "many decisions can be reached before the New Year," highlighting the urgency of the upcoming Mar-a-Lago summit.

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