Joanna Kicis

Russia's longtime foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, brought it up yesterday in an interview with Interfax, Russia's state-owned news agency.

And he claimed without evidence that Ukraine had launched 91 drones at a Putin residence in Novgorod in the northwest.

and that Russia's air defense had shot down these drones.

Now, we should say Lavrov is not trusted by Western leaders, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky immediately denied Lavrov's charge and said Russia was inventing this incident to undermine peace talks and expand attacks on Ukraine.

Ukraine's state-owned electricity generating company, Centronego, said that the Russian attacks had reduced capacity to, quote, zero at thermal power plants.

Foreign Minister Andriy Sibycha said that Russian drones also targeted two nuclear power substations deep in western Ukraine.

Every fall, Russia steps up attacks on Ukraine's power and heating grid.

to force a harsh winter on Ukrainian cities.

Many Ukrainians have adapted by using backup energy storage devices and generators in their homes and businesses.

This year, Ukraine has attacked Russian oil depots and refineries to weaken what it calls Russia's war machine.

Joanna Kikissis, NPR News, Kyiv.