Polina Litvinova

Last night, Russian forces attacked six Ukrainian regions targeting both civilian and energy infrastructures.

President Zelensky wrote on social media that Russia is deliberately delaying the peace process and the world should respond with, quote, more aid to Ukraine and more pressure on the aggressor.

The energy situation in the country remains difficult as the weather is extremely cold.

In Ukraine's capital, some apartment buildings are without heat, while hundreds of people are facing power outages for up to 24 hours.

Last night, Russian forces attacked six Ukrainian regions targeting both civilian and energy infrastructures.

President Zelensky wrote on social media that Russia is deliberately delaying the peace process and the world should respond with, quote, more aid to Ukraine and more pressure on the aggressor.

The energy situation in the country remains difficult as the weather is extremely cold.

In Ukraine's capital, some apartment buildings are without heat, while hundreds of people are facing power outages for up to 24 hours.

Polina Litvinova, NPR News, Kyiv.

President Zelenskyy says Ukraine and the US haven't reached a consensus on the issue of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.

Russia lost tens of thousands soldiers trying to take the region but didn't manage to fully occupy it.

And now Ukraine is being asked to withdraw its troops from the region as part of a peace deal.

Ukrainian soldier Maksim Mandrykovsky says retreating will only help Russia to advance in future.

We have a serious defense line there that has been fortified for many years, he says.

Many Ukrainians agree the recent survey shows over 70% are ready to freeze the war along the current front line, but not to give up lands that Russia does not control.

Polina Litvinova, NPR News, Kyiv.

Ukraine's Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustam Umerov announced that he has had consultations with Turkey and the United Arab Emirates on the resumption of the POW's exchanges between Ukraine and Russia.

In his post on social media, Umerov wrote, this would help to activate the agreements the two countries made during the direct talks in Istanbul.

Ukraine hopes to return home more than 1,000 people before Christmas.

The last prisoner exchange was in October.