Nearly 45,000 residents in Southern Ukraine have been thrown into darkness as Russia reportedly launched an attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andriy Sybiga, disclosed this in a news conference on Tuesday.

“This morning, another Russian strike damaged a power facility in Kherson, leaving 45,000 residents without electricity.”

Sybiga also said Kyiv and Washington were holding fresh talks on a minerals agreement that would give the United States access to Ukrainian natural resources in return for more support.

“It is always important to strengthen the presence of American business in Ukraine, so this process is ongoing, and we will work with our American colleagues to reach a mutually acceptable text for signing,” he added.

In a sharp contrast, Moscow has also accused Kyiv of striking Russian energy sites and on Tuesday said there had been fresh attacks in the Russian region of Belgorod and the partially Moscow-controlled Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia.

This had created anxiety as the Ukrainian and Russian governments accused each other of attacks on energy infrastructure that plunged thousands of residents into darkness.

The development comes as Russia rejected a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional and full ceasefire but says it agreed to a temporary halt on Ukrainian energy sites.

The DAILY POST reports that the two countries had planned to sign a deal last month on extracting Ukraine’s strategically important minerals until a televised clash between United States of America President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky derailed the agreement.

Trump on Sunday warned Zelensky he would have “big problems” if Kyiv rejected the latest US proposal, details of which have not been published by either side.

Darkness hits 45,000 residents in Ukraine over Russian strike