Russia's war against Ukraine: people in Odessa are without electricity, Moscow and Kyiv exchange prisoners of war

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Odessa in early January

Photo: IMAGO/Multipedia / IMAGO/Cavan Images

For months, Russia has been shelling the Ukrainian energy infrastructure in its war of aggression – now the people in the port city of Odessa have to go about their everyday lives without electricity at temperatures around freezing.

The reason is apparently a major accident in a substation, which led to a power failure on Saturday morning.

"At one of the high-voltage substations that supply the city of Odessa with electricity, a transformer which was being repaired after being damaged by Russian attacks broke down this morning," energy company Ukrenerho said on Telegram.

"The situation is complex," said Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal, also on Telegram.

"The extent of the accident is significant, it is impossible to restore the power supply quickly." Ukrenerho also said so.

According to Ukrenerho, the situation in the surrounding area is better.

In most districts, the power supply is secured, it said.

The Odessa region is one of the areas hardest hit by Russian missile attacks.

In addition to the port, there are numerous important industrial enterprises in Odessa.

Ukraine and Russia exchange nearly 200 prisoners of war

Meanwhile, Kyiv and Moscow have again exchanged prisoners of war - this time there were around 200. The bodies of two volunteer helpers from Great Britain were also handed over to Ukraine, said the chief of staff of the presidential office in Kyiv, Andriy Yermak, on Telegram on Saturday.

According to him, 116 Ukrainian prisoners returned.

The Ministry of Defense in Moscow put the number of released Russian soldiers at 63.

"We managed to bring back 116 of our people," wrote Yermak.

"Defenders of Mariupol, partisans from Kherson, snipers from the Bakhmut front and other heroes."

The released Russian prisoners included soldiers of the "sensitive category," Russian news agencies reported, citing the Defense Ministry in Moscow.

It was unclear whether these were high-ranking officers, mercenaries or spies.

The exchange of men was made possible through the mediation of the United Arab Emirates, it said.

At the beginning of January, both sides had already announced an exchange.

At that time, 50 prisoners from each of the warring parties were released.

The issue of prisoner exchanges is the only area where Moscow and Kyiv are still negotiating.

All other talks about a peaceful solution to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine ordered by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin almost a year ago have been frozen.

Portugal wants to supply Leopard tanks to Ukraine

On Friday, Putin threatened Germany and Ukraine's allies over the announced supply of tanks - but that hasn't stopped the West from supporting the country under attack.

According to Prime Minister António Costa, Portugal now also wants to deliver Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

"We are currently working on being able to hand over some of our tanks," he told the Lusa news agency.

"I don't know how many tanks will be sent (to Ukraine), but that will be announced in due course."

Portugal is in talks with Germany to get parts from the Portuguese inventory to repair some unserviceable tanks, it said.

DER SPIEGEL had previously reported that European partners had not yet made any concrete delivery commitments for the more modern Leopard 2 A6 models.

kko/dpa/Reuters/AFP