(KYIV, UKRAINE) – Ukrainian forces have successfully targeted a crucial thermal power plant in the Moscow Oblast, inflicting significant damage as the war intensifies. This strike coincided with growing scepticism and political backlash surrounding a 28 point “peace plan” for Ukraine, which critics, including US lawmakers and analysts, allege was drafted by Russian operatives and subsequently delivered to US political figures.
The successful drone strikes ignited fires at the Shatura thermal power plant (also spelled Chhatura) in the Moscow Oblast, located approximately kilometres east of the capital. According to reports, three transformers were set ablaze at the facility, which is described as one of Russia’s oldest energy installations. Ukraine has been expanding its long range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, marking a tactical response to the sustained Russian assaults on Ukrainian energy supplies. The strikes reportedly involved Firepoint drones, with one video purportedly showing the moment of impact and explosions at the site, which air defence systems were unable to intercept. Kyiv is currently experiencing up to hours of daily power cuts, a situation Ukraine may be attempting to mirror in Moscow as winter approaches.
The controversy surrounding the purported US peace initiative is intensifying amidst claims of Russian authorship and influence. The 28 point plan, presented by associates of Donald Trump, has been widely dismissed as an “absurd wish list” that offers Moscow territorial recognition and NATO exclusion—terms more favourable to the Russian dictator, Vladimir, than those available during the 2022 Istanbul talks.
Journalistic analysis, reportedly including examination by a large language model, suggests the document was originally conceived in Russian and merely translated into English. Evidence cited includes “Russianisms” such as unusual verb tenses and capitalisation. This directly contradicts later attempts by US officials to claim the plan was “authored by the United States with the input from both Russia and Ukraine.” The timing of the plan’s emergence is viewed sceptically, with some alleging that the Russian regime is pushing for Ukraine’s capitulation before the winter, capitalising on the country’s increasing drone and missile capability.
The proposed “peace plan” has been met with outrage and rejection from allies, including the European Union and Ukraine. International law experts assert that the plan, if enforced by the US, would violate 71 separate international legal and political obligations, including 13 binding treaties and 35 explicit legal principles.
The plan’s provisions concerning frozen Russian assets have drawn particular criticism due to the appearance of self enrichment. Point 14 suggests that of the estimated billion in frozen Russian assets held in Brussels, only billion would be used for Ukraine’s reconstruction. A staggering per cent of the profits from this reconstruction fund would then reportedly go to the United States. Furthermore, the plan demands that Europe contribute an additional billion to reconstruction, essentially unfreezing the remaining billion to be returned to the Russian regime.
A specific provision regarding European fighter jets being stationed in Poland also raised alarm. The Polish Prime Minister voiced surprise and disagreement over the clause, which was reportedly inserted without Poland’s consultation. This stipulation is seen as a Russian attempt to limit the presence of US and NATO air power on its eastern flank, making the region more vulnerable to future military aggression.
Meanwhile, Russia has continued its campaign of terror against Ukrainian civilians. An overnight assault saw Ukrainian air defence intercept 89 out of 105 Russian projectiles, but a border crossing with Romania—a NATO country—was struck, risking the lives of citizens. A children’s creativity centre in Chernihiv was destroyed, and rescue efforts in Ternopil uncovered the 33rd victim of a November 19th missile attack on a nine storey residential building. This deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure is widely viewed as an act of state terrorism.
Reports also indicate that the Russian military is committing war crimes by forcefully mobilising Ukrainian men in occupied territories like Berdiansk, compelling them to fight for the Russian dictator. It is estimated that up to 10 per cent of captured Russian prisoners of war are Ukrainian citizens who were forced into military service—a direct violation of Article 51 of the 1949 Geneva Convention.
The Russian dictator continues his war of aggression despite mounting domestic economic pressure, reportedly slashing soldier bonuses by up to three times due to a significant federal deficit and budget crises in regional governments. Concurrently, accounts of Russian soldiers executing surrendered Ukrainian defenders—captured on video—further underline the lack of accountability and the urgent need for international war crime trials, which the 28 point peace plan explicitly sought to prevent.
Within the US government, the peace plan has triggered a major political and diplomatic scandal. US lawmakers from both parties, including Republicans, have denounced the plan as beneficial to Russia and detrimental to US alliances. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly initially informed senators that the proposal was merely a Russian wish list being passed on, not US policy. However, this statement was later publicly corrected by the State Department, leading to further internal factional conflict and scrutiny over who authored and endorsed the proposal.
Analysts suggest this internal rivalry is part of a “shadow operation” by Trump associates, who are working to sideline pro Ukraine officials and privatise diplomacy in a move that critics argue mirrors the Russian dictator’s corrupt model. Facing overwhelming opposition, Mr Trump has reportedly begun to backtrack, stating that the proposed deadline and offer are not final. For Ukraine, resisting this pressure and stalling for time is seen as the only viable option, as accepting the plan and surrendering territory would risk an internal military and civil rupture.
In a minor positive development, the authoritarian leader of Belarus, an ally of the Russian dictator, pardoned 31 Ukrainians who had been imprisoned since the invasion. This move is interpreted as an attempt by the leader of Belarus to ingratiate himself with US political figures amidst the growing instability of the Russian regime.
