Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky with Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Athens, November 16, 2025

Sunday’s Coverage: Amid Corruption Scandal, Zelensky Announces Reforms of Energy Sector

UPDATE 1647 GMT:

Poland’s Security Services Minister Tomasz Siemoniak has said of Sunday’s explosion on the railway from Warsaw to Lublin, “We are dealing with the services of a foreign state, and not a gang of scrap metal thieves.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen commented:

UPDATE 1153 GMT:

Poland’s Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński says of the explosion on the railway from Warsaw to Lublin (see 0813 GMT), “There is no doubt that we are dealing with an act of sabotage.”

After visiting the site, Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke of the “unprecedented act of sabotage aimed at the security of the Polish state and its citizens”: “An investigation is under way. Just like in previous cases of this kind, we will catch the perpetrators, regardless of who their backers are.”

Tusk said the explosion “most likely intended to blow up a train on the Warsaw-Dęblin route”, nothing that a similar incident was reported farther east “on the same railway line”.

UPDATE 1138 GMT:

Russia’s largest silicon plant, Kremniy, will halt production on January 1 because of collapsing demand and rising competition from cheaper imports.

Russian mining giant Rusal confirmed the closure: “Due to global silicon overproduction and the growth of silicon imports at dumping prices to Russia, the Kremniy plant is forced to suspend production.”

Located in the Irkutsk region in east-central Ukraine, Kremniy has a yearly capacity of 34,000 metric tons.

Rusal’s second facility, Kremniy Ural, will continue operating but at a reduced rate. It has a capacity of 27,000 metric tons.

Rusal previously announced it would cut silicon production by 35% in 2025, to 35,000 metric tons, because of growing pressure from Chinese producers.

UPDATE 1127 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron have signed a declaration of intent on cooperation in the defense sector.

The declaration for acquisition of defense equipment, signed during Zelensky’s trip to Paris, is accompanied by Kyiv’s “historic order” for 100 Rafale advanced fighter jets.

The 10-year defense agreement provides for future contracts for the Rafales and associated weapons and for a new generation of SAMP/T air defenses, drones, and radar systems.

UPDATE 0813 GMT:

A busy railway between Warsaw and Lublin in Poland was sabotaged by an explosive device on Sunday.

More damage was found elsewhere on the same line, which is used for aid deliveries to Ukraine.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted this morning:

UPDATE 0709 GMT:

Russia’s economic growth was close to zero in the third quarter of 2025, according to State statistics agency Rosstat.

“Gross Domestic Product in the third quarter of 2025 amounted to 100.6%, relative to the same period of 2024, according to preliminary estimates,” said the agency.

The 0.6% was a notable drop from 1.1% growth in the second quarter.

UPDATE 0630 GMT:

The leader of a far-right Russian paramilitary unit has posted photos of three executed Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Alexei Milchakov, the commander of the Rusich Sabotage Assault Reconnaissance Group leader, offered cash prizes to the first three people who submit a photo with “clearly executed prisoners in the background”.

The Prosecutor’s Office in the partly-occupied Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine announced on Sunday that it has opened an investigation into the execution of the three POWs on Friday.

The killings came amid a Russian offensive trying to seize the town of Hulyaipole.

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency HUR said in May that it has documented more than 150 cases of Ukrainian soldiers being summarily executed after surrendering to Russian forces.

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine confirmed the exeuctions in March.

UPDATE 0623 GMT:

Three civilians have been murdered by two Russian missiles on the Kharkiv region in northeast Ukraine.

The Russians struck the center of the town of Balakliia, near apartment buildings, around 3 a.m.

Thirteen people were injured, including juveniles born in 2007, 2010, and 2011.

Additional casualties are feared as emergency responders work at the site.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Facing Russia’s intense attacks on its energy infrastructure, Ukraine has reached a deal with Greece for the supply of US liquified natural gas.

Visiting Athens on Sunday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the supply for the first quarter of 2026. He said at a joint press conference alongside Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, “Our agreements with Greece today are a key part of the broader energy package we’ve been preparing to ensure Ukraine has sufficient gas this winter.”

The import route connects the Greek port of Alexandroupolis to Odesa in southern Ukraine through Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova.

The agreement includes long-term arrangements to strengthen Ukraine’s energy security.

Zelensky posted: