Lithuanian and Latvian leaders visited Kyiv on November 24 to express support for the battle against the Russian invasion, while Ukraine faced disruptions to its electricity supply due to Russian strikes and bad weather. Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte paid respects to men and women who sacrificed their lives defending the most fundamental rights of a nation: to exist and to live in freedom.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with Latvian counterpart Edgars Rinkevics, discussing Kyiv’s defensive needs and the potential for Ukraine joining Latvia as a member of the EU. Zelenskiy said that Kyiv needed „three major victories” that would stimulate it to fight the Russian Federation. The first victory will be the decision of the U.S. Congress to provide assistance to Ukraine, the second will be the support of the European Union, particularly Ukraine should receive an aid package worth 50 billion euros ($55 billion), and the third victory is the opening of a dialogue on Ukraine’s future membership in the EU.

Russian shelling and drone strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure continued on November 24, with Russia using three Iranian-made drones and two Kh-59 guided missiles in the attack. Ukraine’s Energy Ministry reported that Russian attacks and increasingly bad weather left 635 settlements without electricity across Ukraine, while strong winds left 158 settlements without electricity in the Lviv, Volhynia, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. The state-owned Ukrenerho power grid operator activated emergency assistance from neighbouring Romania to make up for the shortages.

Steady access to electricity is vital for a nation in a defensive war, ensuring continuous communication, operational capabilities, and societal functions. Uninterrupted power sustains Ukraine’s defense infrastructure, enhances strategic planning, and boosts resilience in the face of Russia’s invasion.