News|Russia-Ukraine warRussia renews attacks on frozen Ukrainian citiesHundreds of drones and missiles struck Kyiv and Kharkiv overnight, leaving thousands of homes without heat.
Russian military forces targeted energy infrastructure in Kyiv and Kharkiv, Ukraine, following the conclusion of a temporary truce during winter conditions, as reported by Ukrainian officials.
Russian military forces targeted energy infrastructure in Kyiv and Kharkiv, Ukraine, following the conclusion of a temporary truce during winter conditions, as reported by Ukrainian officials.
According to Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, Russia launched an attack using 450 drones and over 60 missiles overnight. He stated that Moscow waited for a temperature drop to resume targeting energy facilities under extreme subzero conditions.
U.S. President Donald Trump previously announced that Russia agreed to pause attacks on Ukrainian cities during freezing weather conditions. However, Moscow has consistently targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure during winter since its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Officials reported that two individuals were injured in Kyiv and two others in Kharkiv during the recent attacks. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko indicated that 1,170 residential buildings were left without heating as temperatures fell to -17 degrees Celsius (1.4 degrees Fahrenheit).
Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, confirmed the recent strikes impacted five city districts, damaging three apartment blocks and a building housing a kindergarten. Visual evidence showed the upper floors of an apartment building engulfed in flames. Unconfirmed reports suggest two thermal power plants in Kyiv were also struck.
According to Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, Russia launched an attack using 450 drones and over 60 missiles overnight.
Recent Russian attacks on energy facilities have disrupted heating and power for numerous residential blocks in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov stated that the attacks aimed to "cause maximum destruction" and left the city without heat amid severe frost conditions. Consequently, officials were forced to cut heating to 820 buildings to prevent the network from freezing.
The attacks also resulted in power outages in the towns of Izyum and Balakliya in the Kharkiv region, and damage to two apartment buildings in Sumy. Ivan Fedorov, military administrator in Zaporizhzhia, reported a fatality involving a 38-year-old woman in a drone attack in a suburb.
President Trump announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to halt attacks on Kyiv and other towns during the cold winter weather. Moscow confirmed the agreement but noted the truce would only last until Sunday, without linking it to the low temperatures.
Although Kyiv initially welcomed the truce, it reported that Moscow continued its assaults despite the supposed week-long pause from January 30.
The attacks occurred as officials from Russia and Ukraine prepared for a new round of U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi. Sybiha commented on social media that neither the planned diplomatic efforts in Abu Dhabi nor promises made to the U.S. deterred Putin from continuing aggressive actions during the harsh winter.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remarked that Russia is prioritizing attacks over peace negotiations. He indicated that exploiting the coldest winter days to instill fear in the population is more significant to Russia than engaging in diplomatic discussions. Zelenskyy had previously suggested that recent de-escalation with Russia was fostering trust in ongoing negotiations.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.