Russia has initiated a second significant drone and missile attack on Ukraine within four days, officials reported on Tuesday, targeting the power grid once again amidst freezing temperatures in what seems to be a disregard for U.S.-led peace initiatives as Moscow’s invasion of its neighboring country nears its fourth year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that Russia launched approximately 300 drones, 18 ballistic missiles, and seven cruise missiles across eight regions overnight. One of the strikes in the northeastern Kharkiv region resulted in the deaths of four individuals at a mail depot, while several hundred thousand households in the Kyiv region were left without electricity. The attack in Kharkiv also left 10 people injured, according to local authorities.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that the strikes on Monday night caused the most extensive power outage the city has experienced thus far. With daytime temperatures reaching -12 degrees Celsius, over 500 residential buildings remained without central heating on Tuesday. To manage the situation, residents gathered in apartments with power or hot water to charge their devices, take warm showers, or share a hot beverage.
Klitschko issued an order for the city to provide one hot meal daily to residents in need. Additionally, he announced that employees in the city’s essential services such as water, heating, and road maintenance would receive bonuses for their tireless efforts to restore critical infrastructure.
Throughout the conflict, Russia has been accused of deliberately depriving Ukrainian civilians of heat and running water during winter to weaken public resistance to Moscow’s extensive invasion, which commenced on February 24, 2022. Ukrainian officials have characterized this strategy as “weaponizing winter.” On the other hand, Russian air defenses reported shooting down 11 Ukrainian drones overnight, as per Russia’s Defense Ministry on Tuesday.
The large-scale assault occurred shortly after Ukraine and its allies reported significant progress in peace negotiations to end the war. Nonetheless, Moscow has shown no indication publicly that it is willing to compromise on its territorial demands or Ukraine’s exclusion from European alliances. Russia also criticized the U.S. for seizing an oil tanker last week as part of the Trump administration’s aggressive push to restrict oil exports from Venezuela.
In response to the escalating conflict, Tammy Bruce, the U.S. deputy ambassador to the United Nations, expressed concern over the high number of casualties and condemned Russia’s intensified attacks on energy and other infrastructure. The UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting following the overnight Russian bombardment, which involved hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, including the powerful hypersonic Oreshnik missile used by Moscow for the second time.
Bruce reminded Russia of its vote in favor of a Security Council resolution calling for an end to the conflict nearly a year ago, urging Russia to align its actions with its previous commitments. In contrast, Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia asserted that military means would persist until Ukrainian President Zelenskyy agrees to negotiations on realistic terms, warning of worsening conditions if negotiations are delayed further.
Recent reports from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine revealed that last year marked the deadliest period for civilians in Ukraine since 2022, with 2,514 civilian deaths representing a 31% increase from the previous year. Additionally, over 12,000 individuals were reported injured as Russia intensified its aerial attacks beyond the front line. The UN agency’s head, Danielle Bell, highlighted the significant impact of the war on civilians due to increased long-range assaults and targeting of Ukraine’s national energy infrastructure.
Amid these developments, a coalition of Ukraine’s allies, including Britain and France, has been formulating post-war plans, with commitments to deploy troops in Ukraine if a ceasefire is achieved. However, specific security assurances from the U.S. are being sought by the coalition. Leaders from Britain, Italy, Germany, France, and Canada, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, are set to discuss this matter with Trump and Zelenskyy at the upcoming World Economic Forum meeting in Switzerland, as reported by the Financial Times, citing anonymous sources familiar with the plans.
