Russia launched a second significant drone and missile attack on Ukraine within four days, officials reported on Tuesday. The attack targeted the power grid amid cold weather, seemingly disregarding U.S.-led peace efforts as the invasion of Ukraine by Moscow nears its four-year anniversary.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Russia unleashed nearly 300 drones, 18 ballistic missiles, and seven cruise missiles across eight regions overnight. One strike in the northeast Kharkiv region resulted in the deaths of four people at a mail depot, with several hundred thousand households in the Kyiv region left without power. The attack in Kharkiv also left 10 people injured, as per local authorities.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko noted that the recent strikes caused the most extensive electrical outage the city has experienced so far. With temperatures as low as -12 C during the day, over 500 residential buildings remained without central heating. To help cope with the situation, individuals gathered in apartments with power or hot water to charge their phones, take hot showers, or share warm beverages.
Klitschko issued an order for the city to provide one hot meal daily to residents in need. He also announced bonuses for workers in water, heating, and road maintenance services who have been working tirelessly to restore critical infrastructure.
Since the start of the war on February 24, 2022, Russia has been accused of deliberately depriving Ukrainian civilians of heat and running water during winter to weaken public resistance to its full-scale invasion. Ukrainian officials have labeled this tactic as “weaponizing winter.”
In a separate development, Russian air defenses reportedly downed 11 Ukrainian drones overnight, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry on Tuesday.
The intensified attack occurred following reports of progress towards a peace deal between Ukraine and its allies, although Moscow has shown no willingness to compromise on territorial demands or Ukraine’s exclusion from European alliances. Russia also criticized the U.S. for seizing an oil tanker, part of the former Trump administration’s efforts to pressure oil exports from Venezuela.
Amid accusations from the U.S. of a “dangerous and inexplicable escalation” in fighting, Tammy Bruce, the U.S. deputy ambassador to the United Nations, expressed concern over the rising casualties in the conflict and condemned Russia’s escalating attacks on energy and infrastructure.
An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council was held after a recent Russian bombardment involving drones and missiles, including the new hypersonic Oreshnik missile, used for only 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 match words with actions.
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia stated that military means will be employed until Ukrainian President Zelenskyy agrees to realistic negotiation conditions. Nebenzia warned that with each passing day, conditions for negotiations will only become more unfavorable for Zelenskyy.
Last year saw the highest civilian casualties in Ukraine since 2022, with a reported 31% increase in deaths compared to 2024. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported 2,514 civilian deaths and over 12,000 injuries, highlighting the broader impact of the war on civilians beyond the front line.
As a coalition plans for a post-war scenario, allies of Ukraine, including Britain and France, have committed to deploying troops if a ceasefire is established. Discussions are underway for specific U.S. security assurances in such a scenario, with leaders from several countries set to address the matter with Trump and Zelenskyy at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland next week, as reported by the Financial Times, citing anonymous officials.