Russia has initiated a second significant drone and missile attack on Ukraine within four days, officials disclosed on Tuesday. The assault targeted the power grid, amid freezing temperatures, in what appears to be a rejection of U.S.-led peace initiatives as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nears its fourth anniversary.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared on social media that Russia launched nearly 300 drones, 18 ballistic missiles, and seven cruise missiles at eight regions overnight. One of the strikes in the northeastern Kharkiv region resulted in the deaths of four individuals at a mail depot, with several hundred thousand households losing power in the Kyiv region. Additionally, the Kharkiv attack caused injuries to 10 people, as reported by local authorities.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko noted that Monday night’s strikes led to the most extensive power outage the city has experienced thus far. With temperatures reaching -12 degrees Celsius during the day, over 500 residential buildings remained without central heating on Tuesday. To manage the situation, residents congregated in apartments with power or hot water, utilizing the available resources for charging devices, taking hot showers, or sharing warm beverages.
Klitschko issued a directive for the city to provide one hot meal daily to residents in need. He also announced that employees in the city’s essential services, such as water, heating, and road maintenance, would receive bonuses for their round-the-clock efforts to restore critical infrastructure.
Throughout the conflict, Russia has attempted to deprive Ukrainian civilians of heat and running water during winter, aiming to diminish public resistance to Moscow’s full-scale invasion that commenced on February 24, 2022. Ukrainian officials have characterized this strategy as “weaponizing winter.”
In a separate development, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that Russian air defenses downed 11 Ukrainian drones overnight.
The intensified attack occurred shortly after Ukraine and its allies reported progress towards a peace agreement to end the war. However, Moscow has not displayed any willingness to compromise on its maximalist demands concerning territory and Ukraine’s exclusion from European alliances. Russia also criticized the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker last week, as part of the Trump administration’s forceful campaign to restrict oil exports from Venezuela.
The U.S. accused Russia of a “dangerous and inexplicable escalation” in combat as it sought to advance peace negotiations. Tammy Bruce, the U.S. deputy ambassador to the United Nations, expressed concern over the high number of casualties in the conflict and condemned Russia’s escalating attacks on energy and other infrastructure.
An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council was convened after an overnight Russian bombardment last Thursday involving numerous drones and missiles, including the new hypersonic Oreshnik missile, used by Moscow for only the second time. Bruce reminded Russia of its vote in favor of a Security Council resolution a year ago, calling for an end to the conflict, urging Russia to align its actions with its commitments.
In response, Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia stated that military means would persist until Zelenskyy accepted realistic negotiation conditions. Nebenzia warned that delays in negotiations would only worsen the conditions for Ukraine.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported that civilian deaths surged in 2025, making it the deadliest year since 2022. The conflict claimed the lives of 2,514 civilians, a 31% increase from 2024, with over 12,000 individuals sustaining injuries. The mission highlighted the heightened impact on civilians due to increased long-range attacks and the targeting of Ukraine’s national energy infrastructure.
Countries allied with Ukraine are preparing for a post-war scenario, with commitments from Britain and France to deploy troops if a ceasefire is established. Notably, the coalition seeks specific security assurances from the U.S. in such a scenario. Discussions on this matter are expected to take place between the leaders of Britain, Italy, Germany, France, Canada, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with Trump and Zelenskyy at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland next week, as reported by the Financial Times, citing anonymous sources.