Russia launched its largest combined drone-and-missile attack of the year overnight, hitting Kyiv and Kharkiv energy infrastructure and leaving hundreds of thousands without heating amid subzero temperatures. The assault damaged the base of Kyiv's Motherland monument and wounded five people. The strikes occurred a day before a second round of US-backed talks in Abu Dhabi, even as Kyiv says a recent pause helped build some trust for negotiations.
Russia Launches Massive Drone-and-Missile Strike on Kyiv, Cutting Heating for Hundreds of Thousands Ahead of Abu Dhabi Talks
Russian strikes this month have repeatedly cut power and heating to tens of thousands of homes in the capital (Serhii Okunev)(Serhii Okunev/AFP/AFP)
Russia carried out its largest combined drone-and-missile assault on Ukraine so far this year overnight, leaving hundreds of thousands without heating as temperatures plunged. The strikes — which hit energy infrastructure and residential high-rises — came a day before a new round of negotiations in Abu Dhabi aimed at finding a way to end the four-year war.
Attack Details
Ukrainian officials said Moscow used a mix of ballistic and cruise missiles and roughly 450 attack drones in the assault. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched 71 missiles and about 450 drones; defenders said they intercepted or destroyed 38 missiles and 412 drones. Five people were reported wounded in Kyiv and thousands of households lost electricity.
Damage and Civilian Impact
The strikes damaged the base of Kyiv's towering Soviet-era Motherland monument, drawing strong condemnation from Ukrainian officials. Energy infrastructure in Kyiv and Kharkiv was targeted, temporarily cutting heating for hundreds of thousands of residents. Kyiv experienced overnight lows near −19°C, while Kharkiv fell as low as −23°C.
Ukrainian response: Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said "hundreds of thousands of families, including children, were deliberately left without heat in the harshest winter frosts." Culture Minister Tetyana Berezhna described the damage to the memorial as "symbolic and cynical."
In Kharkiv, authorities said prolonged strikes forced them to switch off heating to more than 800 homes to protect the wider network and urged residents to use round-the-clock warming centres. Local officials said roughly 100,000 subscribers there were temporarily cut off from heating.
Diplomatic Context
The attack came one day before Ukrainian and Russian delegations were due to meet in Abu Dhabi for a second round of US-backed talks. Washington had reportedly secured a seven-day pause in strikes on Kyiv last week; that pause ended on Sunday.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said recent de-escalation had helped build trust for negotiations but stressed that striking populated infrastructure during severe cold undermines diplomacy. The upcoming talks are expected to focus on territorial issues, with Moscow insisting on full control of parts of eastern Ukraine — a demand Kyiv rejects.
Wider Military Picture
An AFP analysis cited by Ukrainian and international researchers shows Moscow's forces accelerated advances in January, seizing an estimated 481 square kilometres compared with 244 square kilometres in December 2025, based on data from the Institute for the Study of War and the Critical Threats Project.
The full humanitarian and infrastructural toll from the overnight strikes remained under assessment as emergency crews worked to restore power and heating and as officials prepared for the planned talks in Abu Dhabi.
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