Russia strikes energy installations in Ukraine as freezing temperatures grip major cities

Russia has resumed large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving thousands of residents without heating and electricity during some of the coldest days of winter, Ukrainian officials were reported to have said on Tuesday. The strikes come after a brief pause in attacks on energy facilities and just ahead of renewed peace talks involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.

Overnight missile and drone attacks hit key energy installations in Kyiv, cutting heating to more than 1,100 residential buildings. The head of Kyiv’s military administration said the city was targeted during extreme cold, while emergency services confirmed that at least three people were injured. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that 1,170 apartment blocks were affected as temperatures in the capital dropped to minus 17 degrees Celsius.

Eastern Ukraine also came under heavy fire. In Kharkiv, regional officials reported that Russian shelling injured two people and damaged energy infrastructure, apparently aimed at crippling heating systems during severe frost. Authorities were forced to shut down heating in over 800 homes to protect the wider network from freezing. Residents were advised to seek shelter at designated “invincibility points”, which provide warmth, power, and essential supplies. Overnight temperatures in Kharkiv reportedly fell as low as minus 23 degrees Celsius.

The renewed strikes followed the end of a short truce announced by US President Donald Trump, who said Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to temporarily halt attacks on Kyiv and other cities during cold weather. The Kremlin later confirmed a limited pause but did not link it directly to freezing conditions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, accusing Moscow of prioritising terror over diplomacy. He said Russian forces launched more than 70 missiles and approximately 450 drones overnight, exploiting extreme winter conditions to increase pressure on civilians.

The attacks coincided with a surprise visit to Kyiv by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who joined Zelensky in paying tribute at a memorial for Ukrainian soldiers killed since Russia’s invasion, now nearing its fourth anniversary.

Diplomatic efforts continue despite the escalation. A second round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States is scheduled this week in Abu Dhabi, following an earlier meeting that failed to produce a breakthrough. Zelensky said that while recent pauses in attacks had briefly raised hopes for de-escalation, Russia’s latest actions suggest little willingness to compromise.

Territorial demands remain a major obstacle, particularly Moscow’s push for control over eastern regions such as Donetsk, which Ukraine has firmly rejected. Meanwhile, Russian forces have intensified their ground offensive, capturing significantly more territory in January than in the previous month, according to independent conflict analysts.