In a significant overnight assault, Russia launched approximately 450 long-range drones and 70 missiles targeting Ukraine, as reported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday. This major offensive occurred just a day before scheduled U.S.-brokered negotiations in Abu Dhabi aimed at finding a resolution to the all-out war that Russia initiated nearly four years ago on February 24, 2022.
Zelenskyy indicated that the bombardment specifically struck at least five regions of Ukraine, with the primary objective of crippling the power grid. This relentless campaign seeks to deprive civilians of essential services such as light, heating, and running water during what has been described as the coldest winter in years. The assault resulted in injuries to at least ten individuals, according to officials.
"Taking advantage of the coldest days of winter to terrorize people is more important to Russia than diplomacy," Zelenskyy remarked. He called upon allies to enhance air defense support and to exert "maximum pressure" on Russia to conclude its full-scale invasion.
While recent negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv were described as constructive, significant hurdles remain unresolved, particularly regarding the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the occupied lands. The talks in Abu Dhabi were scheduled to occur over two days, focusing on achieving a comprehensive settlement, even as the path to agreement appears distant after a year of various diplomatic efforts.
Russia's strategy has aimed to undermine the resilience of the Ukrainian populace by inflicting severe hardships on civilians. This tactic included systematic strikes against Ukraine's electricity infrastructure, targeting substations and power plants. The private power company DTEK reported that the recent attacks hit its thermal power plants, marking the ninth significant assault since October.
In Kyiv, five individuals sustained injuries from the strikes, which led to damage and fires in residential buildings, a kindergarten, and a gas station throughout different areas of the capital, as per the State Emergency Service. By early morning, Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced that 1,170 apartment buildings in Kyiv were without heating, significantly hindering ongoing repair efforts and setting back restoration to all but 80 buildings.
Additional strikes were reported in the northeastern Kharkiv region as well as the southern Odesa region, causing further injuries and damage. Moreover, the assault impacted the Hall of Fame at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War near the Motherland Monument in Kyiv. Ukrainian Culture Minister Tetiana Berezhna expressed the symbolic cynicism of attacking a site dedicated to commemorating the struggle against aggression, stating, "the aggressor state strikes a place of memory about the fight against aggression in the 20th century, repeating crimes in the 21st."
The recent barrage highlights the continued volatility in Ukraine, with attacks intensifying as diplomatic efforts aim for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict. The urgency for international support in the form of air defense and other resources remains critical as Ukraine struggles to protect its infrastructure and civilian population against Russian aggression.
