As temperatures plummeted to -20°C (-4°F), Russia resumed its devastating assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure Monday night, ending a brief week-long humanitarian pause. The attacks targeted power plants and critical facilities across Kyiv and other regions, creating what UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described as ‘barbaric’ and ‘particularly depraved’ acts.
The renewed offensive came despite diplomatic efforts by former US President Donald Trump, who had previously secured a temporary cessation of hostilities from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump acknowledged that Putin had technically ‘kept his word’ by observing a seven-day pause before resuming attacks, noting ‘we’ll take anything, because it’s really, really cold over there.’
Kyiv now faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis with over 1,000 apartment blocks without heating and extensive damage to energy facilities, including a power plant in Kharkiv rendered beyond repair. Residents have been forced to seek refuge in metro stations, with some erecting tents on platforms for protection against the freezing conditions.
Municipal authorities are responding by establishing communal heating centers and importing additional generators to manage prolonged blackout periods while engineers attempt repairs. Ukraine continues to highlight critical shortages in missile defense systems, with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte urging member states to ‘dig deep in their stockpiles’ during his emergency visit to Kyiv.
Parallel diplomatic efforts continue as US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meet with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Abu Dhabi to discuss a US-proposed peace deal. The most contentious issue remains Russia’s demand for Ukraine to cede remaining territories in the Donbas region not currently under Moscow’s control.