In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russian forces unleashed approximately 450 long-range drones and 70 missiles across multiple Ukrainian regions overnight Tuesday. This coordinated assault represents one of the most extensive bombardments in recent months, specifically targeting Ukraine’s already compromised energy infrastructure during the harshest winter conditions in years.
The massive offensive occurred just days before scheduled diplomatic negotiations in Abu Dhabi, where representatives from both nations were set to participate in U.S.-brokered discussions aimed at resolving the nearly four-year conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the timing as strategically calculated to maximize civilian suffering, stating that “taking advantage of the coldest days of winter to terrorize people is more important to Russia than diplomacy.”
According to Ukrainian officials, the bombardment affected at least five regions, wounding a minimum of 10 civilians. The attacks damaged residential buildings, educational facilities, and critical energy infrastructure, including thermal power plants operated by DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company. This marked the ninth major assault on the country’s power grid since October.
In Kyiv alone, the strikes left 1,170 apartment buildings without heating, severely undermining recent repair efforts that had nearly restored power to the capital’s residents. The northeastern Kharkiv and southern Odesa regions also reported significant damage and injuries.
Adding symbolic significance to the destruction, the bombardment damaged the Hall of Fame at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, located beneath the iconic Motherland Monument in Kyiv. Ukrainian Culture Minister Tetiana Berezhna characterized the attack as “symbolic and cynical,” noting the historical parallels between current aggression and past conflicts.
Despite previous descriptions of recent negotiations as constructive, the latest assault casts doubt on diplomatic prospects. Key issues remain unresolved, including the status of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, with a comprehensive settlement appearing increasingly distant as military actions intensify.