Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities were subjected to a large-scale Russian aerial attack on Tuesday, , damaging energy infrastructure and leaving over 1,000 residential buildings in the capital without heating as temperatures plummeted to -20C. The attack, involving a reported 71 ballistic missiles and 450 drones, appears to have violated a temporary truce brokered by former U.S. President Donald Trump, raising questions about the viability of ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately timing the strikes to coincide with the coldest temperatures of the winter and of using a pause in fighting – intended to last until – to replenish its weapons stockpiles. “Either Russia now believes that there are four incomplete days in a week instead of seven, or they are really betting only on war and waiting for the coldest days of this winter,” Zelenskyy stated, according to reports.
The truce, which reportedly began last week, was the result of a personal appeal from Trump to Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from targeting Ukraine’s energy systems due to the extreme weather conditions. Trump stated that Putin “agreed to do that. And I have to tell you it was very nice.” However, the Kremlin announced the ceasefire would only last until , a timeframe Ukraine understood to extend until .
The Russian strikes impacted regions across Ukraine, including Sumy, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, and Vinnytsia. As of Tuesday, nine people had been reported injured. Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal reported that hundreds of thousands of families were left without heat. The attacks specifically targeted power and heating plants, exacerbating the humanitarian situation as temperatures reached -25 degrees Celsius in some areas.
The assault occurred on the eve of planned three-way negotiations in Abu Dhabi involving Russian, Ukrainian, and American negotiators. Andrii Sybiha, the Ukrainian foreign minister, criticized Putin’s actions, stating that the Russian leader had disregarded both the diplomatic efforts in Abu Dhabi and his promises to the United States, continuing what Sybiha described as “terror against ordinary people in the harshest winter.”
Zelenskyy has indicated that Ukraine will adjust its negotiating strategy in light of Russia’s actions. He emphasized the need for increased pressure on Russia, stating, “Without pressure on Russia, there will be no end to this war.” He also expressed gratitude to partner nations who understand this necessity and are providing assistance.
While Trump characterized Putin’s initial agreement as a positive step, Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about Russia’s intentions, stating, “I do not believe that Russia wants to end the war. There is a great deal of evidence to the contrary.”
The Motherland monument in Kyiv was reportedly damaged during the attacks. Zelenskyy characterized the strikes as a deliberate attack on Ukraine’s energy grid, describing it as a war crime. The attacks represent what officials are calling the worst Russian assault on Ukraine’s power infrastructure this year.
The situation remains fluid as negotiations are set to begin in Abu Dhabi. The violation of the energy truce casts a shadow over the prospects for a peaceful resolution and underscores the challenges facing international efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
