Ukraine faced a brutal overnight onslaught as Russia launched a massive attack, specifically targeting its crucial power grid. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported hundreds of drones and a record 32 ballistic missiles struck, injuring at least 10 people and leaving countless communities without power and heat during one of the coldest winters in memory. Kyiv alone saw temperatures drop to a bone-chilling minus 20 degrees Celsius.
Zelenskyy vehemently condemned the assault, stating it was a clear breach of Russia’s commitment to pause strikes on energy infrastructure – a promise reportedly made during diplomatic discussions. “Taking advantage of the coldest days of winter to terrorize people is more important to Russia than diplomacy,” he declared, accusing Moscow of a cruel strategy to break civilian morale by denying essential light, heating, and running water.
In a vital show of international solidarity, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte visited Kyiv. He called the strikes “a really bad signal” ahead of planned peace talks in Abu Dhabi, which aim to find a breakthrough in the four-year-old conflict. While Ukraine is ready to discuss how to end the fighting, Zelenskyy emphasized, “no one is going to surrender,” especially concerning occupied land.
The humanitarian impact was immediate: over a thousand apartment buildings in Kyiv lost heating, and residential areas, a kindergarten, and even a historic museum sustained damage. NATO, through Rutte, reassured Ukraine of unwavering, long-term support, with alliance members providing significant military aid. Despite the hardship, these attacks appear only to strengthen Ukraine’s resolve, even as the prospect of lasting peace remains a distant hope.
