Massive Russian Strike Leaves One-Third of Kyiv Without Power and Heat

Dhaka: A massive wave of Russian drone and missile strikes has plunged one-third of Ukraine’s capital into darkness, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents without heating during a period of sub-zero temperatures. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported that the overnight “massive bombing” targeted critical infrastructure and residential areas, describing it as a deliberate attempt to weaponize the winter cold against the civilian population.

The aftermath of the damage in Kyiv

According to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, at least one person was killed and thirty others injured as the strikes hit seven different locations across the city, including an eighteen-story apartment building and a retirement home where sixty-eight people had to be evacuated.

The Russian Ministry of Defence characterized the assault as a “massive retaliatory strike,” claiming it used long-range, precision weapons to hit facilities supporting the Ukrainian military-industrial complex. However, President Volodymyr Zelensky countered that the attack—which involved nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles—targeted purely civilian energy grids.

The timing is particularly sensitive, as the strikes occurred just hours before the Ukrainian leader’s departure for Florida. Zelensky is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump this Sunday to discuss a foundational 20-point peace document aimed at ending the four-year war.

The humanitarian situation in the capital remains critical as emergency crews work through the frost to restore power and heating. Ukrainian officials have called on international partners to respond to this escalation with “strong steps,” arguing that Russia’s continued aggression proves a lack of genuine interest in a ceasefire. As the city struggles with emergency blackouts, the upcoming meeting in Florida is viewed by many as a final opportunity to secure a peace framework before the 2026 new year.