Russia’s Second Massive Drone‑Missile Assault Cripples Kyiv Power Grid Amid Freezing Temperatures
Updated (2 articles)
Scale of Coordinated Airstrike Overwhelms Ukrainian Defenses The attack deployed roughly 300 attack drones, 18 ballistic missiles and seven cruise missiles across eight Ukrainian regions, including Kyiv and Kharkiv [1][2]. Zelensky reported that the barrage struck energy‑generation facilities and substations, aiming to cripple heating supplies during winter [1][2]. Four civilians died in a Kharkiv postal depot strike, and two female workers were wounded in Zaporizhzhia [1][2]. Ukrainian officials said the strike represented the largest single‑day outage in Kyiv’s history [2].
Kyiv Endures Record Outages and Heating Collapse More than 500 high‑rise residential buildings lost central heating, leaving hundreds of thousands of households without electricity [1][2]. Power cuts forced the suspension of electric‑powered transport on half of the city’s routes, compounding commuters’ hardship [2]. Residents crowded government‑run “Point of Invincibility” shelters, using candles and battery heaters while waiting for intermittent power restoration [1]. Mayor Klitschko pledged incentives for workers repairing the grid and promised essential services despite the freeze of around ‑12 °C [1].
International Bodies Condemn Escalation and Document Civilian Toll At a UN Security Council emergency meeting, the United States labeled Russia’s actions a “dangerous and inexplicable escalation,” urging a negotiated pause [1]. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission reported 2,514 civilian deaths and 12,142 injuries in 2025, a 31 % rise over 2024, attributing much of the increase to long‑range attacks on energy infrastructure [1]. These figures underscore the widening humanitarian impact beyond front‑line combat zones [1].
Cross‑Border Drone Strikes Extend Conflict Into Russian Territory Russia’s defence ministry claimed to have downed 11 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukraine announced successful strikes on the Atlant Aero plant in Taganrog, a facility producing Molniya and Orion drones [1]. Independent verification of the Taganrog damage remains pending [1]. In Russia’s Belgorod region, a Ukrainian strike on a power substation left roughly 600,000 people without electricity, prompting officials to warn of possible evacuations [2].
Sources
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1.
AP: Russia launches second major strike on Ukraine power grid amid freezing temperatures: details the massive drone‑missile barrage, Kharkiv depot casualties, U.S. UN condemnation, UN rights‑office civilian toll, and Ukraine’s retaliatory strike on Taganrog .
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2.
CNN: Kyiv hit by power outages as Russia targets energy facilities amid freezing temperatures: emphasizes the scale of household outages, loss of heating in 500 buildings, transport suspension, civilian hardships, and the spillover power crisis in Russia’s Belgorod region .
Timeline
Jan 12, 2026 – Russia launches a massive coordinated attack on Ukraine’s power grid, firing almost 300 drones, 18 ballistic missiles and seven cruise missiles at eight regions, including Kyiv and Kharkiv. President Zelenskyy says the operation aims to cripple energy generation and heating during the deep freeze. [1][2]
Jan 13, 2026 (early morning) – Kyiv suffers its largest electricity outage of the war, leaving more than 500 high‑rise residential buildings without central heating. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reports that hundreds of thousands of households are in the dark as temperatures hover around ‑12 °C, forcing residents to rely on battery heaters and generator noise. [1][2]
Jan 13, 2026 (mid‑morning) – Civilians cope with the blackout in government‑run “Point of Invincibility” shelters. Olena Davydova tells reporters she has endured nearly 50 hours without power, sleeping with her child and two cats, storing fresh food on a balcony and using candles after dark. [2]
Jan 13, 2026 (midday) – The strike kills four people at a mail depot in Kharkiv and wounds two female workers at an energy facility in Zaporizhzhia, underscoring the civilian toll of targeting infrastructure. [1]
Jan 13, 2026 (afternoon) – Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov warns that a Ukrainian strike on a power substation has left about 600,000 Russians without electricity and could force evacuations if supplies deteriorate further. [1]
Jan 13, 2026 (evening) – The United States labels Russia’s campaign a “dangerous and inexplicable escalation” during an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting, pressing for a negotiated pause to protect civilians. [2]
Jan 13, 2026 (evening) – The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission reports that 2025 was the deadliest year for Ukrainian civilians since 2022, with 2,514 killed and 12,142 injured—a 31 % rise over 2024—highlighting the widening humanitarian impact of energy‑targeted attacks. [2]
Jan 13, 2026 (night) – Russia claims to have shot down 11 Ukrainian drones, while Ukraine says its drones struck the Atlant Aero plant in Taganrog, a facility that produces Molniya and Orion drones, causing explosions and damage. [2]