Top Headlines

Feeds

Russia Unleashes Record Missile‑Drone Barrage, Cutting Power for Millions as Abu Dhabi Talks Begin

Updated (71 articles)
  • At least one carriage of the passenger train was burning after the Russian drone attack in north-eastern Ukraine
    Image: BBC
    At least one carriage of the passenger train was burning after the Russian drone attack in north-eastern Ukraine (Ukraine's DSNS emergency service/Kharkiv region) Source Full size
  • The miners were travelling in a bus when it was hit by a drone, officials say
    Image: BBC
    The miners were travelling in a bus when it was hit by a drone, officials say (Armed Forces of Ukraine/Telegram) Source Full size
  • The site of a drone attack in Kyiv earlier in January
    Image: BBC
    The site of a drone attack in Kyiv earlier in January (PA Media) Source Full size
  • Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference with Lithuania’s President and Poland’s President, after attending commemorations of the 1863 uprising, in Vilnius on January 25, 2026.
    Image: Newsweek
    Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference with Lithuania’s President and Poland’s President, after attending commemorations of the 1863 uprising, in Vilnius on January 25, 2026. Source Full size
  • TOPSHOT – This photo shows fire coming from an apartment building following a Russian air attack in Kyiv early on February 3, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia resumed strikes on Kyiv on February 3, Ukrainian officials said, as a week-long truce announced by US President Donald Trump gave way to renewed attacks in freezing conditions. (Photo by Serhii Okunev / AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    TOPSHOT – This photo shows fire coming from an apartment building following a Russian air attack in Kyiv early on February 3, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia resumed strikes on Kyiv on February 3, Ukrainian officials said, as a week-long truce announced by US President Donald Trump gave way to renewed attacks in freezing conditions. (Photo by Serhii Okunev / AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • Kyiv residents shelter at a train station during Russian air raids
    Image: BBC
    Kyiv residents shelter at a train station during Russian air raids (AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
    Image: Newsweek
    President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Source Full size
  • Kyiv residents shelter at a train station during Russian air raids
    Image: BBC
    Kyiv residents shelter at a train station during Russian air raids (AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • Police officer carries a part of a Russian drone at the site of a residential building in Kyiv on 3 February, 2026
    Image: BBC
    Police officer carries a part of a Russian drone at the site of a residential building in Kyiv on 3 February, 2026 (Reuters) Source Full size
  • The miners were travelling in a bus when it was hit by a drone, officials say
    Image: BBC
    The miners were travelling in a bus when it was hit by a drone, officials say (Armed Forces of Ukraine/Telegram) Source Full size
  • A woman gathers her belongings from a room in the maternity hospital after the strike
    Image: BBC
    A woman gathers her belongings from a room in the maternity hospital after the strike (EPA) Source Full size
  • No deaths were reported after the strike at the hospital on Sunday
    Image: BBC
    No deaths were reported after the strike at the hospital on Sunday (Reuters) Source Full size
  • The site of a drone attack in Kyiv earlier in January
    Image: BBC
    The site of a drone attack in Kyiv earlier in January (PA Media) Source Full size
  • Several floors of one residential building in Odesa collapsed after the Russian overnight strike
    Image: BBC
    Several floors of one residential building in Odesa collapsed after the Russian overnight strike (EPA/Shutterstock) Source Full size
  • TOPSHOT – This photo shows fire coming from an apartment building following a Russian air attack in Kyiv early on February 3, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia resumed strikes on Kyiv on February 3, Ukrainian officials said, as a week-long truce announced by US President Donald Trump gave way to renewed attacks in freezing conditions. (Photo by Serhii Okunev / AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    TOPSHOT – This photo shows fire coming from an apartment building following a Russian air attack in Kyiv early on February 3, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia resumed strikes on Kyiv on February 3, Ukrainian officials said, as a week-long truce announced by US President Donald Trump gave way to renewed attacks in freezing conditions. (Photo by Serhii Okunev / AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference with Lithuania’s President and Poland’s President, after attending commemorations of the 1863 uprising, in Vilnius on January 25, 2026.
    Image: Newsweek
    Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference with Lithuania’s President and Poland’s President, after attending commemorations of the 1863 uprising, in Vilnius on January 25, 2026. Source Full size
  • President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
    Image: Newsweek
    President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Source Full size

Largest 2026 missile‑drone strike hits six Ukrainian regions On the night of Feb 3, Russia fired roughly 70 ballistic and cruise missiles and launched ≈ 450 long‑range drones at power facilities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia, ending a week‑long pause that the United States had helped negotiate [1][3][4]. Ukrainian air defenses downed 38 missiles and 412 drones, but dozens penetrated the grid, striking energy sites and residential blocks [3][4]. The coordinated assault was described by CNN as the “biggest missile‑drone strike this year” and by Newsweek as a “massive missile and drone assault” [1][3].

Freezing temperatures exacerbate blackout humanitarian crisis Temperatures fell to –20 °C in Kyiv and –25 °C in Kharkiv, plunging tens of thousands of high‑rise apartments into darkness and forcing residents into metro stations and shelters [1][3][4]. Over 1,200 buildings in Kyiv and 820 in Kharkiv lost heating; Odesa reported outages for more than 50,000 people [1][4]. The cold snap amplified water shortages and threatened the health of vulnerable civilians across the affected regions [7][13].

Civilian casualties rise amid strikes on infrastructure and civilians Two teenagers were killed and eight injured in Zaporizhzhia, while six people were wounded in Kyiv after a drone hit a kindergarten and multi‑storey blocks [1]. A Russian drone struck a bus carrying DTEK miners in Dnipropetrovsk, killing 12 and injuring 8 according to CNN [6][5]. A maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia sustained injuries to six women in labor, and a residential building near Kyiv killed a couple and wounded their child [5][13].

Energy firm DTEK operates in “survival mode” after plant damage CEO Maxim Timchenko showed video of a mangled thermal plant, confirming that two of DTEK’s five plants are offline and the remaining three run at reduced capacity [1][4]. DTEK labeled the Feb 3 attack the ninth major strike since October and warned that continued hits could breach Geneva Convention protections for civilian heating infrastructure [4][3]. The firm urged extension of the ceasefire to prevent a total collapse of Ukraine’s power system [1].

Diplomatic activity intensifies as Abu Dhabi negotiations commence NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte met President Zelensky in Kyiv, pledging unwavering alliance support while three‑way talks began in Abu Dhabi [3][4]. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and former President’s son‑in‑law Jared Kushner were slated to join the talks, and the United States continued to mediate despite the renewed strikes [3][1]. Trump publicly claimed a week‑long pause was secured with Putin, a statement unconfirmed by the Kremlin and contradicted by Russia’s resumption of attacks [1][10][9].

Pause claim remains disputed The White House and Trump asserted that a U.S.‑proposed pause was in effect until Sunday, yet Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov offered no confirmation, and Russian forces resumed the massive barrage on Sunday night [1][10][9]. This discrepancy highlights ongoing uncertainty over the diplomatic truce’s scope and durability.

Sources

Timeline

Dec 5, 2025 – Russia fires 653 drones and 51 missiles overnight, striking the Fastiv railway hub outside Kyiv, causing blackouts in eight regions and a brief loss of external power at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant; Ukraine’s air defenses intercept most of the attack, and US envoy Steve Witkoff reports constructive talks on a security framework with Kyiv. [25]

Dec 6, 2025 – Russia launches another massive wave of 653 drones and 51 missiles across Ukraine as diplomatic talks continue in Florida; the Ukrainian air force shoots down 585 drones and 30 missiles, eight people are wounded and energy infrastructure is hit in multiple regions, while the IAEA notes a brief loss of off‑site power at Zaporizhzhia. [30]

Dec 13, 2025 – Over 1 million Ukrainian households lose electricity after Russia deploys more than 450 drones and 30 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, briefly cutting power at the Zaporizhzhia plant; President Zelensky reports the scale of the assault, NATO urges rapid delivery of additional air‑defence missiles, and US negotiator Steve Witkoff plans a Berlin meeting with Zelensky on a peace proposal. [24]

Dec 23, 2025 – Ukrainian drones strike an industrial site in Russia’s Stavropol region, igniting a fire at the Lukoil‑run Stavrolen complex; the governor reports no injuries, underscoring Kyiv’s strategy of targeting Russian energy assets far from the front line. [29]

Dec 27, 2025 – Kyiv endures a massive Russian missile and drone barrage just two days before President Zelensky’s scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump, with air‑defence systems engaging incoming weapons and explosions reported across the capital. [28]

Dec 30, 2025 – President Trump, speaking beside Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, warns Iran and Hamas of “hell to pay,” while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov repeats Moscow’s claim that Ukraine launched 91 drones at Putin’s Novgorod‑region residence and says Moscow will review its negotiating stance; the allegation fuels diplomatic tension ahead of upcoming peace talks. [27][23][22]

Dec 31, 2025 – Drone attacks in Odesa injure six, including two children, damage power infrastructure and prompt EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas to label Moscow’s Putin‑residence allegation a “deliberate distraction” from peace negotiations; Putin’s New Year address declares Russian victory despite the ongoing fighting. [21][20]

Jan 1, 2026 – In his New Year address, President Zelensky declares the peace deal “90 % ready” and warns that the remaining 10 % will determine Ukraine’s future, while the United States offers a 15‑year security guarantee to Kyiv. [18]

Jan 1, 2026 – The CIA concludes Ukraine did not target Putin’s residence, briefing President Trump that the Kremlin’s claim lacks evidence. [19]

Jan 1, 2026 – Russia hands a video and navigation‑memory data to the US military attaché, claiming it proves a Ukrainian drone aimed at Putin’s Novgorod residence, a claim the United States disputes. [17]

Jan 2, 2026 – Russian‑installed Kherson governor Vladimir Saldo reports three Ukrainian drones hit a cafe and hotel in Khorly, killing 24 civilians and wounding at least 50, a claim Ukraine does not confirm. [16]

Jan 5, 2026 – A Russian drone strikes a Kyiv hospital, killing at least one and injuring others; President Zelensky says Russia launches 165 drones overnight, including 100 Shahed models, highlighting the intensity of the aerial campaign. [15]

Jan 9, 2026 – Russia fires the hypersonic Oreshnik missile for the second time, striking near Lviv close to a Polish NATO logistics hub; the strike causes no casualties but serves as a “warning to the West,” with President Putin claiming the missile can destroy deep underground bunkers. [11][12][13][14]

Jan 11, 2026 – A Ukrainian drone hits Voronezh, Russia, killing one woman and wounding three; Ukraine also strikes three Lukoil drilling platforms in the Caspian Sea, while Kyiv still lacks power for tens of thousands of residents after recent attacks. [10]

Jan 13, 2026 – At a UN Security Council emergency session, US Deputy Ambassador Tammy Bruce labels Russia’s Oreshnik launch near Poland a “dangerous escalation,” condemning the missile’s use against civilian infrastructure. [9]

Jan 24, 2026 – Fresh Russian strikes kill one civilian and injure 35 in Kyiv and Kharkiv, damaging energy facilities for 6,000 buildings; Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha calls the assault “brutal,” trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi resume amid the violence, and President Trump announces Putin’s acceptance of a “Board of Peace” invitation. [5]

Jan 27, 2026 – President Zelensky condemns a Russian drone strike that kills five passengers on a Kharkiv‑region train, labeling the attack “purely terrorism,” while Odesa suffers a heavy drone barrage killing three and a residential block near Kyiv is hit, deepening the winter energy crisis. [4][8]

Jan 29, 2026 – President Trump tells his cabinet that he personally asked President Putin to halt attacks on Kyiv for a week because of the extreme cold and claims Putin agreed; the Kremlin offers no confirmation, and Ukraine’s State Emergency Service warns temperatures could plunge to –30 °C, threatening severe power shortages. [7][3]

Jan 30, 2026 – Russia launches a record‑high missile and drone barrage on Ukraine’s energy grid, firing over 70 missiles (38 intercepted) and 450 drones, crippling heating‑only plants as temperatures fall to –20 °C; NATO secretary‑general urges allies to “dig deep in their stockpiles,” Dutch PM Mark Rutte pledges “hard power” support, and DTEK calls the strike the ninth major attack since October. [1]

Feb 1, 2026 – Russia pauses targeting civilian centres during an extreme cold snap, announcing the pause will expire on Sunday; nevertheless, a Russian drone hits a DTEK bus in Ternivka, killing at least 12 miners, and another drone strikes Zaporizhzhia’s Maternity Hospital 3 during deliveries, injuring six, prompting Ukrainian officials to thank Elon Musk for blocking Starlink use by Russian drones. [2]

Feb 2, 2026 – Ukraine shifts three‑way peace talks with the United States and Russia to mid‑week, aiming to discuss Ukraine’s ceding of territory and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant amid ongoing power‑grid attacks that leave millions without heat. [2]

Feb 3, 2026 – President Zelensky pushes Ukraine’s new defence minister to raise the target to 50,000 Russian casualties per month, citing a CSIS estimate of 1.2 million Russian personnel killed, wounded or missing, while manpower shortages and limited drone operators strain Kyiv’s front line; Donetsk remains a focal point of Ukraine’s attrition strategy. [6]

Future/Planned – NATO continues to press for rapid delivery of Patriot and other air‑defence missiles throughout the winter; US envoy Steve Witkoff is slated to meet Zelensky in Berlin to discuss the US‑backed peace proposal; additional three‑way talks are scheduled for the weekend following the Feb 2 shift, and Ukraine seeks US congressional approval for a security‑guarantee agreement negotiated with President Trump. [1][2][6][24]

Social media (7 posts)

Dive deeper (14 sub-stories)

All related articles (71 articles)

External resources (9 links)