Ukraine woke up to another night of heavy Russian missile and drone strikes, just hours after US President Donald Trump suggested there could be “good news” on efforts to end the war. Explosions were reported across several cities, including the capital Kyiv.
The timing of the strikes has drawn attention, coming as Ukraine, Russia and the United States prepare for another round of peace-related discussions
abroad.Russian forces launched a large-scale aerial assault targeting Kyiv, Kharkiv and other regions, damaging homes, energy infrastructure and public buildings. In Kyiv, explosions rattled residential areas, with local authorities reporting damage to apartment blocks and a kindergarten. Emergency crews were rushed in as power and heating were knocked out in parts of the city during freezing winter conditions.
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, was also hit hard. Mayor Ihor Terekhov said strikes damaged thermal energy systems, forcing officials to drain heating networks in hundreds of buildings to prevent pipes from freezing.
"More than 1,100 homes were left without heating," Restoration Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said on social media, adding that Russia had attacked "homes, heat, and basic living conditions for civilians" across the country.
Timing casts shadow over peace efforts
The renewed bombardment came as diplomatic efforts appear to be gaining momentum. Trump had earlier hinted that talks aimed at ending the war were showing signs of progress, raising hopes of a possible breakthrough. Ukraine has consistently said it wants a “dignified and lasting peace,” but officials have warned that continued attacks could derail negotiations.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly stressed that peace efforts cannot succeed while Russia continues to target civilian infrastructure. Western allies have echoed those concerns, warning Moscow that continued escalation could trigger further political and military responses.
For ordinary Ukrainians, the latest attacks mean another night spent in shelters, without power or heating, as winter tightens its grip.
