Kyiv – January 16, 2026 — Ukraine’s deepening energy and humanitarian crisis intensified this week as Russia launched some of its largest drone and missile barrages of the winter, knocking out power, heat, and water supplies during sub-zero temperatures. The escalation came as US President Donald Trump publicly criticised Kyiv, saying Ukraine was “less ready for a deal” than Moscow — comments that drew sharp attention amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
Massive Russian Barrage Hits Cities Across Ukraine
On January 9, Russian forces launched 242 kamikaze drones and 26 missiles at Kyiv and several other Ukrainian cities, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. While air defences intercepted most of the incoming weapons, 16 drones and 18 missiles penetrated, striking targets in Kyiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Odesa, Dnipro, and Lviv.
The attacks killed four civilians and wounded nearly 30 others, Ukrainian authorities said.
The strikes caused widespread damage to civilian infrastructure, leaving 6,000 apartment buildings and approximately 500,000 people without electricity, heating, or running water as freezing winds swept through shattered windows.
Two days later, nearly 1,000 apartment buildings in Kyiv were still without power.
Second Wave Targets Power Stations
On January 13, Russia struck again, directly targeting power plants and electricity substations, killing four more civilians and forcing authorities to impose emergency power cuts across large parts of the country.
The energy ministry said rolling blackouts were introduced in:
- Kyiv
- Chernihiv
- Odesa
- Kharkiv
- Dnipropetrovsk
- Zaporizhia
- Donetsk region
Residents described living with just a few hours of electricity over several days.
“Over the weekend, my apartment had the luxury of five hours of electricity in 72 hours,” wrote Oleksiy Sorokin, deputy editor of the Kyiv Independent.
Others reported barely functioning heating systems, relying on improvised solutions to stay warm through the night.
Russia ‘Exploiting the Cold’, Says Zelenskyy
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attacks were designed to maximise suffering during a cold snap.
“The Russians are exploiting the weather — the cold — trying to hit as many of our energy facilities as possible,” he said.
Following the second wave of strikes, Zelenskyy declared a state of emergency for Ukraine’s energy sector and established a coordination headquarters in Kyiv to accelerate repair efforts.
He also appointed former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal as energy minister, instructing him to urgently increase electricity imports “using all business opportunities”.
The Kyiv Independent estimated that 70 percent of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has now been damaged or destroyed by Russian attacks this winter alone.
Weather Compounds the Crisis
Even before the January strikes, Ukraine was struggling with severe winter conditions. Zelenskyy had warned earlier this month that weather-related disruptions were already causing “serious problems” with transport and utilities nationwide.
Combined with the attacks, the cold has pushed Ukraine’s civilian services into what officials describe as a nationwide emergency.
Missile Diplomacy and Ceasefire Talks
The escalation followed what Ukrainian officials said was near agreement on January 8 with the United States over security guarantees that would follow a ceasefire with Russia.
At the same time, Ukraine’s allies — known as the Coalition of the Willing — were finalising plans for a multinational force to help monitor and maintain a ceasefire.
“The architecture of post-war security is practically already in place,” Zelenskyy said on January 6 alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and US negotiator Steve Witkoff.
The UK announced it would accelerate $268 million in funding to support its contribution to the proposed force.
Russia Responds With Threats and New Weapons
Russia reacted angrily. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova denounced the multinational force as “militaristic declarations” from an “axis of war”, warning that European troops in Ukraine would be treated as legitimate targets.
To underline the threat, Russia included its new Oreshnik ballistic missile in the January 9 barrage.
According to Russia’s defence ministry, the missile damaged an aircraft factory in Lviv servicing F-16 and MiG-29 fighter jets. Russian Security Council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev posted footage of the strike online, warning coalition members: “This is what you’ll get.”
Trump Says Ukraine ‘Less Ready’ for Peace
Despite Ukraine’s engagement in ceasefire talks, President Donald Trump told the Reuters news agency that Kyiv — not Moscow — was delaying peace.
“I think he’s ready to make a deal,” Trump said of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I think Ukraine is less ready to make a deal.”
Asked why the war had not ended, Trump replied: “Zelenskyy.”
The comments were echoed by Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a key negotiator for the Kremlin, who said Trump was “clear” that Zelenskyy was “sabotaging and delaying peace”.
Zelenskyy responded by saying Russia’s actions showed no genuine interest in ending the war.
Civilian Toll Continues to Rise
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported that 2,514 civilians were killed and 12,142 injured in 2025, marking a 31 percent increase compared with 2024.
Schools, factories, residential buildings, and public facilities have all been hit, including a vocational college in Odesa, where a gym was destroyed by a Russian drone strike earlier this week.
Russia Signals Broader Territorial Ambitions
Russian officials have also appeared to exploit growing strains between the US and Europe, including disputes over Greenland, a Danish territory.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s territorial demands, saying no peace would be possible without resolving the status of Crimea, Donbas, and “Novorossiya” — a term referring to additional regions in southern and eastern Ukraine.
Russia already claims to have annexed Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson, and has signalled ambitions that would give it Ukraine’s entire Black Sea coastline.
Key Takeaways
- Russia launched one of its largest winter air assaults on Ukraine
- Half a million people left without heat, power, or water
- Ukraine declared an energy state of emergency
- Trump said Kyiv is “less ready” for a peace deal than Moscow
- Civilian casualties rose sharply in 2025
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