Russia Ukraine cities on eve of peace negotiations

Russia has launched a ballistic missile and drone assault on Ukrainian infrastructure, Kyiv has said, in what marks the end of a brief pause on strikes following a request by President Donald Trump.  

Dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones were reported over Ukraine overnight Monday, in a barrage that precedes talks in the United Arab Emirates aimed at ending the war.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian defense ministry for comment.   

Why It Matters 

Trump said on January 29 that he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from attacking Ukraine. The Kremlin said it would pause strikes on energy facilities, but only until February 1, ahead of three-sided talks on ending the war scheduled for Abu Dhabi. 

Monday night’s strikes appear to end that pause and will add to doubts that Putin has any intention of stopping his assault on Ukraine, regardless of U.S -led attempts for a breakthrough in negotiations. 

What To Know 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Moscow had fired around 450 long-range drones and 70 missiles overnight Monday as it targeted the country’s power grid in freezing temperatures.

At least 10 people were injured in Russia’s attack on at least five regions and was aimed at denying civilians light, heating and running water amid the coldest winter in years, Zelensky said. 

Ukraine’s air force said on Telegram that Moscow launched four Zircon/Onix anti-ship missiles, 32 Iskander-M/S-300 ballistic missiles, seven Kh-22/Kh-32 cruise missiles, and 28 Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles. 

Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 38 missiles and 412 drones but at least 27 missiles and 31 drones made it through, striking 27 locations, according to the Ukrainian statement. 

Air defenses in Kyiv were activated after midnight as Russian drones approached the city and explosions were reported shortly afterward, according to public broadcaster Suspilne. 

Explosions continued throughout the night and Ukraine’s Air Force warned of a ballistic missile attack on the capital. Air raid sirens sounded in several regions of Ukraine on Tuesday morning after Russia launched missiles toward Chernihiv, Kyiv and Zhytomyr oblasts. 

Russian forces damaged thermal power plants operated by DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, with strikes causing power outages on the left bank of the Dnipro River in Kyiv’s eastern districts, according to the company. 

Poland’s Air Force said it scrambled fighter jets to protect Polish airspace during Russia’s missile and drone barrage. 

The Russian attacks are among the most severe of the winter and cast doubt on whether any breakthrough is likely in three-way talks this week.

Rebecca Bakos Blumenthal from Global Rights Compliance, which is helping Kyiv document Russian war crimes, told Newsweek Tuesday the latest strikes show Russia’s tactics of systematic attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure remained unchanged. 

“What is at stake is not only Ukraine’s ability to endure yet another winter under attack, but whether Europe and the wider international community will act to confront Russia’s war of aggression and its continued disregard for international law.” 

What People Are Saying 

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X: “(Vladimir) Putin waited for the temperatures to drop and stockpiled drones and missiles to continue his genocidal attacks against the Ukrainian people.”  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: “Taking advantage of the coldest days of winter to terrorize people is more important to Russia than diplomacy.” 

Rebecca Bakos Blumenthal, Starvation and Humanitarian Crisis Lead at Global Rights Compliance: “For the fourth consecutive winter, Russia’s tactics remain unchanged: systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy and critical civilian infrastructure continue unabated.  

“These attacks are not incidental to the war, they are central to Russia’s deliberate strategy.” 

What Happens Next 

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will be in Abu Dhabi for the next round of separate talks involving Ukraine and Russia on Wednesday and Thursday, according to reports.