Russia launched overnight strikes on Kyiv that left about a third of the Ukrainian capital without electricity and heating amid freezing winter temperatures, Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha has said, describing the assault as a “massive bombing” of residential areas and critical infrastructure. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported that at least one person was killed and 28 others injured. The strikes came hours before President Volodymyr Zelensky departed for Florida, where he is due to meet Donald Trump on Sunday for peace talks.
Russia’s defence ministry said it carried out a “massive retaliatory strike” against Ukrainian energy infrastructure, claiming the facilities were being used “in the interests of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex”. It said long-range, land-, air- and sea-based precision weapons were used.
Zelensky accused Moscow of seeking to prolong the war, saying Russia does “not want to end the war and is trying to use every opportunity to inflict more pain on Ukraine”. Writing on Telegram, he said nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles were launched toward Kyiv, targeting energy and civilian infrastructure.
Images from the capital showed apartment buildings torn open and homes ablaze. The high-rise apartment block of BBC journalist Anastasiya Gribanova was among those hit; she was unharmed despite being in the building’s elevator at the time. Authorities said 68 residents were evacuated from a retirement home in Kyiv’s eastern Darnytskyi district.
“Russian representatives are having long conversations, but in reality the Daggers [missiles] and Shaheds [drones] are speaking for them,” Zelensky wrote, adding that Vladimir Putin does not want to end the war. “This sick activity can only be responded to with really strong steps. America has this opportunity, Europe has this opportunity, many of our partners have this opportunity.”
The attacks prompted neighbouring Poland to ready fighter jets, air defence systems and radar surveillance to protect its airspace along the 530km border with Ukraine, though Warsaw later said there had been no violation. Russia, meanwhile, said its air defences destroyed seven Ukrainian drones overnight.
Diplomatic efforts continued as Zelensky, EU leaders and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen were expected to hold a call on Saturday to discuss a path to peace. Zelensky has presented a revised 20-point draft proposal, which he called “a foundational document on ending the war”, while Trump cautioned that Zelensky “doesn’t have anything until I approve it”.
The draft reportedly includes security guarantees from the US, Nato and European allies and proposes options such as a “free economic zone” for the contested Donbas region. Trump told Politico he expected to review the proposal on Sunday, saying, “I think it’s going to go good with him. I think it’s going to go good with [Vladimir] Putin,” and adding that he expects to speak with the Russian president “soon”.
