Translated with AI
On the night of Saturday, January 24, Russian troops again launched a massive attack on critical infrastructure in Ukraine, resulting in heat, water, and electricity outages in Kyiv and Kharkiv, according to Ukrainian authorities and emergency services.
Kyiv bore the brunt of the attack, with Russian forces using missiles and drones. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported disruptions to heat and water supplies on the left bank of the Dnieper. Additionally, preliminary reports indicate incidents involving drone debris falling in at least five districts of the city: Desnyanskyi, Dniprovskyi, Darnytskyi, Holosiivskyi, and Solomyanskyi. Fires broke out in some cases, but no significant damage was reported. According to authorities, at least one person was killed and four others were injured in the attacks. An air raid alert remained in effect in Kyiv as of this morning.
In Kharkiv, a drone attack lasted nearly two and a half hours. According to Mayor Ihor Terekhov, at least 25 drones were launched, but it's unclear whether all were shot down. Among the targets hit were multi-story buildings in various districts, private homes, a local hospital and maternity hospital, and a dormitory for internally displaced persons. Terekhov noted that some residents were injured, and some lost their homes.
In January 2026, Russia launched at least three massive attacks on Ukraine's power grid, causing widespread disruptions to heating, electricity, and water supplies in residential buildings across the country. Following the first attack on January 9, more than 6,000 high-rise buildings in Kyiv were left without heat. Mayor Klitschko urged city residents to flee to areas with alternative sources of heat and energy.
A subsequent attack on January 20th again disrupted the capital's energy infrastructure. At the time of the latest strike, 5,635 homes remained without power. The situation was further complicated by weather conditions: Kyiv experienced freezing temperatures for almost the entire month of January, with temperatures dropping to -17 degrees Celsius.
The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities, claiming that the country's military-industrial complex was targeted. The Kremlin also claimed that the heating outages affecting Ukrainian citizens were a consequence of Kyiv's alleged unwillingness to negotiate.
