At least one person was killed and 15 injured in Russian attacks that caused utility outages in Kyiv and Kharkiv, with winter weather compounding civilian hardship as diplomacy accelerated. The strikes disrupted essential services during cold conditions while peace negotiations intensified.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned Kyiv residents via social media that the capital was experiencing a “massive enemy attack,” urging people to seek shelter. The strikes targeted residential buildings and infrastructure, causing casualties and utility outages. Winter weather compounded the crisis as heat and water services were knocked offline.
In Kharkiv, Iranian-made Shahed drones attacked multiple residential complexes, causing utility outages that were particularly severe given winter weather conditions, as confirmed by Mayor Igor Terekhov. The drone strikes damaged heating and water systems, creating dangerous situations for residents. The northeastern city’s infrastructure has been repeatedly targeted.
Despite utility outages compounded by winter weather, diplomacy accelerated on multiple fronts. In Abu Dhabi, American, Russian, and Ukrainian representatives engaged in intensive two-day talks. The UAE foreign ministry stated the discussions represented “ongoing efforts to promote dialogue and identify political solutions to the crisis.” President Zelensky announced that peace proposals were “nearly ready.”
Ukrainian President Zelensky proposed creating a free trade zone in eastern Ukraine under Kyiv’s control following accelerated diplomacy with President Trump. President Putin met with Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as all parties pursued accelerated diplomatic solutions despite winter conditions.