In one of the most severe aerial bombardments of the winter, Russian forces have unleashed a massive, coordinated strike across Ukraine, targeting critical infrastructure and civilian areas. The assault, described as an act of "revenge" by Moscow, involved swarms of Iranian-designed Shahed drones and the rare deployment of a hypersonic Oreshnik missile, plunging multiple cities into darkness and chaos amid freezing temperatures.
Widespread Strikes Target Key Cities
The offensive, which peaked late on January 10, 2026, saw Ukrainian air defences activated nationwide. The city of Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelensky, faced a relentless barrage. Explosions lit up the night sky just before midnight, accompanied by the wail of air raid sirens. The attack resulted in widespread power failures, leaving residents without electricity and heating as thermometers dipped below minus 15 degrees Celsius.
This was not an isolated strike. The Russian military coordinated attacks on a broad front. The western city of Lviv was hit by the advanced Oreshnik hypersonic missile, a weapon known for its speed and difficulty to intercept. Simultaneously, the capital Kyiv and other western regions came under fire from a mix of Shahed drones and cruise missiles, marking a significant escalation in the scope and intensity of the winter campaign.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Freezing Cold
The immediate aftermath of the strikes has escalated into a severe humanitarian emergency. The deliberate targeting of energy infrastructure has left thousands of homes without heating or electricity in the heart of winter. Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of deliberately "weaponising winter" to break civilian morale and strain the country's emergency services.
Local authorities in Kryvyi Rih reported the bombardment as the heaviest the region has faced in months. Repair crews are working in perilous conditions to restore critical services, but the scale of the damage suggests prolonged suffering for civilians. The situation turns infrastructure damage into a direct threat to life, with vulnerable populations at extreme risk from the cold.
International Reactions and Security Concerns
The latest wave of attacks has drawn intense scrutiny from Ukraine's allies. NATO members are closely monitoring the escalation, which raises urgent new questions about European security and the potential for the conflict to spread further. The use of advanced weaponry like the Oreshnik missile against cities far from the front lines signals a dangerous shift in tactics.
Warnings from Kyiv have grown more dire, emphasising the need for enhanced air defence systems to protect civilian areas. The attacks underscore the protracted and brutal nature of the conflict, where civilian infrastructure has become a primary battlefield. As the war continues, the international community faces increasing pressure to respond to what Ukraine describes as acts of terror against its population.
