Devastating Russian Strike on Kyiv Claims Lives and Disrupts Power Amid Winter Chill

A Russian drone and missile strike on Kyiv and its nearby areas on Saturday resulted in the deaths of two individuals, injured 24 others, and disrupted heating and electricity for hundreds of thousands of residents facing freezing temperatures.

An air raid alert was in effect for several hours following loud explosions overnight, which were accompanied by bright flashes illuminating the sky in orange, as reported by AFP journalists in Kyiv.

The assault claimed the life of a 47-year-old woman, as stated by the regional governor of Kyiv, Mykola Kalashnyk.

«There are currently 19 people affected in the city. Eleven individuals have been admitted to the hospital,» reported Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko. Furthermore, he mentioned that around 2,600 residential premises, along with numerous kindergartens, schools, and social facilities, had their heating disrupted.

«As of this morning, part of the left bank in the region is still without electricity. At present, over 320,000 consumers are affected by the power outage,» Kalashnyk added.

Ukraine’s air force issued a nationwide air alert early Saturday, indicating the movement of drones and missiles across various regions of Ukraine.

This assault took place just before President Volodymyr Zelensky’s scheduled meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday, where they planned to discuss a proposed initiative aimed at ending the conflict.

Zelensky remarked that the attack illustrated Russia’s unwillingness to conclude its invasion, which began in February 2022 and has resulted in numerous casualties.

«While Russian officials engage in prolonged discussions, their actions with Kinzhal missiles and Shahed drones speak volumes,» he noted, referencing the types of weaponry used in Russia’s ongoing strikes.

«They are not interested in ending the war and are determined to exploit every opportunity to inflict even more suffering on Ukraine and intensify their pressure globally,» he continued.

On Friday, Russia accused Zelensky and his European Union allies of attempting to «undermine» the U.S.-mediated peace plan.

The latest initiative consists of a 20-point proposal aimed at freezing the conflict at its current front lines while facilitating Ukraine’s withdrawal of troops from the east, where demilitarized buffer zones could potentially be established, as detailed by Zelensky earlier this week.