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Massive Russian Strikes Hit Kyiv and Multiple Regions, Leaving Thousands Without Heat and Power
During the night of January 20, Russian forces carried out a large-scale attack on several regions of Ukraine, striking Kyiv, Kyiv region, Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Rivne, and Poltava regions. The attacks resulted in civilian casualties and widespread damage to residential buildings, energy facilities, and industrial infrastructure.
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In Kyiv, the Dniprovskyi district was the hardest hit. According to Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko, non-residential buildings were damaged at several locations, while falling debris damaged a primary school building and shattered windows in nearby residential blocks. Cars and warehouse facilities caught fire. One person was hospitalized, and emergency services also responded to additional medical calls.
The strikes caused major disruptions to critical infrastructure in the capital. Almost the entire Left Bank of Kyiv was left without water supply, while electricity and heating outages were also reported. A total of 5,635 apartment buildings lost heating, most of them recently reconnected after earlier attacks. Several Right Bank districts were supplied with water at reduced pressure.
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In the Kyiv region, a 50-year-old man was killed in the Bucha district, according to regional administration head Mykola Kalashnyk. Two gas station facilities were also damaged during the attack.
In Vinnytsia region, a strike hit a critical infrastructure facility. Regional administration head Nataliia Zabolotna said there were no casualties and that emergency services were working at the site.
In Dnipro, the attack caused a fire and damaged an enterprise, a high-rise building, infrastructure facilities, and five vehicles. According to Dnipropetrovsk Regional Administration head Oleksandr Hanzha, two women aged 76 and 67 were injured and are receiving outpatient treatment. A private house was also damaged in the Novooleksandrivska community of the Dnipro district.
Russian forces also targeted Odesa region. In Chornomorsk, a drone struck a multi-story residential building, damaging its facade and shattering windows. An energy infrastructure facility was damaged in Odesa district. No casualties have been reported so far.
In Rivne region, critical infrastructure was damaged, leaving more than 10,000 subscribers without electricity. Several residential buildings had windows blown out, and parked cars were damaged. No injuries were reported, according to regional administration head Oleksandr Koval.
In Poltava region, Russian forces struck an industrial facility overnight. The State Emergency Service reported fires at several locations, which were quickly extinguished by firefighters.
Russian forces launched nearly 300 strike drones against Ukraine overnight on January 20, in addition to ballistic and cruise missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported.
“Our air defense forces engaged a significant number of targets. The day before this attack, we finally received the necessary missiles, and that made a substantial difference. Every support package matters,” the president said.
He said that ensuring Ukraine has adequate air defense capabilities is a core priority for the country’s entire diplomatic effort, stressing that partners must follow through, as air defense missiles provide real protection for civilian lives.
Meanwhile, Russia is seeking to destabilize Ukraine’s electricity network by splitting it into separate, isolated “energy islands” disconnected from generation and transmission systems, according to an assessment published by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The analysts cited recent statements from Ukraine’s military intelligence and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warning that Moscow may be planning strikes on substations connected to nuclear power facilities.
“Russia seeks to disconnect nuclear power plants from Ukraine’s energy system, leaving Ukrainian civilians without electricity and heat,” Ukraine’s intelligence service warned.
ISW added that recent Russian actions suggest a growing focus on targeting critical nodes of the power grid in an effort to amplify civilian hardship.
Earlier, on January 19, Russian troops carried out an airstrike on Kharkiv’s Slobidskyi district, striking exclusively civilian housing and causing extensive damage and loss of life.
Eleven people were injured, two of them seriously enough to require hospitalization, while all others received medical assistance. A 69-year-old woman was killed in the attack.
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