Russia Launches Large-Scale Ballistic Missile and Drone Attack on Kyiv as Peace Talks Take Place in the UAE

Russia launched one of its most extensive coordinated air assaults on Ukraine overnight, targeting the capital, Kyiv, and the eastern city of Kharkiv with a combination of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and hundreds of drones.

The attack came as delegations from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States were meeting in Abu Dhabi to discuss possible steps toward a ceasefire.

The primary focus of the attack was Kyiv, where Russia launched waves of drones and missiles, including rare Kh-22 cruise missiles and Zircon hypersonic missiles.

According to Ukraine’s Air Force, 396 aerial weapons were detected, including 375 strike drones—primarily of the Shahed type—and 21 missiles of various classes. Ukrainian air defenses reportedly intercepted 372 of them.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that the capital’s energy infrastructure sustained serious damage. Nearly 6,000 residential buildings were left without heat, and water supply was disrupted in parts of the city. Metro operations on the green line were also altered after damage was found to above-ground fencing, while the red and blue lines remained fully operational.

Among the most severe damage was a strike on a confectionery factory in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district. Local journalist Yan Dobronosov reported that a worker at the Roshen factory was killed in the attack, and two others were injured. Emergency services confirmed that the top floor of the facility was destroyed.

Additional damage across Kyiv included fires and structural damage to residential buildings, garages, and an office complex. Authorities recorded impacts or debris in at least five districts, including Desnianskyi, Dniprovskyi, Darnytskyi, Holosiivskyi, and Solomianskyi.

Kharkiv suffers drone barrage

In Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, approximately 30 Shahed drones struck overnight, damaging a maternity hospital, a dormitory for displaced people, a medical college, and residential buildings. At least 20 civilians were reported injured, including a child.

Kharkiv authorities reported the use of explosive drones in successive waves, with ongoing efforts by emergency services to assess damage and restore critical functions.

Ukrainian officials condemn attack during peace talks

Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that the timing of the attack sent a clear political message. “Putin’s missiles hit not only the Ukrainian people but also the negotiating table itself,” he said. “It is cynical that the Kremlin ordered this massive strike at the exact moment the delegations were gathered in Abu Dhabi under US mediation.”

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reacted publicly, calling the assault another reminder of the urgency to bolster Ukraine’s air defense systems. He reiterated that systems like Patriot and NASAMS remain critical to defending energy infrastructure and helping citizens endure the winter.

“The lives of civilians and the security of our energy grid depend on these systems. We must urgently implement the agreements reached with President Trump in Davos regarding air defense,” Zelenskyy stated.

Official data on the attack

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the Russian assault between the evening of January 23 and the morning of January 24 included:

• 375 strike drones (Shahed, Geran, Italmas, and others);

• 12 Kh-22/Kh-32 cruise missiles;

• 6 Iskander-M and S-300 ballistic missiles;

• 2 3M22 Zircon anti-ship missiles;

• 1 Kh-59/69 guided air missile;

Air defense units successfully intercepted:

• 9 Kh-22/32 missiles;

• 5 Iskander/S-300 ballistic missiles;

• 1 Kh-59/69 missile;

• 357 drones.

Impact or debris from downed drones and missiles was recorded at 29 different locations. Damage assessments are ongoing.

Due to the scale of the attack and its impact on the power grid, emergency blackouts were introduced across several regions, including Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv.

Ukrainian authorities reported targeted attacks on both power plants and residential areas, characterizing them as part of a deliberate strategy to undermine civilian resilience.

Earlier on January 22, as President Zelenskyy addressed global leaders in Davos, Russian forces launched a missile strike on his hometown of Kryvyi Rih, injuring at least 12 people, including three children. The attack damaged a residential building and was followed by a wave of Shahed drone strikes later that evening.

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