At least one person was killed and more than 20 others were injured in a wave of Russian strikes that hit the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, in the early hours of Wednesday. The attacks, which involved ballistic missiles, caused a large fire in a residential building and targeted critical energy infrastructure, according to Ukrainian officials.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Darnytska CHP-4 plant, a key facility supplying heating and electricity to the capital, was struck by a ballistic missile. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported power disruptions across the city, writing on Telegram that "energy facilities in Kyiv and the surrounding region have come under a massive ballistic missile strike."
Ceasefire under strain
The assault comes just days after US President Donald Trump announced an "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine, which was meant to halt attacks on energy targets. Yet, as Zelenskyy pointed out, the Kremlin's nightly attacks have continued to target energy sites, undermining the fragile agreement.
In a statement on X, Zelenskyy accused Moscow of showing "ostentatious disrespect" toward the United States, adding that the strike was "entirely deliberate and demonstrative in its scale – Russia has never before shown such ostentatious disrespect toward the United States."
The timing is particularly sensitive, as Ukraine is already grappling with a severe energy crisis. More than 600,000 people have lost power in recent strikes on the country's energy grid, leaving many without heating and electricity during the cold season.
Russia, for its part, claimed to have shot down 900 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 180 near Moscow. These claims could not be independently verified.
The attack on Kyiv follows a pattern of escalating strikes on Ukrainian cities, with recent missile attacks also hitting a university in Rivne, injuring 25 people. The continued targeting of civilian infrastructure has drawn widespread condemnation from European leaders, who see it as a direct challenge to international efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
European observers note that the "energy ceasefire" was seen as a potential first step toward broader negotiations, but the latest strikes suggest that Moscow is not willing to honor even limited agreements. This has raised questions about the viability of future diplomatic efforts, particularly as NATO warns of escalating hybrid attacks across Europe.
For Kyiv's residents, the overnight assault is a grim reminder of the war's toll. Emergency services worked through the night to extinguish the fire in the residential building and rescue those trapped. The injured have been taken to hospitals, with some in serious condition.
As Ukraine continues to defend itself, the international community watches closely. The United States and European allies have provided significant military and financial aid, but the effectiveness of such support is now being tested against Moscow's apparent disregard for ceasefire agreements. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the "energy ceasefire" can be salvaged or if it will become another failed diplomatic initiative.
