Russian drone and missile attacks have forced many Ukrainians into air raid shelters during holiday season. Kyiv accused Moscow of sowing "chaos" ahead of key talks between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump.

Kyiv

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

Powerful explosions and drone strikes hit Kyiv overnight during the holiday season, forcing many residents to seek shelter in metro stations. The attacks caused fires, injured dozens, and left hundreds of thousands without power and a third of the capital without heat as temperatures neared freezing.

Officials described the strikes as part of ongoing Russian efforts to target Ukraine's energy infrastructure, with the interior minister stating the attacks were intended to intimidate and destabilize the country. The situation comes as Kyiv prepares for further diplomatic talks, with no sign of the conflict abating.

Kyiv residents forced to shelters by Russian holiday strikes

Powerful explosions echoed across Kiev overnight into the early morning hours. The Russian attack during the holiday season forced Ukrainian families to seek shelter at metro stations. The air raid alert remained in effect for nearly 10 hours, while drones and falling debris slammed into apartment blocks across the city, sparking fires and injuring dozens of people. There was a strong explosion and the windows started shaking. Our building was hit. Our windows overlooked the next building. And we saw that the windows flew out and a fire started. So we started evacuating. I can't believe the whole world is seeing this and can't stop it. A man was burning and his scream is still in my ears. I can't believe it. In the aftermath, officials said hundreds of thousands in the region were left without power. And about a third of the capital was left without heat, as temperatures hovered near the freezing point. It comes on top of ongoing energy outages that have become routine for the capital in the past two months following repeated Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. Ukraine's interior minister said it was a message from Moscow. The entire centre of Kiev was under attack by drones. We're talking about the fact that the Russian Federation is sending a message, that it is raising the stakes in this war, that it does not want to end this war, that it wants to engulf us in chaos, not only energy-related. It wants to intimidate us at the end of the fourth year of the war. And this is exactly what was done between our holidays, between Christmas and New Year. As Kiev prepares for another round of high-profile talks, Russia's war shows no sign of easing.

The latest attack comes as presidents Zelenskyy and Trump prepare to meet in Florida on Sunday amid ongoing efforts to end the war.

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Kyiv residents forced to shelters by Russian holiday strikes

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Ukraine Invasion