Russia Launches Massive Drone‑Missile Barrage as Abu Dhabi Trilateral Talks Press On
Updated (2 articles)
Overnight strike scale and primary targets Russia unleashed more than 370 drones and 21 missiles in the largest aerial assault on Ukraine this year, striking Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy and Chernihiv and concentrating on energy facilities and critical infrastructure [1][2]. The coordinated attack hit power substations, heating plants and a maternity hospital, aiming to cripple civilian services during a severe cold snap [1][2]. Ukrainian officials confirmed the sheer volume of munitions marks a new escalation in the conflict’s intensity [1][2].
Civilian casualties and infrastructure damage The raids killed one civilian in Kyiv and injured at least 35 people across the two cities, including 19 wounded in Kharkiv’s hospital and shelter [1][2]. Falling debris ignited fires, damaged buildings and left roughly 6,000 apartments without heat while water supplies were cut, as temperatures dropped to about ‑12 °C [1][2]. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported four injuries in the capital, three of whom required hospitalization [2].
Effect on peace negotiations and diplomatic activity Despite the attacks, the three‑way talks in Abu Dhabi continued, with U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Josh Gruenbaum participating alongside Ukrainian chief negotiator Rustem Umerov [1][2]. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the strike as an attempt to undermine the talks, while President Zelensky warned it was too early to assess outcomes [2]. President Donald Trump announced that Vladimir Putin had accepted an invitation to join a “Board of Peace,” a claim not confirmed by the Kremlin [2].
Territorial dispute remains central deadlock Negotiators repeatedly returned to Russia’s demand that Ukraine withdraw from the Donbas region, a coal‑rich “fortress belt” that Moscow views as essential to any settlement [1][2]. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov invoked the Anchorage formula, suggesting any agreement must preserve Russian control over Donbas and Crimea, a point Ukraine continues to reject [2]. Zelensky reiterated refusal to cede occupied territories and sought firm U.S. security guarantees before any concession [2].
Sources (2 articles)
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[1]
CNN: Russia’s Largest Overnight Air Strike Hits Ukraine Amid Abu Dhabi Trilateral Talks: Details the 370‑drone, 21‑missile assault, casualty figures, heating loss, and continuation of closed‑door negotiations with U.S. delegation present .
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[2]
BBC: Ukraine Condemns Fresh Russian Strikes as Abu Dhabi Peace Talks Continue: Emphasizes civilian deaths, “brutal” framing by Ukrainian officials, Trump’s peace‑board claim, and the persistent Donbas territorial impasse .
Timeline
Aug 2025 – Russia and the United States agree on the “Anchorage formula” in Anchorage, a framework that lets Russia retain control of the Donbas and Crimea while outlining a path to a diplomatic settlement. The formula later becomes a reference point for Kremlin officials during peace‑talks. [1]
Jan 17, 2026 (reported) – U.S. President Donald Trump announces that Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to join the Board of Peace, a body aimed at ending global conflicts. The claim adds a diplomatic twist to the ongoing trilateral negotiations, though the Kremlin does not confirm it. [1]
Jan 23, 2026 (overnight) – Russia launches its largest overnight aerial strike on Ukraine, deploying more than 370 drones and 21 missiles against Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy and Chernihiv, with a focus on the energy sector. Ukrainian officials label it the biggest aerial attack of the year. [2]
Jan 23‑24, 2026 – The overnight assault kills a civilian in Kyiv and wounds 35 people across Kyiv and Kharkiv; it damages heating for roughly 6,000 apartments and leaves water supplies cut as temperatures plunge to –12 °C. Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko reports one death and four injuries, while Kharkiv’s mayor Ihor Terekhov records 31 injuries. [1][2]
Jan 23, 2026 – Russian missiles strike a maternity hospital and a displaced‑persons shelter in Kharkiv, wounding at least 19 individuals, including a child, and further straining the city’s medical capacity. [2]
Jan 24, 2026 – Delegations from Ukraine, Russia and the United States resume closed‑door trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, marking the first three‑way meeting since the 2022 invasion. A source says progress is made, but the core dispute over Ukrainian territory remains unresolved. [1][2]
Jan 24, 2026 – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemns the overnight attacks as “brutal” and “cynically ordered” by President Vladimir Putin, asserting that the strikes target not only civilians but also the peace‑negotiation table. [1]
Jan 24, 2026 – President Volodymyr Zelensky rejects any territorial concessions, insisting Ukraine will not cede the Donbas region, and says he has reached a provisional agreement with President Trump on future U.S. security guarantees that must still be approved by both Congress and the Ukrainian parliament. [1]
Jan 24, 2026 – Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov stresses that any lasting settlement must adhere to the Anchorage formula agreed last August, underscoring Russia’s insistence that the territorial issue be resolved on its terms. [1]
Jan 24, 2026 – The U.S. delegation, comprising envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and adviser Josh Gruenbaum, participates in the Abu Dhabi talks; Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov thanks the United States on X and calls for a dignified, lasting peace, while President Zelensky cautions that it is too early to assess the negotiations. [2]