Russian drone attack on bus in Ukraine kills at least 12

Russian attacks on Ukraine on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, resulted in at least three deaths and several injuries. Two people were killed in the Kyiv region by a missile strike, and another died in the Dnipropetrovsk region due to a drone attack. Three people were injured in Odesa from a drone attack targeting port infrastructure. In Kyiv, a residential building was hit, causing damage, and power outages persist due to earlier attacks on the energy grid. Ukraine's air force reported Russia used an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 146 drones, with 103 drones being intercepted. These attacks follow a deadly drone strike on a commuter train near Kharkiv on Tuesday night that killed five, raising concerns about the safety of train travel within Ukraine.

A Russian drone strike on a passenger train in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine on Tuesday killed five people. The train was traveling from Chop to Barvinkove, carrying over 150 passengers. Ukrainian prosecutors reported finding fragments of five bodies at the scene, where at least two carriages caught fire. President Zelenskyy condemned the attack as terrorism, stating there was no military purpose and that it undermined peace efforts. In a separate incident, a barrage of over 50 Russian drones in Odesa killed three and wounded over 30, including a pregnant woman.

A Russian drone attack struck a civilian passenger train in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine on Tuesday, resulting in at least five deaths and two injuries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as an "act of terrorism," emphasizing there was no military justification for targeting civilians. According to Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, Oleksiy Kuleba, three Russian drones were used in the attack on the train, which was carrying over 200 people. The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office confirmed the updated casualty count on Wednesday, also reporting one man as missing. The incident has drawn international attention and condemnation.

Former US President Donald Trump stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to temporarily halt attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for one week due to extreme cold weather. Trump said he personally requested this pause to alleviate the humanitarian crisis caused by disrupted power, heating, and water supplies resulting from Russian strikes on Ukraine's infrastructure. The request was made in light of record-setting cold temperatures affecting both Ukraine and Russia. Trump expressed confidence that Putin would honor the agreement, although there was no immediate confirmation from the Kremlin. The strikes have left millions of Ukrainians without essential services during the winter months.

In January 2026, Russia agreed to pause its attacks on Kyiv and surrounding areas in Ukraine until February 1. The Kremlin stated this decision followed a request from U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump cited the record-setting cold weather affecting the region as the reason for his request. Many Ukrainian residents are currently without heating due to previous Russian attacks targeting power infrastructure. The pause in attacks aims to provide temporary relief to civilians during the severe cold spell.

According to U.S. President Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin has agreed to halt attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian towns for one week due to a period of extremely cold weather. Trump made the statement on Thursday, January 29, 2026, amid ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks that have been damaging Ukraine's energy infrastructure and causing prolonged winter power outages. The attacks have been taking place throughout Ukraine, including the Zaporizhzhia and Odesa regions. As of Thursday, there was no confirmation from the Kremlin regarding Putin's alleged agreement to pause the attacks. Russia has been actively targeting Ukraine.

The UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, held a special session in Vienna on January 30, 2026, to address growing concerns about nuclear safety risks in Ukraine due to Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi warned that the war poses the world's biggest threat to nuclear safety, as Ukrainian nuclear plants rely on external power from substations for reactor cooling, even when shut down. The meeting followed an IAEA inspection of 10 crucial electrical substations. While Ukraine has four nuclear plants, the Zaporizhzhia plant, occupied by Russian forces, is of particular concern as it requires constant power for cooling and security. The meeting, requested by the Netherlands and supported by other countries, aimed to increase pressure on Russia to avoid actions that could lead to a nuclear accident.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that a U.S. security guarantees document is "100% ready" for signing, with Kyiv awaiting confirmation from the U.S. on the date and location. Once signed, the agreement will proceed to ratification in both the U.S. Congress and the Ukrainian parliament. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of these guarantees from the U.S. for Ukraine's security. He made the announcement at a joint press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, alongside the presidents of Lithuania and Poland. Zelenskyy also reiterated Ukraine's goal of joining the European Union by 2027 as another core security guarantee. His remarks followed trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in Abu Dhabi.

In early January 2026, over 30 Western countries met in Paris to outline security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia. The proposed framework includes a US-led ceasefire monitoring mechanism and potential deployment of multinational forces led by France and the UK. While leaders like Macron and Starmer touted the guarantees as "robust," others, like Germany, expressed caution. President Zelenskyy stated Ukraine is ready to send the agreement to the US Congress and Ukrainian Parliament for ratification, emphasizing the importance of US security guarantees. However, the document remains unpublished, and details on enforcement are unclear. Some Ukrainians, including former officials, express skepticism, fearing the guarantees may lack practical tools for ensuring security.

Officials from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States are scheduled to hold trilateral meetings in the United Arab Emirates on Friday and Saturday, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The purpose of these talks is to discuss ending the ongoing war. Prior to the scheduled meetings, attacks continued in Ukraine. Specifically, one person was killed and four were wounded in Russian glide bomb attacks on Komyshuvakha, located in Ukraine’s Zaporizhia region. The governor of the Zaporizhia region, Ivan Fedorov, reported the casualties. The meetings represent a potential diplomatic effort to address the conflict.

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators met in Abu Dhabi on Friday to discuss the critical territorial dispute, a major obstacle to resolving the ongoing conflict. The talks, mediated by the UAE, focused on parameters for ending the war, with Russia demanding Ukraine cede the Donbas region. Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that Russia's willingness to end the war is paramount, while also acknowledging pressure from the US for a peace deal. The Ukrainian delegation head, Rustem Umerov, discussed the negotiation process's future logic. Despite the meeting, no compromise was reached, and further discussions were scheduled for Saturday. The meeting occurred against a backdrop of intensified Russian air strikes causing a severe energy crisis in Ukraine.

Russia, Ukraine, and the United States are reportedly holding peace talks in Abu Dhabi. The timing of these discussions is considered significant. The article includes images from January 2026, showing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Davos, Switzerland, and meetings in Moscow involving U.S. President Donald Trump's envoys, Kremlin foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Another image shows Putin visiting the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. The article highlights the occurrence of these talks amidst an important juncture in the ongoing conflict.

On January 18, 2026, Russian drone attacks across Ukraine targeted the Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhia, Khmelnytskyi, and Odesa regions, resulting in two deaths and dozens of injuries. The strikes, involving over 200 drones, damaged energy infrastructure, causing power outages amid freezing temperatures and impacting over 200,000 people in Russian-occupied Zaporizhia. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated that over 1,300 attack drones and numerous missiles were used this week alone, prompting him to request increased air defense support from world leaders. The attacks occurred as Ukrainian negotiators arrived in the United States to discuss a 20-point peace proposal with the Trump administration, focusing on security guarantees and Ukraine's post-war recovery, though Russia has yet to comment. Russia has demanded territorial concessions and assurances that Ukraine won’t seek NATO membership.

Overnight Russian air strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv, Ukraine, resulted in one death and at least fifteen injuries. Kyiv's mayor reported a "massive enemy attack" involving drones and ballistic missiles, damaging non-residential buildings and interrupting essential services. One person died and four were wounded in Kyiv, with fires erupting due to drone debris. In Kharkiv, Iranian-made Shahed drones damaged residential buildings near the Russian border, according to the city's mayor. The attacks occurred while Ukraine was under a nationwide air raid alert. The reason for the attacks is part of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

Ukrainian drone strikes damaged energy networks in Russia-occupied southern Ukraine on Sunday, leaving over 200,000 households, across nearly 400 settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region, without power. Kremlin-installed authorities reported the damage. Simultaneously, Russia continued its attacks on Ukraine's energy grid overnight, resulting in at least two deaths and several injuries across multiple regions, including Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated that Russia used over 1,300 attack drones, 1,050 guided aerial bombs, and 29 missiles this week. A Ukrainian delegation arrived in the United States for talks on a U.S.-led diplomatic effort to end the war, focusing on postwar security guarantees and economic recovery.

As of January 19, 2026, Russia is reportedly weaponizing freezing weather in Ukraine by attacking the country's energy grid. These attacks have left many Kyiv residents without reliable heat or power, forcing them to endure near-freezing temperatures in their homes. The situation has led to a state of emergency in Kyiv, where people are relying on temporary warming centers for survival. Al Jazeera reports that the attacks are intentionally targeting infrastructure to exacerbate the effects of winter on the civilian population. The lack of essential services is creating a humanitarian crisis as residents struggle to cope with the harsh conditions.

Kyiv residents are experiencing prolonged power outages during the winter due to ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The attacks, which occurred as recently as January 20, 2026, have left many stranded in tower blocks without electricity or heat. One resident, Olena Janchuk, who is unable to walk, is shown enduring the blackout with her mother, using candles and heated bricks to stay warm. The blackouts are widespread, affecting residential buildings across Kyiv and forcing residents to adapt by using alternative methods for cooking and communication. The attacks continue to impact daily life for many in the city.

Russian strikes on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, left over 5,600 high-rise buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine, without heat in subfreezing temperatures. Ukrainian authorities reported that the attacks, part of an intensified campaign, are intended to break the country's morale and force submission. President Zelensky stated Russia launched numerous missiles and drones across the country, with Kyiv experiencing the most difficult situation. The mayor of Kyiv noted that many buildings had just regained heat after a previous attack on January 8, and part of the city was also without water. Authorities are working to restore services, deploying mobile kitchens and warming tents as schools are closed until February.

Ukraine is facing an energy emergency due to repeated Russian attacks on its infrastructure, leaving thousands without heat and electricity as temperatures plummet to -19 degrees Celsius. President Zelenskyy announced the emergency, noting the severe consequences of the attacks combined with deteriorating weather conditions. Kyiv is particularly affected, with hundreds of apartment buildings remaining without heat almost a week after a major Russian attack. Repair crews are working around the clock, and the government is exploring increased electricity imports and reviewing curfew restrictions to address the crisis. The mayor of Kyiv urged residents to consider leaving the city due to the damage to critical infrastructure.

Russian attacks have intensified in Kyiv, Ukraine, during a severe cold snap in January 2026, causing widespread heating and electricity outages. These strikes, part of a long-term Kremlin strategy, are the most devastating yet, impacting civilian morale and potentially pressuring the Ukrainian government. Emergency services have established tents providing heat and electricity to residents. The outages have forced some Kyiv residents to leave the city in search of warmth and basic necessities. The attacks aim to damage Ukrainian infrastructure and potentially influence peace negotiations.

As Kyiv experiences intensifying Russian attacks and plummeting temperatures reaching -19C, residents are struggling with power outages, lack of heating, and water shortages. To provide relief, Ukrainian Railways has introduced "Invincibility Trains" at suburban stations, offering warmth, electricity, and a safe space for those without basic amenities. These trains, equipped with toys and resources from charities, aim to boost morale and provide comfort amidst the harsh winter conditions. While President Zelensky accuses Russia of targeting critical infrastructure, Kyiv's mayor suggested some residents should leave the city to ease pressure on resources. Despite the hardships, many Kyiv residents remain resilient, finding ways to cope with the challenging circumstances.

On January 16, 2026, day 1,422 of the Russia-Ukraine war saw continued fighting and infrastructure damage. A Ukrainian drone strike in Russian-occupied Zaporizhia killed two pharmacy workers, while another injured three in Russia's Belgorod region. Russian forces struck Bilopillia in the Sumy region, killing one and injuring at least four. Overnight Russian attacks caused power outages in the Zhytomyr and Kharkiv regions, with restrictions in Kyiv and Odesa. Kharkiv's mayor reported the destruction of a critical energy facility. In Kyiv, many residential buildings remain without heating after a previous Russian attack, prompting President Zelenskyy to announce the national government would take over energy responsibilities for the city. A Ukrainian attack left thousands without electricity in Russian-occupied Zaporizhia, where hundreds are being evacuated due to the ongoing conflict.

Ukraine has declared a state of emergency in its energy sector, particularly in Kyiv, due to ongoing Russian strikes and freezing temperatures. President Zelensky announced the creation of a task force to address the damage to critical infrastructure and accused Russia of exploiting the cold weather. The strikes have left thousands without power, heating, and water, with Kyiv being particularly affected. Zelensky ordered the procurement of energy equipment and the establishment of more emergency help points. Russian attacks have impacted energy infrastructure beyond Kyiv, affecting over a million people in southeastern Ukraine. DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy provider, is operating in crisis mode due to repeated attacks on the grid.

A Ukrainian delegation arrived in the United States on Saturday for peace talks aimed at ending the nearly four-year war. Led by Kyrylo Budanov, the delegation, including negotiators Rustem Umerov and Davyd Arakhamia, plans to meet with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. President Zelenskyy stated the delegation's main task is to highlight how ongoing Russian strikes on Ukraine's power grid are undermining diplomatic efforts. The delegation aims to finalize documents related to postwar security guarantees and economic recovery with U.S. officials, potentially signing them at the World Economic Forum in Davos next week, where President Trump is expected to be present.