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 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.

Power outages impacted Ukraine and Moldova, exacerbating winter conditions in Kyiv on Saturday, January 30, 2026. The outages were widespread across several Ukrainian cities and neighboring Moldova. According to Ukraine’s Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, a technical malfunction affecting power lines linking Ukraine and Moldova caused the disruption. This failure triggered a cascading outage in Ukraine’s power grid. The Kremlin has committed to U.S. President Donald Trump to pause strikes on Kyiv.

In January 2026, Donald Trump announced that Russia agreed to pause bombing Kyiv and other Ukrainian towns for one week due to extreme winter conditions. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy welcomed Trump's announcement, calling it an important step towards securing Ukrainian cities during the cold weather. The pause was reportedly discussed during ceasefire talks in the United Arab Emirates, with Zelenskyy expressing hope for the agreement's implementation. Trump stated that he personally requested the pause from President Putin, citing the "extraordinary cold." The announcement comes as Kyiv struggles to restore power and heating to residential buildings following recent Russian bombings, with temperatures expected to drop significantly.

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.

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.

As a pause in Russian strikes on Kyiv nears its end, Ukraine is working to bolster its air defenses, particularly against drones, in frontline cities and border regions. The pause, reportedly requested by Donald Trump and agreed to by Vladimir Putin until February 1st, is intended to create favorable conditions for negotiations. Despite the halt, Russian officials have publicly advocated for escalation, and Ukrainian officials emphasize there is no formal ceasefire. Experts suggest the pause is more symbolic, reflecting political signaling and Trump's relationship with Putin, rather than a significant military shift. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is strengthening short-range air defenses against drones to protect frontline cities in the south and northeast.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Monday that Europe cannot defend itself without the United States, addressing the European Parliament in Brussels amid concerns about transatlantic relations. Rutte's remarks followed President Trump's comments at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he downplayed seizing Greenland but also belittled Europe's reliance on America. Rutte, who has fostered a relationship with Trump, defended his role in easing Trump's threats regarding Greenland, though he denied negotiating on behalf of Denmark, which along with Greenland, has rejected a potential American takeover. Members of the European Parliament pressed Rutte for details on his discussions with Trump and any potential deal concerning Greenland's future, but Rutte remained vague.

In Davos, Switzerland, US and Russian envoys met at the World Economic Forum on January 21, 2026, amid the postponement of an $800 billion Ukraine reconstruction plan. US special envoy Steve Witkoff, along with Jared Kushner, met with Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev for over two hours. Witkoff confirmed plans to meet with both President Putin and the Ukrainian delegation in Moscow on Thursday. The Kremlin acknowledged the scheduled meeting with Putin. The signing of the "prosperity plan," involving Ukraine, Europe, and the US, was delayed due to tensions within NATO over President Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland, according to the Financial Times. The plan has not been shelved indefinitely and could be signed at a later date.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner late Thursday to discuss a potential settlement in Ukraine. The Kremlin emphasized that resolving the territorial issue, specifically Ukraine's withdrawal from annexed eastern regions, is crucial for any long-term peace agreement. The meeting, which lasted past 3 a.m. Friday, occurred shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized European allies' slow response to the Russian invasion. Despite the territorial disagreements, Russian, Ukrainian, and US officials agreed to hold security talks in the United Arab Emirates on Friday regarding a prospective peace deal. Zelensky stated that peace proposals are nearly ready, but the status of Russian-occupied land remains unresolved.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized European allies for their slow and insufficient response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine over the past four years. He likened his repeated warnings to Europe to the film "Groundhog Day." Also in Davos, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Zelenskyy, describing the meeting as "good" and reiterating his desire for the war in Ukraine to end. According to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump is considering proposals such as a "tariff-free zone" for Ukraine to help develop the country's industry during the conflict.

Ukraine's foreign minister accused Vladimir Putin of undermining potential peace negotiations with recent large-scale strikes. This accusation comes as Russia insists that Kyiv must withdraw its troops from annexed eastern territories as a precondition for any peace agreement. Prior to the planned three-way talks, Putin reportedly discussed a Ukraine settlement with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in lengthy overnight discussions. The timing of the strikes, just before negotiations, suggests a deliberate attempt to weaken Ukraine's position at the negotiating table, according to Kyiv. The location of the strikes was within Ukraine.

In January 2026, Palestinian technocrat leader Ali Shaath announced that the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt will reopen next week. The announcement, made during a World Economic Forum event hosted by US President Donald Trump, signals a potential shift from previous Israeli policies regarding the crossing. Shaath stated the reopening represents a lifeline and opportunity for Palestinians, signifying Gaza is no longer closed off. The crossing has been largely shut since Israel's war, despite a ceasefire agreement that left Israel in control of the border area. The White House also announced the 15 members of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), which Shaath will lead, to oversee the transition of power in Gaza.

Sources say Israel intends to implement a policy at the Rafah border crossing, expected to reopen next week, that will prioritize Palestinian departures from Gaza over entries. The Rafah crossing, the primary access point for the over 2 million residents of Gaza, has been under Israeli military control since 2024. This plan coincides with the second phase of a US-backed plan where Israel is expected to withdraw troops further from Gaza and Hamas is due to yield control of the territory’s administration. While the details of how Israel will enforce this "more out than in" policy remain unclear, the move raises concerns among Palestinians about potential forced displacement, despite Israeli denials of such intentions. The policy comes as part of a US backed plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas.

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.

On January 21, 2026, day 1,427 of the Russia-Ukraine war, Russian forces struck several Ukrainian cities, including Zaporizhzhia, killing at least three people and leaving nearly 1,500 households without electricity. Strikes in the Kyiv region resulted in one death, leaving over one million residents without power and 4,000 apartment buildings without heating. Approximately 600,000 people have evacuated Kyiv following attacks on vital energy facilities. A critical infrastructure facility in the Vinnytsia region and an energy infrastructure facility in the Odesa region were also damaged. President Zelenskyy called for tougher sanctions on Moscow to curb its military production following the attacks. Ukrainian Minister of Economy Oleksii Sobolev reported that Russian attacks have damaged about 8.5 gigawatts of Ukraine’s power generation.

On January 21, 2026, Israeli fire struck the central Gaza town of Zahraa, killing three Palestinian journalists who were filming a newly established displacement camp managed by an Egyptian government committee. The journalists were traveling in a vehicle when the strike occurred. The incident took place on one of Gaza's deadliest days since the ceasefire. Mourners gathered at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City for the journalists' funeral. The event is part of ongoing conflict in the region, with a separate strike also reported in Qennarite village, south Lebanon.

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.

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.