Ukraine: Deadly Russian strikes push civilians deeper into winter crisis

This article is published in association with United Nations.

Ukraine has entered the new year under intensifying and deadly Russian attacks which have crippled energy systems and left millions without heating, electricity or water amid freezing temperatures, senior UN officials told the Security Council on Monday.

Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo told ambassadors the start of 2026 had brought “no peace or even respite to Ukraine, but renewed fighting and devastation.”

“As temperatures plummet far below freezing, the Russian Federation has intensified its systematic attacks targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure,” she said, noting that the strikes had killed and injured scores of civilians and deprived millions of electricity, heating and water for prolonged periods.

The impact, she added, is felt most acutely by older people, children and those with limited mobility.

Drone and missile onslaught

Ms. DiCarlo cited a major overnight barrage between 8 and 9 January in which Russia reportedly launched 242 drones and 36 missiles.

In Kyiv, at least four people were reportedly killed and 25 injured, including a paramedic who died while responding to an earlier strike, reportedly hit by a so-called “double-tap” attack.

Nearly half of the capital was left without heating, and hundreds of thousands of residents were affected.

Energy and residential facilities were also damaged in western Lviv region, near the Polish border, where an intermediate-range ballistic missile known as “Oreshnik” was reportedly used for the second time since 2024.

The weapon is believed capable of carrying nuclear payloads, heightening international concern.

Ports and shipping have also come under attack. On 8 January, two foreign-flagged civilian vessels were struck by Russian drones in the Odesa region.

Two people were reportedly killed and eight injured in subsequent port attacks that damaged storage facilities and containers. Odesa was hit again on Sunday, in what Ms. DiCarlo described as a “concerning escalation” targeting Ukraine’s port infrastructure and commercial shipping.

UN Photo/Manuel Elías

USG DiCarlo briefs the Security Council.

Humanitarian consequences

The humanitarian impacts were outlined by Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of the Humanitarian Sector at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

He said large-scale strikes were pushing “the very means of winter survival to the brink,” as temperatures dropped to nearly minus 10 degrees Celsius.

“What makes these attacks especially devastating is that they cripple the systems that keep civilians alive during winter,” he said.

In Kryvyi Rih, families have been melting snow for washing and heating water over candles during prolonged power cuts.

In Kyiv, more than 1,200 heated safe spaces are operating, alongside 68 additional heating points set up by emergency services and humanitarian partners.

UN Photo/Manuel Elías

A wide view of the Security Council meeting.

Displacement continues

Civilians continue to flee frontline areas under dangerous conditions, particularly from the Donetsk region, with many arriving in safer areas needing shelter, medical care and winter assistance. Humanitarian access remains constrained.

According to UN estimates, 10.8 million people in Ukraine need humanitarian assistance.

On Tuesday, the UN and partners are set to launch a $2.31 billion humanitarian appeal for 2026 to support 4.12 million people facing the most severe needs.

Both officials reiterated that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law. “They are unacceptable, unjustifiable, and must stop immediately,” Ms. DiCarlo said.

“Civilians who are enduring these attacks need more than statements of concern from this council. They need concrete action to reduce civilian harm and ensure that humanitarian support continues to reach people when they need it most,” Mr. Rajasingham added.