Ukraine accused Russia of committing "winter genocide" after another round of massive air strikes targeted energy and civilian infrastructure at a time when utilities are already reeling from multiple attacks that have left tens of thousands of Ukrainian without heat or electricity in double-digit sub-zero temperatures.
Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said eight regions across Ukraine were targeted in the early hours of February 3 in what he said was "another Russian crime against humanity -- an attempt at winter genocide."
"Hundreds of thousands of families, including children, were deliberately left without heating during the harshest winter conditions," Shmyhal wrote on X.
At least nine people were injured and several multistory residential buildings were damaged in the overnight attack on Kyiv and other regions, the Ukrainian officials said.
Russia used a significant number of ballistic missiles in combination with other missiles, more than 70 in total, as well as 450 attack drones, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"Taking advantage of the coldest days of winter to terrorize people is more important to Russia than turning to diplomacy," Zelenskyy added.
In later comments after the attack, he accused Russia of not taking diplomacy seriously.
"We will adjust the work of our negotiating team accordingly," he wrote on X without elaborating.
Russia's Defense Ministry said the strikes were aimed at "Ukrainian military-industrial and energy facilities," according to the Interfax news agency.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the strikes left 1,170 residential buildings in the capital without heating after damage to energy facilities supplying the city.
The attack on Kyiv and other regions across Ukraine followed US President Donald Trump's announcement last week that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to pause air strikes on the Ukrainian capital and other "various towns" until February 1.
In the eastern city of Kharkiv, at least one person was killed and five others injured by Russian shelling in the past day, according to the regional authorities.
They later added that the overnight attack had damaged critical energy infrastructure, cutting off heating for over 100,000 residents and triggering a local emergency.
Anton Hrushetskiy, executive director of the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), has commented on the institute's latest nationwide survey published on February 2 that found 88 percent of Ukrainians believe Russia's strikes on the energy sector are aimed at leaving Ukrainians without electricity and heating and forcing Ukraine to capitulate.
"Ukrainians feel the cold and hardships, but they are not ready to capitulate. They remain determined to continue resisting," Hrushetskiy told Current Time.
He added that most Ukrainians remain optimistic about the future, citing the survey's finding that 64 percent envision Ukraine as a prosperous country and a member of the European Union within 10 years, a level of optimism that is "even slightly higher than it was at the end of 2024."
"At the moment, Ukrainians are demonstrating resilience and looking to the future with confidence," he concluded.
US-Mediated Talks To Resume In Abu Dhabi
The overnight attacks came ahead of US-mediated peace talks in Abu Dhabi that are set to start on February 4.
US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House on February 2, said he expected "good news" on Ukraine and Russia.
"I think we're doing very well with Ukraine and Russia. For the first time, I'm saying that. I think we're going to maybe have some good news," Trump said.
According to media reports citing an undisclosed White House official, Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will represent the United States at the negotiations with Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, NATO chief Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv on February 3 on an unannounced visit, during which he addressed Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.
"[Russian President Vladimir] Putin has long thought he could wait us out. That Ukraine was weak, that your supporters would grow weary, that our will would falter. He was gravely mistaken. Ukraine is strong and our support is unwavering," Rutte told lawmakers.
Rutte said that through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), billions of dollars worth of critical US military hardware is flowing into Ukraine, paid for by Kyiv's allies and partners.
"Since we started PURL last summer, it has supplied around 75 percent of all missiles for Ukraine's Patriot batteries and 90 percent of the missiles used in other air defense systems," he said.
"I know that more is urgently needed. And we are working to ensure that more comes quickly. Through PURL, and through every means possible," Rutte added.
