Russia has unleashed a second devastating wave of air strikes on Ukraine in just four days, officials confirmed on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, deliberately targeting the country's power infrastructure as temperatures plummet to -15C.
Major Assault on Critical Infrastructure
The massive bombardment, involving drones and missiles, crippled parts of Ukraine's energy grid. This latest offensive appears to be a direct snub to recent US-led efforts to broker peace. In the city of Kharkiv, the assault resulted in four civilian fatalities and left several others injured.
Simultaneously, in a separate maritime incident, multiple oil tankers were struck by drones while unloading crude oil at a terminal on Russia's own coast. The identity of the perpetrators behind these strikes remains unclear.
Diplomatic Condemnation and Security Alerts
Britain's envoy to the United Nations issued a strong condemnation of Russia's tactics, specifically highlighting Moscow's use of a hypersonic ballistic missile in an attack the previous week. The envoy stated that such actions should be "universally condemned."
On the same day, German prosecutors revealed they had indicted two Ukrainian nationals. The pair are linked to an alleged Russian spy plot involving the detonation of packages during transport across Europe.
Political Rejection Amidst Crisis
Domestically, Ukrainian lawmakers faced political decisions amidst the ongoing emergency. The parliament voted against appointing outgoing defence minister Denys Shmyhal as the new energy minister. President Volodymyr Zelensky had proposed Shmyhal for the top job, but the nomination was rejected.
The coordinated attacks on energy sites during extreme winter weather pose a severe humanitarian threat, leaving residents to struggle without power in frigid conditions. This escalation marks a dangerous new phase in the conflict, targeting civilian survival directly.
