Russia intensifies assault on critical infrastructure and homes across Kyiv as temperatures plummet

Fri, 13 Feb, 2026 - 20:00

Russia has intensified its assault on critical infrastructure and homes across Kyiv amid biting temperatures.

“We have missile attacks almost every day. Tuesday night we had this big attack. I didn't sleep, not at all," said mother of one Tetyana Pavliuk from her apartment in the Left Bank of Kyiv.

“I slept for two, three hours. But in the morning I need to wake up. I need to prepare breakfast for my daughter. I should then be ready for my work," she said.

Kyiv is separated by the Dnipro river — much of it frozen over from what’s been visible over the last few days.

“We had eight ballistic missile attempts today. This winter is one of the most difficult winters in the last four years," she said.

“First of all, we have massive attack from Russian operation kamikaze drone, and then all of our heating is gone."

The main power plant serving around 500,000 homes including hers as well as businesses, hospitals, schools and shelters, was left completely dysfunctional after eight separate drone and ballistic missiles attacks since September.

The last one on January 9 plunged hundreds of thousands into darkness and into one of the coldest, most depressing periods Ukraine has ever known.

More than 1m Ukrainians are without electricity, water, and heating in freezing temperatures.

The constant barrage of strikes — literally morning, noon and into the night — on energy infrastructure all across the country is aimed at crushing the spirit of Ukrainians into fleeing to other countries or submitting.

Russian president Vladimir Putin is aware of the hostility of the refugee debate across Europe, and understands the more refugees he creates, the more western governments will turn to hardline, short term measures to resolve them.

Russian president Vladimir is aware of the hostility of the refugee debate across Europe. Picture: Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

As the electorates across Europe demands action on the worsening housing crisis felt across the continent, Putin is wagering they will be more inclined to pressure Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy into an unjust, pyrrhic peace in order to stop the war and the flow of refugees from Ukraine.

For the moment, most EU countries are standing strong, and 24 out of 27 agreed to a €90bn stipend to keep the lights on in Kyiv for the next two years, as well as pay for vital military equipment as Russia’s war rages on.

Instead, a pervasive concern exists as to whether Zelenskyy will be pressured by the US to give in to a deal that does not sufficiently deter Russia from one day reasserting itself, and fulfilling Putin’s fantasy of retaking land once occupied by the Soviet Union.

“First of all, stop the war. Second, we need strong security guarantees," said mayor of Kyiv former boxer Vitali Klitchko.

"Without strong security guarantees it means a short break for Russia to resume the war."

This winter’s barrage of attacks also come amid a so-called “energy truce” negotiated by the Trump administration.

All of this is despite the fact that Russians are suffering at a colossally high rate further afield on the frontline.

Estimates from Nato and Britains's ministry of defence say Russia loses approximately 1,200 to 1,500 soldiers a day.

The EU announced around 1000 emergency generators to restore power to hospitals, shelters, schools, and critical services.

EU commissioner for crisis management, Hadja Lahbib delivered them to a warehouse to mayor Klitchco, with a classified address given how Russian would view them as a valuable military target, albeit one that is clearly a war crime.

Lahbib vowed to continue EU assistance ‘for as long as it takes’, she said.

“Anybody who says that the war is ending soon, they can come here and see what the ending of the war means from the Russian side."

Fresh round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine to take place in Geneva