By Micah Jonah
January 21, 2026
Russian attacks on Ukraine continue to devastate civilians and infrastructure.
On Tuesday, strikes in Zaporizhzhia killed at least three people, destroyed homes, vehicles, left around 1,500 households without electricity. Earlier attacks in the Kyiv region claimed one life, cut power for over one million residents, leaving more than 4,000 apartment buildings without heating. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that 600,000 residents have evacuated since strikes targeted energy facilities.
Ukrainian authorities have deployed 68 repair brigades and 1,400 emergency stations to maintain warmth and electricity access. Russian drone strikes also damaged energy facilities in Vinnytsia and Odesa, including a residential building in Chornomorsk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for tougher sanctions on Moscow, highlighting that some of the weapons used were produced this year.
The IAEA confirmed that several substations critical to nuclear safety were affected, including temporary loss of off-site power at Chornobyl, later restored. Ukrainian officials accused Russia of using the threat of nuclear disaster as a coercive tool.
Meanwhile, ceasefire talks continue on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, with envoys for Presidents Trump and Putin describing discussions as “very positive and constructive.” Ukrainian negotiators also met with advisers from France, Germany, and the UK, and Zelenskyy signaled readiness to travel to Davos for agreements on security guarantees and post-war recovery plans.
On the military front, Ukraine is planning a joint European defence force of up to three million personnel. Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced a major overhaul of Ukraine’s army, testing a domestic replacement for China’s DJI Mavic drone, offering allies access to Ukraine’s combat data for AI training.
Zelenskyy voiced concern that global attention on Trump’s Greenland ambitions may distract from Moscow’s ongoing invasion, emphasizing Ukraine’s need for sustained international support.
