President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the international community – especially the United States – to deliver a “clear reaction” to Russia after a massive overnight assault that killed civilians, struck residential areas and damaged critical infrastructure across Ukraine.
The appeal came as emergency crews continued to deal with the aftermath of one of the heaviest combined drone and missile attacks in weeks, launched amid freezing winter temperatures and just days after renewed diplomatic efforts in Paris.
According to a statement published on Zelensky’s official Telegram channel, four people were confirmed killed in Kyiv alone, including an ambulance worker, with dozens more injured. Russian strikes also hit the Lviv region and other parts of the country, as well as Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and foreign diplomatic property.
Call for international response
Zelensky urged Ukraine’s partners to respond decisively.
“We need a clear reaction of the world. First of all, the United States, which Russia really takes into account,” he stressed. “Russia should receive signals that it is its duty to focus on diplomacy, and feel the consequences whenever it focuses on killings and destroying infrastructure.”
He also warned that the attack underscored the urgency of strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses.
“Support for air defense for Ukraine is a constant priority. You cannot lose a single day in supply, in production, in agreements,” he said.
Night of heavy fire over Ukraine
Zelensky reported Russian forces launched a total of 242 drones and dozens of missiles overnight, including 13 ballistic missiles, 1 Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile and 22 cruise missiles.
“The attack is when there is a significant cold snap. It is against the ordinary life of ordinary people,” he said, noting that strikes were aimed at both civilian neighborhoods and energy facilities.
In Kyiv, at least 20 residential buildings were damaged, and 1 apartment block was hit twice – the second time while emergency services were already responding to the first strike.
Among the dead in the capital was an emergency medical worker, Zelensky said, offering condolences to the victims’ families.
Power, heat and rescue operations
Authorities were working to restore heating and electricity across affected regions, Zelensky said, adding that an emergency meeting of Ukraine’s Energy Headquarters would be held to assess damage, equipment needs and timelines for repairs.
“Now the maximum is possible to restore the supply of heating and electricity to people,” he said.
The overnight assault caused widespread outages in Kyiv and surrounding areas, as temperatures fell to –9°C (16°F), sharply increasing the danger to residents left without heat or power in midwinter.
Embassy hit, diplomatic alarm
Zelensky said a Russian drone also damaged the building of the Qatari Embassy in Kyiv – a country he described as playing an active role in mediating the release of prisoners of war and civilians held by Russia.
“This is a state that does so much for mediation with Russia,” he said, highlighting the strike as further evidence of Moscow’s disregard for diplomatic norms.
Strikes despite diplomatic push
The assault came after Zelensky warned in his Thursday evening address that intelligence indicated “another massive Russian attack may happen tonight,” urging Ukrainians to heed air-raid sirens and go to shelters.
“The Russians haven’t changed one bit. They are trying to exploit the weather,” he said.
The strikes also came just days after Ukrainian, US and European envoys met in Paris for high-level talks aimed at finalizing what officials described as “robust” security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a potential peace framework.
As recovery efforts continued on Friday, Zelensky said Ukraine would brief its partners at all levels on the damage and the support needed in response.