At least one person was killed and 15 injured in Russian attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv, causing humanitarian needs to grow as diplomatic channels multiplied. The strikes disrupted essential services while multiple pathways for negotiation remained active.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko alerted Kyiv residents that the capital faced a “massive enemy attack,” directing people to remain in protective shelters. The strikes targeted residential buildings, causing casualties and infrastructure damage. Humanitarian needs grew as heat and water services were knocked offline in several neighborhoods during winter.
In Kharkiv, Iranian-made Shahed drones attacked multiple residential complexes, increasing humanitarian needs, as confirmed by Mayor Igor Terekhov. The drone strikes caused extensive damage to civilian housing and essential services. The northeastern city’s humanitarian situation has deteriorated throughout the nearly four-year conflict.
Despite growing humanitarian needs, diplomatic channels multiplied with discussions proceeding on several fronts. In Abu Dhabi, American, Russian, and Ukrainian representatives engaged in two-day talks. Separately, President Putin met with Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while President Zelensky held discussions with President Trump. The UAE foreign ministry described the talks as efforts “to promote dialogue and identify political solutions.”
Ukrainian President Zelensky announced that peace proposals were “nearly ready” as diplomatic channels continued operating in parallel. He proposed creating a free trade zone in eastern Ukraine under Kyiv’s control. The multiple diplomatic channels represented sustained international effort toward resolution.