In a grim prelude to crucial diplomatic talks, Russian forces launched a fresh wave of attacks on Ukraine in the early hours of Monday, 5 January 2026, resulting in casualties and damage in the Kyiv region.
Details of the Deadly Dawn Assault
Air raid sirens blared across Ukraine shortly after midnight as the nation's air defence systems engaged incoming threats. The assault proved deadly in the capital region. A private medical facility in Kyiv was struck and set ablaze, with the State Emergency Service confirming one person was killed and three others wounded in that incident. Rescuers were pictured carrying casualties from the charred building.
In the nearby city of Fastiv, another pre-dawn strike claimed the life of a man in his seventies. Kyiv regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported that the attacks caused power outages, forcing the use of backup systems to maintain critical water and heating supplies as temperatures plunged to minus eight degrees Celsius.
Peace Talks Shadowed by Violence
The timing of the bombardment is highly significant, occurring on the eve of a diplomatic summit in Paris. European leaders are gathering there in hopes of finalising a peace plan, which Ukrainian officials have indicated is "90 percent ready." Security advisers from 15 nations, including Britain, France, and Germany, along with NATO and EU representatives, held preparatory talks in Kyiv over the weekend.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff joined these discussions virtually, though the day's events were partly overshadowed by unrelated US military action in Venezuela. Despite the intensified diplomacy, a chasm remains between the warring sides. Russia, which controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory, demands full authority over the eastern Donbas region. Kyiv has vowed not to sign any deal that cedes land, warning it would only embolden future Russian aggression.
War of Accusations and Escalating Strikes
As ground fighting continues, both sides have escalated long-range strikes. Ukraine has focused its drone campaigns on Russian energy infrastructure. In turn, Russia's defence ministry claims to have intercepted hundreds of Ukrainian drones aimed at the Moscow region since the start of 2026.
The Kremlin also released footage alleging a drone targeted President Vladimir Putin's residence in Novgorod, a claim Kyiv denied and European allies viewed with scepticism. US President Donald Trump, commenting aboard Air Force One, stated American officials did not believe Ukraine targeted the residence.
Further accusations flew over a strike last Thursday in the Moscow-controlled part of Kherson region, where Russia says 28 civilians celebrating the New Year were killed at a hotel and café. Kyiv countered that the target was a military gathering.
This latest violence underscores the brutal reality of a war that, according to an AFP analysis using Institute for the Study of War data, saw Russia make its largest territorial gains in 2025. As international negotiators work to end Europe's deadliest conflict since WWII, the missiles falling on Kyiv serve as a stark reminder of the urgent challenges they face.
