ConnexionUkraine war briefing: Nato chief warns of ‘harshest winter’ in a decade as Russian attacks cut power in Kharkiv
Strikes knock out electricity to 80% of Ukraine’s second-largest city and surrounding region and damage 11th-century Kyiv monastery. What we know on day 1,434
Russian drones and missile strikes hit Kharkiv on Monday, knocking out power to 80% of Ukraine’s second-largest city and the surrounding region and striking apartment buildings, a school and a kindergarten, local officials said. Two people were injured, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said in a video posted on Telegram. Mayor Ihor Terekhov said an “energy site” had been targeted in the city as night-time temperatures dipped to -14C. The capital, Kyiv, has been hit by three massive air attacks since the New Year, knocking out power and heating to hundreds of buildings. The war correspondent and executive director of war crimes unit the Reckoning Project, Janine di Giovanni, has suggested Russian president Vladimir Putin is intentionally “weaponising the savage eastern European winter”.
In Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s home town, Russian drones hit a high-rise apartment building, the head of the industrial city’s military administration said. Oleksandr Vilkul said on Telegram that the impact triggered a fire, but residents in the city south-east of Kharkiv were safely evacuated. Reuters could not independently verify the reports and there was no immediate reaction from Russian officials.
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte has warned Ukraine is facing its “harshest winter” for over a decade. He urged lawmakers in the European parliament on Monday to show flexibility on the use of EU funds and welcomed the French move to seize a suspected shadow fleet tanker in a hit to Russia’s model of funding its war. Rutte also highlighted Nato’s continued support of Ukraine with US military equipment worth billions of dollars – and noted Ukraine’s desire to join Nato, but pointed out some member states remained opposed, so “politically, it’s practically not on the cards” for now. Rutte dismissed a potential European alternative to Nato without the US, saying: “Putin would love it.”
Rutte said the aim of the ongoing US-led peace talks should be a peace deal or a long-term ceasefire “as soon as possible”, saying that Ukraine’s security “I think we all know … is also our security”. Discussing Zelenskyy’s recent comments that the US security guarantees are “close to being agreed upon”, he acknowledged the major and “very sensitive” issue of territory with Russia, saying only Ukraine could decide what, if any, compromise they accepted. He flatly denied that the US tried to leverage its promise of security guarantees for Ukraine in talks with Nato on Greenland.
Another Russian drone and missile attack has damaged parts of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Ukraine’s culture ministry said on Monday. The attack on Ukraine’s most famous religious landmark – a Unesco world heritage site – took place overnight to Saturday, the ministry said, leaving “damage to doors and window frames”. Agence
France-Presse was not able to immediately verify the extent of the damage. Orthodox Christians consider the complex Ukraine’s spiritual centre. Founded in the 11th century, it is home to more than 100 buildings as well as a subterranean labyrinth of caves where monks stay and worship. Unesco added it to its list of endangered landmarks in 2023, citing the “threat of destruction” from Russia’s ongoing offensive.
Kim Jong-un has viewed sculptures for a memorial of soldiers who died in Ukraine. The North Korean leader visited the Mansudae art studio on Sunday to guide the creation of the sculptures, state media KCNA said on Monday. He said they would “convey forever the legendary feats ... of admirable sons of the DPRK Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”. Under a 2024 mutual defence pact with Russia, North Korea sent about 14,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, where more than 6,000 of them were killed, according to South Korean, Ukrainian and western sources. Kim has repeatedly lauded the troops’ “heroism” in fighting abroad and honoured them, including greeting and decorating them and working personally on the memorial for the fallen soldiers.
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© Photograph: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images
© Photograph: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images
© Photograph: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images
