A series of intense Russian missile and drone strikes pounded the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, in the early hours of Wednesday, killing at least 18 civilians and wounding dozens more. The attacks targeted residential districts and critical energy infrastructure, leaving swathes of the city without power or water as temperatures dropped below freezing. Emergency services worked through the night to extinguish fires and pull survivors from collapsed buildings.
The strikes come as a UK-led convoy of humanitarian aid, organised by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, raced to reach the affected areas, carrying winter supplies, medical kits, and portable generators. British officials confirmed the convoy, comprising over 40 lorries, had crossed into Ukraine from Poland and was navigating damaged roads to deliver aid directly to shelters and hospitals. The scale of the assault underscores Russia's continued willingness to target civilian areas despite international condemnation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated calls for advanced air defence systems, noting that Kyiv had intercepted a majority of the incoming missiles but that gaps in coverage remained. The UK government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has pledged an additional £50 million in humanitarian assistance, bringing its total support to over £4 billion since the start of the full-scale invasion. International organisations have warned that the deliberate targeting of energy infrastructure, a pattern observed throughout the winter, constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law.
As aid convoys push forward, the situation on the ground remains precarious. Officials fear that further strikes could hamper rescue operations and exacerbate the suffering of residents already enduring power outages and freezing conditions. The UK's commitment to maintaining supply lines, despite the risks, signals a broader strategic effort to uphold civilian resilience against sustained Russian tactics.
