Putin's night attack strikes Ukrainians and peace talks, says Ukrainian Foreign Minister
Photo: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiga (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's missiles, which struck Ukraine overnight, hit not only the Ukrainian people but also the negotiation table in Abu Dhabi, states Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha on X.
"Cynically, Putin ordered a brutal massive missile strike against Ukraine right while delegations are meeting in Abu Dhabi to advance the America-led peace process. His missiles hit not only our people, but also the negotiation table," Sybiha said.
He added that the two largest cities, Kyiv and Kharkiv, shook overnight from loud explosions. Dozens of ballistic and air-launched missiles were used, along with hundreds of drones.
The main targets remained the same: energy facilities and residential areas. Russia continues its genocidal war against civilians, committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.
"This barbaric attack once again proves that Putin’s place is not at the board of peace, but at the dock of the special tribunal," the foreign minister stressed.
Russia's night attack on Ukraine, January 24
On the night of January 24, Russia carried out another combined strike on Ukraine, using over 375 attack drones and 21 missiles of various types. Ukrainian air defenses managed to intercept most of the targets, though some missiles hit their marks.
Kyiv suffered the most damage, with destruction reported in five districts. One person was killed and at least four others were injured.
The strike caused disruptions in heat and water supply on the city’s left bank, leaving nearly 6,000 homes without heating.
Kharkiv was also targeted by a large-scale drone attack overnight, leaving about 20 people injured.
In the morning, several regions of Ukraine implemented emergency power outages due to complications in the energy system caused by the attacks.
Negotiations in Abu Dhabi
On January 23, delegations from Ukraine, Russia, and the US began talks in Abu Dhabi. The Ukrainian delegation is led by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the key issue at the meeting would be territorial, concerning Donbas.
Before the talks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Ukrainian forces must leave Donbas, calling it "an important condition for the Russian side."
Zelenskyy also held consultations with the Ukrainian delegation ahead of the talks.
After the first day, Umerov shared details of the negotiations in Abu Dhabi.
Read more about the first trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the US, and Russia, and the events leading up to it, in the RBC-Ukraine article.
