Russia as a terrorist state: the night attack on January 20, 2026, and its consequences for Ukraine

The night of January 20 became yet another confirmation that Russia acts using methods of terror. The large-scale combined attack on Ukraine was not aimed at military targets, but at cities, housing, and life support systems. Missiles and drones struck the capital and regions, leaving destruction, injuries, and millions of people without light, water, and heat.

According to Ukrainian air defense, 342 aerial targets were destroyed, however, the terrorist attack still had its results: five missiles and 24 drones reached targets in 11 locations, and debris from downed attack means fell in 12 more places. This is a typical tactic of intimidation, not “military operations.”

Kyiv: Terror against peaceful neighborhoods

Around two in the morning, Kyiv shook from explosions. Russia launched a combined strike on the capital, targeting energy and communal infrastructure. Massive power outages began on the Left Bank, and social facilities were switched to autonomous power.

Soon, water also disappeared. Desnianskyi, Darnytskyi, and Dniprovskyi districts were left without water supply, and in Troieshchyna, pressure in the networks dropped to a minimum. Similar problems arose on the Right Bank — in Shevchenkivskyi, Solomianskyi, and Holosiivskyi districts.

The main blow was dealt to life support systems. 5635 apartment buildings were left without heating, and the Left Bank was effectively cut off from water. This is not collateral damage, but a deliberate strategy — to leave people in the cold without basic living conditions.

In the Dniprovskyi district, a high-rise building was damaged, and a 59-year-old woman was hospitalized. Drone debris damaged an elementary school, broke windows in residential buildings, and destroyed cars. About 20 cars were damaged, fires and debris falls were recorded even in the cemetery area. Emergency services record another act of military terror.

Kyiv region: Killing and strikes on civilian objects

In the Kyiv region, Russian drones killed a 50-year-old man in the Bucha district. He received fatal injuries as a result of a strike on a civilian area. Two gas stations were also damaged.

Russia once again showed that its goal is not the army, but to intimidate the population and directly destroy peaceful people.

Zaporizhzhia: Outages as a method of pressure

In Zaporizhzhia, a drone attack led to a power outage for 197 consumers. Although casualties were avoided, the logic of the strike is obvious — to create chaos, deprive the city of electricity and normal functioning. This is a classic scheme of energy terror.

Dnipro and region: Strikes on heat and housing

In Dnipro, the terrorist attack caused a fire, destruction at an enterprise, and damage to residential buildings. Two women were injured — 76 and 67 years old.

A particularly indicative episode is the strike on a large boiler house. As a result, hundreds of homes were left without heat. In winter, such strikes are tantamount to an attempt on the lives of thousands of people.

In the region, a drone damaged a private house, and artillery struck the communities of the Nikopol district. Despite the fact that air defense shot down 40 drones, damage to civilian infrastructure was inflicted.

Rivne region: Attack on critical infrastructure

Morning explosions in Rivne were the result of Russian drones flying over. Critical infrastructure was damaged, more than 10,000 subscribers were left without power. Windows were broken, and cars were damaged. This is again a strike not on the front, but on the rear and peaceful residents.

Odesa region: Strikes on residential buildings

In the Odesa region, Russia attacked residential quarters and energy. In Chornomorsk, a drone hit a high-rise building, destroying the facade and glazing. In the Odesa district, an energy infrastructure facility was damaged.

Parts of Odesa districts were left without power. One of the strikes hit the balcony of an apartment on the ninth floor, causing a fire. This is not a “targeting error” — this is a deliberate strike on civilian housing.

Vinnytsia and Poltava regions: Strikes without military purpose

In the Vinnytsia region, a hit on a critical infrastructure facility was recorded. In the Poltava region, an industrial facility was attacked, fires broke out, and fire trains were involved in extinguishing them.

In all cases, these are actions that have no military sense but cause maximum damage to the economy and civilian population.

Energy terror across the country

After the attack, NEC “Ukrenergo” was forced to introduce emergency power outages in several regions. In the Sumy region, restrictions affected 10 queues of consumers at once, and in Kharkiv, emergency measures coincided with hourly outages.

Russia deliberately strikes at energy, using cold and darkness as weapons.

Kyiv’s reaction and political signal to the world

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated that ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as more than 300 strike drones, were used in the attack. He emphasized that the timely receipt of missiles for air defense systems helped save thousands of lives.

According to the president, the world has no right to turn a blind eye: a country that systematically kills peaceful people and destroys cities cannot be perceived as a “normal participant in international processes.”

What exactly Russia used to terrorize Ukraine

During the attack, the following were used:

• “Zircon” missile;

• 18 ballistic missiles “Iskander-M” / S-300;

• 15 cruise missiles Kh-101;

• 339 strike drones, including “Shaheds.”

The main strike was directed at the Kyiv region.

Ukrainian air defense destroyed 342 targets, including 315 drones, however, some missiles and drones broke through, leading to destruction and casualties.

The attack on January 20 is not an episode of war, but another proof that Russia acts as a terrorist state, for which the killing of civilians and the destruction of infrastructure have become the norm. Ukraine continues resistance and recovery, and responsibility for these crimes is inevitable. This — and why what is happening concerns the security of the entire world — is systematically written about by NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency, recording the facts of Russian terror without illusions and diplomatic euphemisms.