Sun Feb 16 12:40:19 UTC 2025: ## Russian Drone Strikes Cripple Mykolaiv, Leaving Thousands Without Heat Amid Freezing Temperatures
**Mykolaiv, Ukraine –** A wave of Russian drone attacks overnight left over 100,000 residents of Mykolaiv without heating as temperatures plummeted below freezing, Ukrainian officials reported. The attacks, which targeted a thermal power plant, were condemned as a deliberate attempt to create a humanitarian crisis.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the strike on civilian infrastructure was “another clear demonstration that Russians are waging war against our people and against life itself.” Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal echoed these sentiments, calling the attack a deliberate attempt to inflict suffering. Repair crews are working to restore heating, but the timing remains uncertain.
The overnight attacks involved approximately 143 Shahed drones, with Ukrainian forces claiming to have shot down 95 and preventing 46 from reaching their targets. While the majority of the attacks were repelled, at least one person was injured and houses in the Kyiv region sustained damage.
The attacks come amidst escalating tensions, with Ukrainian officials reporting an “uptick in attacks” by Russian forces. Zelenskyy, speaking on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, urged Western allies to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses, citing Russia’s recent barrage of aerial attacks—over 1,220 bombs, 850 drones, and 40 missiles in the past week alone. He also noted that Russia currently occupies 20% of Ukraine and is making slow but steady advances in the east.
Adding further complexity to the situation, US President Donald Trump’s unscheduled call to Vladimir Putin sparked outrage amongst European allies and Ukraine. Trump announced an immediate start to peace talks without consulting either Kyiv or European capitals. This has led to concerns that Europe and Ukraine may be sidelined in upcoming US-led peace talks, potentially to be held in Saudi Arabia. An emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers was hastily convened to address these concerns. While the meeting will proceed as planned, there is widespread agreement that any peace negotiations must include both Ukraine and European partners. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy’s call for a European army was met with a cautious response from Poland, which emphasized the need for enhanced European defense capabilities but ruled out a complete unification of national armies.
First Piper 