Kyiv: For the first time since the conflict began, Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko has urged residents to temporarily evacuate the capital. This urgent plea follows an intensive bombing campaign by Russia, which deployed 242 drones and 36 missiles, including the hypersonic Oreshnik missile, capable of reaching speeds up to 13,000 km/h.

According to Burkina Information Agency, these attacks have resulted in half of the residential homes being left without heating, a critical issue given the current frigid temperatures ranging between -7 and -12 °C. The Russian Ministry of Defense has stated that these strikes were conducted "in response to an attack carried out by the Kyiv regime" on a residence of Vladimir Putin in late December.

The bombings occur amid stalled diplomatic efforts led in recent months by US President Donald Trump aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict. Russia has also announced its rejection of any Western troop deployments to Ukraine, warning that any foreign soldiers on Ukrainian soil would be deemed "legitimate targets."

These developments are in reaction to plans from the "Coalition of the Willing," primarily composed of European countries supporting Kyiv and proposing to send thousands of soldiers to Ukraine post-war. Currently, Russia holds approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory and continues to demand the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from eastern areas under its control, such as Donetsk, and insists on Ukraine's commitment to not joining NATO through a signed legal document.