80 soldiers wiped out in brutal Russian assault | World | News
Russian forces inflicted heavy losses on Ukrainian troops in and around the key eastern town of Kupyansk, intensifying pressure on Kiev as winter gripped the country. According to reports from the SHOT channel, the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kupyansk and Kupyansk-Uzlovy reached 5,500; Russian aircraft carry out up to 20 air strikes a day on front-line positions near Monachynivka, Smorodkovka and Blagodatovka.
Ukrainian counterattacks were reportedly repelled; In one day alone, nearly 80 soldiers were killed, including members of the elite “Khartia” brigade. Street fighting continues in Kupyansk, forcing Ukrainian forces to move UAV control centers further from the front line. The violence in the east coincides with a growing humanitarian crisis in the capital.
Kiev’s energy and utilities workers are paying a deadly price as they struggle to maintain basic services amid repeated Russian strikes.
Since mid-January, scores of workers have died while repairing infrastructure damaged by Moscow’s attacks. These responders face extreme risks; Among those recently lost was Boyechko, a private specialist who died during an emergency repair operation.
The toll on Ukraine’s energy sector is heavy. Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko described recent weeks as some of the most challenging for the sector since the first power outages in 2022.
More than 180 teams of electrical engineers, utility workers and railway workers are working around the clock to restore electricity and heating. Authorities warn that Russian forces are deliberately targeting repair personnel, forcing workers to seek shelter during air raid warnings.
Freezing weather further slowed the recovery, with temperatures dropping below minus 20 degrees Celsius in Kiev. The Kiev Municipal Administration reported that more than 1,000 utility workers are racing to restore heating supplies with the help of regional brigades.
Despite their relentless efforts, indoor temperatures in thousands of buildings remain below freezing.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko warned of “millions freezing”, while Hope For Ukraine’s Yuriy Boyechko described the current crisis as a “race against time” to prevent a complete humanitarian catastrophe.
From the battlefields of Kupyansk to the frozen apartment buildings of Kiev, Russia’s offensive is straining Ukraine’s military and civilian infrastructure to the breaking point.
