The war between Russia and Ukraine entered its 1,417th day on Sunday amid intensified fighting on both sides, mounting civilian hardship, and heightened diplomatic rhetoric following the use of advanced weaponry near NATO borders.
In eastern and central Ukraine, Russian artillery and drone strikes hit multiple locations, including residential areas in the Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions. Several civilians were killed and wounded as fires broke out in apartment buildings and local infrastructure suffered damage. Authorities reported continued shelling in areas such as Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, Kostyanynivka and Yarova, underscoring the persistent volatility along the eastern фронт.
Ukraine&rsquo;s military said Saturday saw one of the heaviest days of combat in recent weeks, with nearly 140 clashes recorded. Russian forces reportedly carried out dozens of air strikes, launched thousands of drones, and conducted extensive attacks on Ukrainian troop positions and settlements. Battlefield monitoring indicated limited Russian advances near a few villages in Donetsk, though no major territorial shifts were confirmed.
Kyiv continued to struggle with the aftermath of earlier strikes on energy infrastructure. Thousands of households were left without electricity, while emergency crews worked continuously to restore power and heating. City authorities said roughly half of the affected homes had regained heat supplies, though repair work remained ongoing.
Across the border, Ukrainian drone and missile strikes were reported in several Russian regions. In southwestern Russia, civilians were injured in drone attacks, while a missile strike in a border region left hundreds of thousands without electricity, heating and water. Ukrainian forces also targeted energy facilities deeper inside Russia, including an oil depot in the Volgograd region, causing a fire. Russian air defence systems claimed to have intercepted and destroyed dozens of incoming drones overnight.
The escalation has been accompanied by sharp diplomatic exchanges. The United Nations Security Council is set to convene an emergency meeting to discuss what Ukraine has described as serious violations of international law following Russia&rsquo;s deployment of a hypersonic Oreshnik missile near the Polish border. Ukrainian officials have framed the strike as a warning aimed at Western allies.
Russia, meanwhile, rejected any prospect of European or NATO forces being deployed in Ukraine, with senior officials issuing stark warnings and accompanying them with footage of missile launches. Analysts suggest the use of hypersonic weapons is intended to deter further Western military involvement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv remains in constant contact with its American partners, emphasising continued diplomatic engagement alongside military resistance. He also pledged to intensify pressure on Moscow through sanctions, particularly targeting Russia&rsquo;s energy sector.
International alignments also drew attention as naval exercises involving Russia, Iran, China and South Africa began, with participating countries describing the drills as a demonstration of strategic cooperation.
On the economic front, Russia&rsquo;s energy sector showed mixed signals. Refined fuel exports reportedly rose toward the end of the year, while crude oil production fell to its lowest level in more than a year, highlighting the uneven impact of sanctions and wartime pressures.
As the conflict grinds on, the past 24 hours reflected a familiar but dangerous pattern: sustained battlefield violence, civilian suffering on both sides, and widening geopolitical consequences far beyond the front lines.

Ukraine War Day 1417: Fresh Strikes, Power Cuts

Heavy strikes across Ukraine, drone attacks in Russia, and global diplomatic tensions

Ukraine War Day 1417: Fresh Strikes, Power Cuts

Heavy strikes across Ukraine, drone attacks in Russia, and global diplomatic tensions

January 11, 2026 | 20:05 IST