In a significant escalation, Russia launched its largest aerial attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure this year, deploying over 70 missiles and 450 drones, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (BBC World, February 03, 2026). This assault, described as 'terrorising' by Zelenskyy, left hundreds of thousands without heating amid freezing temperatures of -20C (The Guardian, February 03, 2026). The timing of the attack, just a day before planned peace talks in Abu Dhabi, has been widely criticized. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte remarked that such actions 'do not signal seriousness about peace' (Business Recorder, February 04, 2026). The attack also violated a temporary 'energy truce' brokered by US President Donald Trump, which was supposed to halt strikes on Ukraine's energy systems (The Guardian, February 03, 2026).