Russia‘s targeting of a maternity hospital in southern Ukraine has underlined Vladimir Putin‘s determination to “weaponise winter”, an expert has warned. Russian forces have targeted a maternity hospital in southern Ukraine during a winter assault on the national power grid, according to a Ukrainian analyst, as peace talks resume today in Abu Dhabi.

Yuriy Boyechko, a commentator with the Humanitarian Foundation of Ukraine, described the overnight barrage as a violation of recent diplomatic assurances. Mr Boyechko highlighted the strike on the Zaporizhzhia maternity hospital, which wounded six people – including three women – and caused a fire in the gynaecology reception area, as evidence of Moscow’s strategy to capitalise on freezing temperatures.

Mr Boyechko said in a statement: “The Kremlin’s overnight assault on Ukraine isn’t just another escalation; it is a direct betrayal of recent diplomatic assurances.

“Despite President Trump’s public statement that Vladimir Putin agreed to a week-long pause on targeting energy infrastructure, Russia launched a record-breaking barrage of 521 aerial threats—including 32 ballistic missiles and 450 drones—specifically aimed at the power grid during a -20°C (-4°F) cold wave.”

By striking a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia and leaving over a thousand residential buildings in Kyiv without heat, Mr Boyechko argued that the administration demonstrates that it views humanitarian pauses as a strategic window to stockpile munitions for civilian terror. He suggested the US government must now decide if constructive talks can continue while a diplomatic partner “weaponises the winter cold” against millions.

He added: “The failed ‘Trump-Putin pause’ necessitates a shift in US leverage—potentially through renewed defence aid or secondary sanctions—to ensure that American diplomacy isn’t used as a shield for Russian war crimes.”

The attack occurred after Ukrainian emergency services reported Russian drones hitting the hospital early Sunday. Regional head Ivan Fedorov confirmed six injuries; fires were extinguished, but the facility remained damaged. No fatalities were reported at that site. The assault extended beyond Zaporizhzhia. In Dnipro, a drone strike hit a bus carrying mineworkers from DTEK’s Ternivska mine, killing at least twelve and injuring several more.

Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal called it a “cynical and targeted attack on energy sector workers.” Overnight into Sunday, Russia launched 90 drones, with 14 striking nine locations, Ukraine’s air force reported. A separate strike in Dnipro killed a woman and a man, while shelling in Kherson seriously wounded a 59-year-old woman. In Kyiv, explosions continued for 40 minutes, according to documentation provided by Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun.

Ms Sovsun wrote: “I’ve been hearing explosions in the city for the last 40 minutes. The Russians are clearly trying to destroy what is left of Kyiv energy infrastracture, and do this on one of the coldest nights of the year (-22 С/- 7 F). The same is happening all over the country. Energy ceasefire, they say?… Ready for peace?…”

Her account aligns with reports of over 1,000 buildings losing heat, supporting Mr Boyechko’s claim that Putin exploits pauses for terror. Russia’s defence ministry claimed strikes on military transport infrastructure and the downing of 21 Ukrainian drones, but offered no comment on civilian hits.

The strikes overshadowed the resumption of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi today and tomorrow, postponed from Sunday.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the dates, stating Ukraine is “ready for substantive talks” toward a “real and dignified end” to nearly four years of invasion.

No immediate response came from US or Russian officials, though Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev described a prior Florida meeting as “constructive.”

Deep divides persist over Russia’s occupation of Donbas and other territories. Recent hits in Odesa, Kharkiv, and Kyiv – killing two and injuring four – belie any ceasefire. As temperatures plummet, Ukraine endures widespread blackouts, with DTEK accusing Russia of a “large-scale terrorist attack”.