Overnight Russian air strikes have killed at least four people, including three young children in Ukraine's north-eastern Kharkiv region, local officials have said.
Regional head Oleh Synegubov reported that two boys, both aged two, a one-year-old girl, and a 34-year-old man died after a drone hit their house in the town of Bohodukhiv.
A 35-year-old pregnant woman and a 73-year-old woman were injured in the attack.
This tragic incident is part of a broader resurgence of violence as Moscow has renewed aerial attacks after a request from former U.S. President Donald Trump for a pause during the harsh winter cold.
Bohodukhiv, located near Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv, has experienced almost daily attacks in recent days. Just last Monday, a 41-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy were reported killed in the town.
In addition, Russian forces targeted the city of Slovyansk with seven bombs, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, including an 11-year-old girl.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Moscow is intensifying pressure on the region by targeting transport and energy infrastructures with a record number of ballistic missiles.
To address the ongoing crisis, local authorities have declared a state of emergency regarding the energy situation in the Kharkiv region, exacerbated by severe power cuts affecting tens of thousands of residents, many of whom are without heating and running water.
The violence unfolded after an 'energy truce' expired, which had been aimed at providing some respite to Ukraine's energy sector.
International discussions regarding the war's potential resolution continue, with both sides reportedly invited to talks in the U.S. next week.
The atmosphere of urgency is underscored further by recent drone assault operations carried out by Ukraine in Russia, including significant strikes in the Volgograd region.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has led to dire humanitarian consequences and escalated conflict dynamics in the region.
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