Russian drone strikes injure four in Kharkiv ahead of Abu Dhabi talks

As a result of Russian drone strikes on the towns of Derhachi and Kharkiv in the Kharkiv region, four people were injured, said the head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration, Oleh Syniehubov.

"A 79-year-old woman suffered an acute stress reaction, and a 22-year-old man was hospitalised, Caliber.Az quotes Syniehubov as saying in a post on Telegram.  

Preliminary information indicates that Russian forces carried out a KAB strike on a suburb of Kharkiv.

The full consequences of the Russian strikes are still being assessed.

The authorities in Kharkiv have also announced that damage to energy infrastructure has forced them to cut off heating in 820 homes, while heating and electricity supplies have also been cut off in areas of Kyiv.

In a later post,  Syniehubov said two more people were injured in Kharkiv as a result of Russia's shelling: "A 27-year-old and a 58-year-old man are currently receiving medical assistance."

The attacks are occurring ahead of a new stage of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi, set to take place on February 4 and 5.

The Abu Dhabi talks are a series of trilateral diplomatic negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, hosted in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Their aim is to explore ways to end Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022.

The first round of these talks took place in late January 2026, and a second round is scheduled for February 4–5 in Abu Dhabi. All three parties — Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington — have confirmed they will send representatives to continue discussions.

By Khagan Isayev