More than half a million people left Kyiv in January due to Russia's energy attacks, according to the mayor

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said around 600,000 people have left the capital in January amid a wave of Russian attacks that caused severe power outages and left many homes without heating during subzero temperatures, the Times reported on January 20. Klitschko’s press service informed the media that the estimate was based on mobile phone billing data. The report follows Klitschko’s January 9 call urging residents to temporarily leave the city if possible.

Home to more than 3 million people, Kyiv is struggling to restore electricity, heating, and water as Russian missiles and drones continue to target critical infrastructure, stretching Ukraine’s air defenses.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on January 21 that nearly 60% of the capital had no electricity as of the morning, adding that Kyiv, as well as Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Dnipro, and surrounding regions, face the most difficult conditions.

Repair crews, emergency services, and energy workers are operating at full capacity, he said.

The situation worsened after repeated strikes damaged the infrastructure multiple times. Klitschko said on January 21 that about 4,000 of 5,635 high-rise buildings remained without heating after the January 20 attack, many being reconnected for a second time following earlier damage. Ukraine declared a state of emergency in the energy sector on Jan. 14, while grid operator Ukrenergo reported ongoing outages and scheduled power cuts nationwide, with emergency repairs continuing where security conditions allow.

Most Ukrainian refugees in Norway do not plan to return home

Of the 100,000 Ukrainians who arrived in Norway since 2022, only 5,400 have returned — about 5%. Only one in ten says they plan to return after the war ends. Only 7% of those surveyed believe there will be peace in 2026.

Cash payments or return programs do not influence people's decisions. Ukrainians will not go home until they are confident about their safety, work, their children's future, and a life without fear.

Trump's envoy Witkoff and Putin will meet on Thursday

Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, said he will meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday, January 22, with the Kremlin confirming the planned talks. Witkoff told CNBC that the meeting was requested by the Russian side, calling it a “significant statement” from Moscow.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the meeting is on Putin’s schedule. The Kremlin had earlier said it was preparing to host Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, in Moscow for discussions on Ukraine, though no timeline had previously been announced.

Russia's attacks on the energy facility in Odesa Oblast caused significant damage

A Russian attack on the morning of Jan. 21 caused significant damage to an energy facility operated by DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, in Odesa Oblast, the company reported.

DTEK said the damage is extensive and that restoring the equipment to working condition will take a long time. Emergency repair work began after clearance from emergency services and the military, with specialized crews inspecting damaged equipment and clearing debris before proceeding with repairs.

One killed and 15 injured in Sumy, Kharkiv, and Donetsk oblasts due to the Russian attacks

One person was killed and at least 15 others were injured in Russian attacks on Donetsk, Sumy, and Kharkiv oblasts on January 20, according to regional military administrations. The strikes hit multiple settlements, causing civilian casualties and damage to housing and infrastructure.

In Donetsk Oblast, a resident of the village of Osykove was killed, while seven more people were injured in Russian strikes, said Oblast Military Administration Head Vadym Filashkin. He noted that the reported casualty figures do not include the occupied city of Mariupol or the town of Volnovakha. In Sumy Oblast, Russian forces carried out nearly 80 attacks on 31 settlements across 16 hromadas, injuring three people — a 42-year-old woman, a 21-year-old man, and a 63-year-old man — while another woman later sought medical care for injuries sustained earlier in the week.

Kharkiv Oblast also came under fire, with eight settlements hit and five people injured, said Oblast Military Administration Head. A 41-year-old man was wounded in the village of Husynka, while four others — including elderly residents — suffered acute stress reactions in Chuhuiv and the village of Sadove. Authorities reported additional damage to civilian infrastructure across several districts of the oblast.