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What the early February 2026 strikes showed
Summary
A look back at Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilians in the days up to 5 February 2026.
What had the first days of February brought to Ukraine by 5 February 2026? A resumption of heavy Russian strikes, and a rising toll among civilians.
On 3 February, Russian forces launched drones and cruise missiles, including Zircon missiles, across Ukraine. The attacks followed a brief moratorium on strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Kyiv and Kharkiv were among the regions targeted.
The same day, a Russian drone strike in Zaporizhzhia killed two civilians and wounded eight others.
Attack on a market
On 4 February, Russian forces struck a market in Druzhkivka, in Donetsk Oblast, with cluster munitions. At least seven civilians were killed and 15 others injured.
What the sequence showed
The pattern across these two days was of fresh strikes following a pause. The pause covered energy infrastructure, and the attacks that ended it reached several regions, from the capital to the north-east. Civilian areas in the south and east were also hit by drones and cluster munitions.
The reported casualties from Zaporizhzhia and Druzhkivka came within a day of each other, and they were separate from the wider missile and drone attacks on 3 February.
