The Briefing Russia strikes energy facilities in Kharkiv as Zelensky declares a state of emergency
Jan 16, 2026
Nobel Prize-winning economist Richard Thaler, famous for founding behavioral economics, discusses his career and the nuances of human behavior. Julia Jenne, a Ukraine expert, provides a gripping account of the recent Russian strikes in Kharkiv amidst severe winter conditions and explains Ukraine's emergency measures. Meanwhile, Carlotta Ribello reports from Davos, examining the World Economic Forum's global risks survey, which highlights both geo-economic tensions and climate concerns, all contrasting with the backdrop of Trump’s possible influence.
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Winter Energy Attack Devastates Kharkiv
- Russia's strike on a Kharkiv energy facility left 400,000 people without power and heating in the dead of winter.
- Julia Jenne describes improvised resilience centres, field kitchens and widened school closures as immediate coping measures.
Household Improvisation To Survive The Cold
- People heat bricks on gas hobs and set up field kitchens in courtyards to stay warm.
- Children use inflatable resilience centres to charge phones and do homework when schools remain closed.
State Of Emergency Accelerates Repairs
- Zelensky declared a state of emergency to speed repairs and procure batteries and generators from abroad.
- The measure aims to bypass red tape and use state funds to restore power faster.
