Russia Strikes Ukraine Energy Sites in ‘Most Powerful Blow’ of 2026
Russia has launched its most powerful strike on Ukraine’s energy sector this year, targeting power plants and infrastructure across Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and other cities. The missile and drone attacks left the energy system operating under “serious restrictions,” according to the private energy company DTEK, and caused widespread disruption for civilians.
The strikes hit during sub-zero temperatures of -20C (-4F), leaving more than 1,000 residential buildings in Kyiv without heating and causing irreparable damage to a power plant in Kharkiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, saying Russia was “choosing terror and escalation” over diplomacy and called for maximum international pressure on Moscow.
The attacks followed the expiration of a short-lived “energy truce” agreed between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte visited Kyiv to meet Zelensky and address the national parliament, as negotiators prepare for another round of talks in Abu Dhabi later this week.
According to Zelensky, over 70 ballistic and cruise missiles were launched along with 450 drones, designed to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses. Ukraine’s Air Force reported intercepting only 38 missiles, meaning many reached their targets. The country continues to face shortages of defensive missiles, relying heavily on US-made Patriot systems to protect its skies.
Residents spent the night sheltering in metro stations, some setting up tents to shield against the freezing cold. Many have endured days or weeks without heating, relying on blankets, hats, and soup kitchens to survive.
DTEK confirmed two of its power plants, including one in Odesa, were hit during the overnight attacks—the ninth such major strike on Ukraine’s energy sector since October. Some targeted plants provide heating only, not electricity, meaning the attacks were aimed directly at civilian infrastructure—a potential violation of the Geneva Convention.
Repair teams have been working tirelessly across the country, hailed as heroes, but the shortage of engineers and workers makes it difficult to restore the damaged systems quickly. Each successive attack further weakens Ukraine’s energy grid and increases the likelihood of blackouts.
Officials and residents believe Russia’s strategy is to disrupt daily life and turn civilians against Kyiv, pressuring Ukraine to cede territory in the eastern Donbas region. However, local citizens remain defiant, expressing anger at Russia’s attempt to force compliance through winter hardship.
Several residential buildings were damaged or set on fire by falling debris, and multiple people were injured in the latest attacks. Zelensky has vowed to continue defending the country, even as he temporarily stays in a local school equipped with a generator to withstand the bitter winter nights.
