Ukraine said Russia launched a large overnight assault targeting power plants and distribution infrastructure, using over 400 drones and roughly 40 missiles. Two western thermal stations — including Burshtyn and Dobrotvir — and key substations and lines were hit, forcing emergency nationwide power cuts. Kyiv requested emergency electricity imports from Poland as temperatures are forecast to fall to around -14°C. Officials warned outages could be prolonged amid intensified attacks on the energy sector since autumn 2025.
Russia Launches Massive Night Assault On Ukraine's Power Grid, Zelenskiy Says
People sleep as they take shelter inside a metro station during a Russian overnight missile and drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Alina Smutko
KYIV, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Ukrainian officials said Russia carried out a large-scale overnight aerial assault on the country's energy infrastructure on Saturday, striking both power generation and distribution systems and triggering emergency cuts across the network.
Attack Details
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the barrage involved more than 400 drones and about 40 missiles of various types, with strikes aimed at the grid, generating plants and distribution substations. Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said two thermal power stations in western Ukraine — including the Burshtyn and Dobrotvir plants — and key distribution lines and substations were hit.
Impact and Immediate Response
Officials reported emergency power cuts nationwide as grid operators sought to prevent further cascading failures. Shmyhal said Kyiv requested emergency electricity imports from Poland to stabilize the system while repair teams stand ready to start restoration work as soon as security conditions allow.
Humanitarian and Seasonal Risks
The strikes came as temperatures began falling, with forecasts calling for lows near -14°C (7°F) in some areas, raising serious humanitarian concerns. Regional authorities warned that outages could be prolonged because of both the scale of damage and the harsh winter weather.
Wider Context
The attacks follow the latest round of U.S.-brokered talks between Ukraine and Russia, which have yet to produce a breakthrough. Ukrainian leaders condemned the strikes as a deliberate tactic to use the cold as leverage against civilians and called on international partners to respond.
Regional Effects
Air alerts were reported across western regions including Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv; Lviv officials said alerts lasted more than six hours. Polish authorities temporarily suspended operations at two southeastern airports as a precaution due to nearby strikes on Ukrainian territory; both later resumed flights.
"Every day, Russia could choose real diplomacy, but it chooses new strikes," Zelenskiy posted on X, urging the international community to prevent Moscow from using cold weather as leverage.
DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, reported significant equipment damage at several thermal plants and said this was the 10th attack on its thermal stations since October 2025. Since the autumn of 2025, Russian strikes on energy infrastructure have increased, causing frequent blackouts and plunging millions into darkness for hours at a time.
(Reporting by Olena Harmash; Editing by Reuters staff)
Help us improve.
