Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Feb. 7, causing widespread power outages across most regions, according to Ukrainian officials.
Russian Attack Targets Ukraine’s Energy Grid
The strikes targeted key components of Ukraine’s power grid as temperatures began to fall, with Kyiv forecast to experience lows of –19 degrees Celsius (–2 degrees Fahrenheit) in the coming days. Russian forces specifically targeted high-voltage substations and 750-kilovolt and 330-kilovolt overhead transmission lines, which are critical to Ukraine’s electricity network.
Power generation facilities, including the Burshtyn and Dobrotvir thermal power plants in western Ukraine, were also hit. DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, reported “significant damage” to equipment at its thermal power plants, stating it was the 220th attack on thermal generation facilities since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Attacks were reported throughout the country, including in the Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv oblasts. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that 13 Russian missiles and 21 Shahed-type attack drones targeted 19 sites, with debris falling on three additional locations.
As of Feb. 7, emergency power outage schedules of up to 4.5–5 stages were in effect nationwide, with additional emergency measures implemented in eastern and northern regions. Ukraine’s grid operator, Ukrenergo, requested emergency electricity assistance from Poland.
President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Ukraine’s allies to respond to the attack, emphasizing the need to prevent Russia from using winter as a weapon. He specifically requested missiles for Patriot, NASAMS, and other air defense systems.
Russia has systematically targeted Ukraine’s power plants, substations, and transmission lines since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022, resulting in repeated blackouts. The latest strike occurs amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war, with Ukrainian officials suggesting Moscow is intensifying attacks on civilian energy infrastructure to pressure Kyiv into accepting unfavorable peace terms.
Ukrainian authorities have described the energy situation as “extremely serious,” and the Security Service of Ukraine has stated that the continued targeting of civilian power facilities constitutes crimes against humanity.
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