Russia has intensified its energy warfare campaign throughout January 2026, launching sustained strikes that have killed at least 13 people and left 1.2 million properties without power. Following the January 9 and 13 attacks that deployed over 500 drones and missiles, Russia unleashed another barrage on January 24-25 with 375 drones and 21 missiles—including two rare Tsirkon ballistic missiles—targeting Kyiv and four northern regions. On January 27, Russian strikes knocked out power to 80% of Kharkiv and surrounding regions while temperatures plunged to -14°C, complicating repair efforts amid constant air raid threats. Most recently, on January 28, Russian drones struck an energy facility in Chernihiv's Semenivka community, leaving several settlements without power, while also attacking multiple districts in Dnipropetrovsk with shelling and strike drones that damaged residential buildings and infrastructure. The sustained campaign has reduced Ukraine's generation capacity to 14 GW—less than half the 33.7 GW available before the invasion—creating a 3 GW deficit during peak winter demand. As Ukraine endures its coldest winter since the invasion began, President Zelenskyy's state of emergency remains in effect with 1,676 residential buildings in Kyiv still without heating and over 1,000 Ukrainians hospitalized with frostbite and hypothermia in the past month.
Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK, has now endured over 220 attacks since February 2022, with the January 13 strike marking the eighth massive assault on its thermal plants since October 2025 alone. During the week of January 13-18, Russia used more than 1,300 attack drones, around 1,050 guided aerial bombs and 29 missiles, demonstrating unprecedented intensity as peace talks continued in parallel. Ukraine continues striking back at Russian oil infrastructure—hitting the Ilsky refinery in Krasnodar on January 1, the Afipsky refinery on January 21, and the Slavyansk refinery on January 26, along with Lukoil offshore platforms in the Caspian Sea on January 11—maintaining pressure on the revenue stream funding Moscow's campaign. With Ukraine's energy system pushed to the breaking point and Russia showing no signs of relenting despite ongoing US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi, the question is no longer whether the infrastructure war will intensify, but whether Ukraine's grid can survive the winter while diplomatic efforts attempt to stop the attacks.
Fictional content for perspective - not real quotes.
H. L. Mencken
(1880-1956) ·Progressive Era · satire
Fictional AI pastiche — not real quote.
"The genius of modern warfare reveals itself once more: why waste precious ordinance on soldiers when one can simply freeze the civilians into submission while the diplomats jabber about peace in heated conference rooms? One observes that the ancient barbarian's club has given way to the hypersonic missile, yet the underlying philosophy remains magnificently unchanged—terrorize the populace until their leaders cry uncle, all while maintaining the threadbare fiction that this constitutes military strategy rather than mere savagery with better technology."
0% found this insightful
Ever wondered what historical figures would say about today's headlines?
Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.
Click a figure to generate their perspective on this story
Key Indicators
14 GW
Ukraine's remaining capacity
Current generation capacity, down from 33.7 GW pre-invasion; 3 GW below peak winter demand
220+
Attacks on DTEK plants
DTEK thermal power plants struck over 220 times since February 2022; 4 workers killed, 59 injured
1.2M
Properties without power
Number left without electricity after Jan 24-25 strike; 1,676 Kyiv buildings still lack heating
1,000+
Hospitalized for cold
Ukrainians treated for frostbite and hypothermia in past 30 days amid subzero temperatures
80%
Kharkiv without power
Percentage of Ukraine's second-largest city left without electricity on Jan 27 at -14°C
People Involved
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine (Leading Ukraine's defense amid worsening energy crisis; declared state of emergency for energy sector; demanding faster international energy imports as 1.2M properties remain without power)
Vladimir Putin
President of Russia (Ordering expansion of Ukraine operations and infrastructure attacks)
Organizations Involved
DT
DTEK Group
Private Energy Company
Status: Endured 220+ attacks since February 2022; 4 workers killed, 59 injured; facilities hit for 8th time since October 2025
Ukraine's biggest private energy company, operating thermal power plants that have become Russia's primary targets.
IN
International Energy Agency
Intergovernmental Organization
Status: Monitoring and reporting on Ukraine's energy crisis
The IEA has become the authoritative source tracking damage to Ukraine's grid and analyzing winter survival scenarios.
RU
Russian Armed Forces
Military
Status: Conducting ongoing strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure
Russia's military has executed over 4,500 attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure since February 2022.
Timeline
Chernihiv Energy Facility Hit, Dnipropetrovsk Attacked
Infrastructure
Russian drones strike energy facility in Semenivka community, Chernihiv region, leaving several settlements without power; separate attacks hit multiple Dnipropetrovsk districts with drones and shelling, damaging residential buildings and infrastructure; 103 of 146 Russian drones destroyed by air defense overnight.
Kharkiv Strike Cuts 80% of Power
Infrastructure
Russian drones and missiles knock out power to 80% of Kharkiv and surrounding region, hitting apartment buildings, school, and kindergarten; 2 injured as temperatures drop to -14°C.
Ukraine Strikes Slavyansk Refinery
Counter-Strike
Ukrainian forces hit small oil refinery in southern Russia's Slavyansk facility, continuing campaign against Russian oil infrastructure.
Russia Launches 375 Drones, 21 Missiles
Escalation
Russia unleashes 375 drones and 21 missiles including two rare Tsirkon ballistic missiles, killing at least 1 in Kyiv and leaving 1.2M properties without power; 30 wounded in Kharkiv including a child.
Ukraine Targets Afipsky Refinery
Counter-Strike
Ukrainian drones strike Afipsky refinery in Krasnodar region with capacity of 180,000 barrels per day, continuing pressure on Russian oil revenue.
Zelenskyy Demands Faster Energy Imports
Crisis
President Zelenskyy calls for accelerated energy imports as 1,676 Kyiv buildings remain without heating; warns situation threatens civilian survival.
Health Ministry Reports 1,000+ Cold Casualties
Impact
Ukraine's health ministry reports over 1,000 people hospitalized with frostbite and hypothermia in past 30 days; warns situation could become life-threatening if temperatures drop further.
Zelenskyy Declares Energy State of Emergency
Crisis
President Zelenskyy declares state of emergency for Ukraine's energy sector as temperatures drop to -19°C; 400 Kyiv apartment buildings still without heat, 70% of capital without power.
Russia's Largest 2026 Strike: 300 Drones and Missiles
Escalation
Russia launches nearly 300 drones, 18 ballistic missiles, and 7 cruise missiles at eight regions, killing 4 at mail depot in Kharkiv; DTEK thermal plant hit for 8th time since October 2025.
Ukraine Strikes Caspian Sea Oil Platforms
Counter-Strike
Ukrainian forces hit multiple Lukoil-operated offshore oil platforms in Caspian Sea, expanding strikes beyond refineries to production facilities.
Ukraine Strikes Volgograd Oil Depot
Counter-Strike
Ukrainian drones spark fire at oil depot in Russia's Volgograd region, continuing campaign to deprive Moscow of oil export revenue.
Russia Deploys Hypersonic Oreshnik Missile
Escalation
Russia launches 242 drones and 36 missiles including Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile—only second use in the war—targeting western Ukraine energy infrastructure.
Zaporizhzhia Strike Cuts Power to Nearly 1 Million
Infrastructure
Russian drone attacks on critical infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia cut power to nearly one million people; strikes on Dnipropetrovsk disable electricity, heating, and water supplies.
New Year's Drone Barrage
Infrastructure
Russia launches 205 attack drones targeting energy infrastructure in seven Ukrainian regions; Ukraine downs 176.
Ukraine Strikes Deep Into Russia
Counter-Strike
Ukrainian drones hit oil refineries in Krasnodar, energy storage in Tatarstan, and industrial facility in Kaluga.
Third-Largest Strike
Escalation
Russia launches 635 drones and 38 missiles, third-largest combined strike of the war.
Russia Targets Gas Production
Escalation
Strikes destroy 60% of Ukraine's gas production capacity in preparation for winter offensive.
Largest-Ever Air Attack
Escalation
Russia conducts largest air attack since invasion began, destroying rebuilt Trypilska plant with 19 drones.
Grid Reaches Breaking Point
Impact
Russia hits three of DTEK's five operational plants with 120 missiles and 90 drones; rolling blackouts extend to 16 hours.
Largest Attack of War
Escalation
Russia launches 127 missiles and 109 Shahed drones against Ukrainian energy infrastructure across multiple cities.
Trypilska Plant Destroyed
Infrastructure
Russia completely destroys Trypilska coal-powered thermal power plant near Kyiv in coordinated strike.
DTEK Loses 80% of Capacity
Infrastructure
Strikes on March 22 and 29 destroy 80% of Ukraine's largest private energy company's generation capacity.
Russia Shifts to Generation Targets
Escalation
Russia begins targeting power plants directly rather than transmission infrastructure. Nine coordinated waves follow through August.
First Mass Blackout
Impact
Russian strikes cause Ukraine's first and only nationwide blackout, leaving entire country without electricity.
Energy War Begins
Infrastructure
Russia fires 84 cruise missiles and 24 drones at Ukrainian energy infrastructure, damaging 30% of the grid.
Russia Invades Ukraine
Military
Russia launches full-scale invasion, beginning the war that would eventually target civilian infrastructure.
Scenarios
1
Ukraine's Grid Collapses, Population Exodus Accelerates
Discussed by: UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, Council on Foreign Relations, International Crisis Group
Continued Russian strikes exceed Ukraine's repair capacity, causing sustained blackouts lasting weeks rather than hours. With no heat, water, or electricity during subzero winters, millions of Ukrainians flee westward into Europe, creating a refugee crisis that strains EU resources and political will. The population collapse weakens Ukraine's ability to mobilize troops and sustain war production. Russia achieves its SODCIT objective: forcing capitulation not through battlefield victory but by making the home front uninhabitable. Western aid proves insufficient to rebuild faster than Russia destroys.
2
Ukrainian Strikes Cripple Russian Oil Revenue, Force Negotiations
Discussed by: Chatham House, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Economist, Atlantic Council
Ukraine accelerates drone strikes against Russian refineries and oil infrastructure, pushing offline capacity beyond 20%. Russian gasoline prices spike, domestic unrest grows, and Kremlin war financing deteriorates. Combined with Western sanctions, the revenue squeeze forces Putin to negotiate an energy ceasefire as a first step toward broader peace talks. Ukraine's deep-strike capability proves its most effective deterrent, demonstrating that Russia's civilian population isn't insulated from consequences. Both sides agree to halt infrastructure attacks while maintaining military operations.
3
Stalemate Continues, Decentralized Power Emerges
Discussed by: International Energy Agency, Brookings Institution, CSIS, NREL
Neither side achieves decisive advantage. Russia keeps attacking, Ukraine keeps repairing, and the energy war becomes normalized background to the broader conflict. Ukraine pivots to Western-funded decentralized renewable energy—solar panels, microgrids, distributed batteries—that can't be knocked out by single strikes. What emerges is a patchwork grid: vulnerable centralized plants supplemented by thousands of small-scale systems. Ukrainian civilians adapt to intermittent power. The energy war drags on for years, punctuated by seasonal escalations each winter, without forcing either capitulation or ceasefire.
4
Western Air Defense Ends Russian Strikes
Discussed by: Royal United Services Institute, NATO analysts, Atlantic Council
Western allies provide Ukraine with sufficient air defense systems and F-16s to establish air superiority over critical infrastructure. Russian missile and drone strikes become prohibitively costly, with 90%+ intercept rates forcing the Kremlin to abandon SODCIT as ineffective. Ukraine's grid stabilizes, rolling blackouts end, and population morale rebounds. The shift demonstrates that Russia's strategic bombing campaign only succeeds when Ukraine lacks defensive tools. Energy attacks fade as Russia redirects resources to frontline operations, tacitly admitting the infrastructure war failed.
Historical Context
Allied Strategic Bombing of Germany, 1942-1945
1942-1945
What Happened
Britain and the United States conducted sustained bombing campaigns targeting German cities, factories, and infrastructure with the explicit goal of breaking civilian morale and destroying industrial capacity. The Allies believed destroying workers' housing, transportation networks, and utilities would force Germany to surrender. Hundreds of thousands of German civilians died, and major cities were reduced to rubble.
Outcome
Short Term
German infrastructure suffered massive destruction, with cities left in ruins and millions homeless.
Long Term
German morale never fully collapsed; civilians remained resilient until military defeat. Debate continues whether strategic bombing shortened the war or simply killed civilians without strategic gain.
Why It's Relevant Today
Russia's SODCIT doctrine echoes the WWII theory that bombing civilian infrastructure forces capitulation. Ukraine's resilience mirrors German and British civilian populations who endured sustained attacks without surrendering, suggesting morale is harder to break than infrastructure.
NATO Bombing of Yugoslav Infrastructure, 1999
March-June 1999
What Happened
NATO targeted Serbia's electrical grid, water systems, and industrial facilities during the Kosovo War to pressure Slobodan Milošević into withdrawing from Kosovo. Strikes on power transformers plunged 70% of Serbia into darkness. NATO justified attacks as disrupting the 'Yugoslav war machine' while Serbian civilians went without electricity, water, and heat for extended periods.
Outcome
Short Term
Belgrade and major cities lost power, water, and communications; civilian hardship mounted rapidly.
Long Term
After 78 days, Milošević capitulated. Many analysts credit infrastructure strikes—not just military defeats—with forcing his surrender, though controversy remains over civilian harm.
Why It's Relevant Today
Russia's campaign directly parallels NATO's 1999 strategy: using infrastructure destruction to achieve political objectives when battlefield progress stalls. The difference is scale and duration—Russia has conducted 4,500+ strikes over three years, far exceeding NATO's 78-day campaign.
Syrian Civil War Infrastructure Destruction, 2011-Present
2011-present
What Happened
Syrian government forces and Russian allies systematically targeted power plants, water treatment facilities, hospitals, and residential areas in opposition-held territories. The strategy aimed to make rebel-controlled areas uninhabitable, forcing civilians to flee and draining opposition resources. Entire cities like Aleppo were reduced to rubble through sustained bombardment.
Outcome
Short Term
Massive civilian exodus from targeted areas; humanitarian catastrophe with millions of refugees.
Long Term
Assad regime regained control of most territory, demonstrating that infrastructure warfare combined with siege tactics can achieve military objectives despite international condemnation.
Why It's Relevant Today
Russia is applying lessons learned in Syria to Ukraine: systematic infrastructure destruction as a weapon of war. The Ukrainian energy campaign represents an escalation—attacking a modern European nation's grid with the same ruthlessness previously employed in Syria's civil war.
