A renewed wave of strikes on energy infrastructure pushed the Russia&ndash;Ukraine conflict into another volatile phase on Sunday, leaving tens of thousands without power on both sides of the border.
Ukrainian attacks knocked out major components of the electricity network in Russia&rsquo;s Belgorod, Kursk, and Voronezh regions, plunging neighborhoods into darkness and disrupting heating systems as temperatures dropped. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said the region&rsquo;s capital suffered widespread outages. &ldquo;The electricity and heating supply network has suffered severe damage. More than 20,000 residents are without electricity,&rdquo; he wrote in a public message, adding that several districts were struggling with breakdowns.
In the neighboring Kursk region, a fire erupted at a power station in Korenevo, cutting off energy to 10 municipalities, according to local officials. Another blaze broke out at a heating facility in the Voronezh region, adding to the disruptions.
Russia&rsquo;s Defense Ministry reported intercepting 44 Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk region, signaling a night of intense aerial activity. But Ukraine faced its own crises. A series of Russian barrages, launched with&nbsp;69 drones and multiple rockets hammered its energy network overnight, damaging power plants and reducing the national grid&rsquo;s generating capacity to&nbsp;&ldquo;zero,&rdquo; according to Ukraine&rsquo;s state energy provider. The strikes left several cities scrambling to restore electricity and heating, and at least four people were killed in the assault.
Russia claimed to have launched 458 drones and 45 missiles targeting Ukrainian energy facilities in recent days, part of a wider escalation intended to cripple the country&rsquo;s winter readiness. As both sides double down on targeting critical infrastructure, the energy war continues to intensify disrupting daily life for civilians who now brace for blackout-filled nights as temperatures drop.

Russia, Ukraine Trade Blows on Energy Grid

Massive cross-border strikes leave thousands without power as energy war intensifies

Russia, Ukraine Trade Blows on Energy Grid

Massive cross-border strikes leave thousands without power as energy war intensifies

November 9, 2025 | 17:00 IST