Russia kept up its pressure on Ukraine’s energy system on February 8, 2026, striking gas facilities as the power grid struggled to recover.
Naftogaz hit
Overnight, Russia attacked Naftogaz facilities in Poltava Oblast. Chief executive Serhii Koretskyi said assets and equipment were damaged but no one was hurt. It was the 19th attack on the state energy company since the start of the year.
“The situation remains difficult”
“The situation in the energy system remains difficult,” the grid operator Ukrenergo said. It said the power deficit and damage to transmission and distribution networks meant emergency outages could not be lifted in most regions. Nuclear power plants remained partially disconnected from the grid.
Kyiv residents had been receiving only about 1.5 to 2 hours of electricity a day for several days.
Two mass strikes
The damage followed two large-scale Russian attacks during the week. The one on the night of February 7 involved more than 400 drones and nearly 40 missiles, damaged nuclear energy infrastructure and triggered emergency outages across most of the country.
Another cold snap was forecast, with temperatures expected to drop to -19°C in Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed new sanctions decrees targeting suppliers of components for Russian missiles and drones.
Sources
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