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Ukraine Endures Record Energy‑Grid Barrage While Launching Counterstrike on Kapustin Yar

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  • Kyiv residents shelter at a train station during Russian air raids
    Image: BBC
    Kyiv residents shelter at a train station during Russian air raids (AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • None
    Image: AP
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  • Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump pose on a podium on the tarmac after they arrived to attend a meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, the United States. Sergey Bobylev / Sputnik via AP
    Image: Newsweek
    Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump pose on a podium on the tarmac after they arrived to attend a meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, the United States. Sergey Bobylev / Sputnik via AP Source Full size
  • President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
    Image: Newsweek
    President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Source Full size
  • Workers and military inspect Ukrainian Fire Point’s Flamingo missiles during handover to the military in an undisclosed location in Ukraine Thursday, December 4, 2025.
    Image: Newsweek
    Workers and military inspect Ukrainian Fire Point’s Flamingo missiles during handover to the military in an undisclosed location in Ukraine Thursday, December 4, 2025. Source Full size
  • TOPSHOT – This photo shows fire coming from an apartment building following a Russian air attack in Kyiv early on February 3, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia resumed strikes on Kyiv on February 3, Ukrainian officials said, as a week-long truce announced by US President Donald Trump gave way to renewed attacks in freezing conditions. (Photo by Serhii Okunev / AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    TOPSHOT – This photo shows fire coming from an apartment building following a Russian air attack in Kyiv early on February 3, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia resumed strikes on Kyiv on February 3, Ukrainian officials said, as a week-long truce announced by US President Donald Trump gave way to renewed attacks in freezing conditions. (Photo by Serhii Okunev / AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • Governor of Mykolaiv, Vitaliy Kim, speaks to reporters following a Russian attack at the regional government headquarters in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 29, 2022.
    Image: Newsweek
    Governor of Mykolaiv, Vitaliy Kim, speaks to reporters following a Russian attack at the regional government headquarters in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. Source Full size
  • The miners were travelling in a bus when it was hit by a drone, officials say
    Image: BBC
    The miners were travelling in a bus when it was hit by a drone, officials say (Armed Forces of Ukraine/Telegram) Source Full size
  • Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference with Lithuania’s President and Poland’s President, after attending commemorations of the 1863 uprising, in Vilnius on January 25, 2026.
    Image: Newsweek
    Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference with Lithuania’s President and Poland’s President, after attending commemorations of the 1863 uprising, in Vilnius on January 25, 2026. Source Full size
  • The site of a drone attack in Kyiv earlier in January
    Image: BBC
    The site of a drone attack in Kyiv earlier in January (PA Media) Source Full size
  • Police officer carries a part of a Russian drone at the site of a residential building in Kyiv on 3 February, 2026
    Image: BBC
    Police officer carries a part of a Russian drone at the site of a residential building in Kyiv on 3 February, 2026 (Reuters) Source Full size
  • The miners were travelling in a bus when it was hit by a drone, officials say
    Image: BBC
    The miners were travelling in a bus when it was hit by a drone, officials say (Armed Forces of Ukraine/Telegram) Source Full size
  • A woman gathers her belongings from a room in the maternity hospital after the strike
    Image: BBC
    A woman gathers her belongings from a room in the maternity hospital after the strike (EPA) Source Full size
  • No deaths were reported after the strike at the hospital on Sunday
    Image: BBC
    No deaths were reported after the strike at the hospital on Sunday (Reuters) Source Full size
  • The site of a drone attack in Kyiv earlier in January
    Image: BBC
    The site of a drone attack in Kyiv earlier in January (PA Media) Source Full size
  • Workers and military inspect Ukrainian Fire Point’s Flamingo missiles during handover to the military in an undisclosed location in Ukraine Thursday, December 4, 2025.
    Image: Newsweek
    Workers and military inspect Ukrainian Fire Point’s Flamingo missiles during handover to the military in an undisclosed location in Ukraine Thursday, December 4, 2025. Source Full size
  • Governor of Mykolaiv, Vitaliy Kim, speaks to reporters following a Russian attack at the regional government headquarters in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 29, 2022.
    Image: Newsweek
    Governor of Mykolaiv, Vitaliy Kim, speaks to reporters following a Russian attack at the regional government headquarters in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. Source Full size
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump pose on a podium on the tarmac after they arrived to attend a meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, the United States. Sergey Bobylev / Sputnik via AP
    Image: Newsweek
    Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump pose on a podium on the tarmac after they arrived to attend a meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, the United States. Sergey Bobylev / Sputnik via AP Source Full size
  • TOPSHOT – This photo shows fire coming from an apartment building following a Russian air attack in Kyiv early on February 3, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia resumed strikes on Kyiv on February 3, Ukrainian officials said, as a week-long truce announced by US President Donald Trump gave way to renewed attacks in freezing conditions. (Photo by Serhii Okunev / AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    TOPSHOT – This photo shows fire coming from an apartment building following a Russian air attack in Kyiv early on February 3, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia resumed strikes on Kyiv on February 3, Ukrainian officials said, as a week-long truce announced by US President Donald Trump gave way to renewed attacks in freezing conditions. (Photo by Serhii Okunev / AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference with Lithuania’s President and Poland’s President, after attending commemorations of the 1863 uprising, in Vilnius on January 25, 2026.
    Image: Newsweek
    Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference with Lithuania’s President and Poland’s President, after attending commemorations of the 1863 uprising, in Vilnius on January 25, 2026. Source Full size
  • President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
    Image: Newsweek
    President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Source Full size
  • None
    Image: AP
    Source Full size

Massive Russian missile‑drone wave cripples winter power supply On the night of 3 February 2026, Russia unleashed its largest missile‑drone assault of the year, firing roughly 450 long‑range drones and 70 ballistic missiles at power facilities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro. The strikes knocked out heating for thousands of high‑rise apartments, left at least 1,200 buildings without heat, and caused civilian injuries, including two teenagers in Zaporizhzhia and multiple victims in Kyiv’s kindergarten. Ukrainian air defenses downed 38 missiles and 412 drones, yet dozens penetrated the grid, prompting a surge in emergency shelters and soup‑kitchen operations [4][5][8][7].

NATO and allies pledge additional air‑defence munitions NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv on 3 February, urging allies to “dig deep” in missile stockpiles and promising “hard‑power” support as Ukraine confronts the onslaught [8][5]. Ukrainian utility DTEK described the attack as the ninth major strike since October, reporting damage to two thermal plants and a loss of capacity at three others, forcing the firm into “survival mode” [4][8]. The United States, while maintaining mediation efforts in Abu Dhabi, announced continued delivery of Patriot and other air‑defence systems to address the chronic shortage highlighted by the low interception rate [5][7].

U.S. cease‑fire claim clashes with Russian resumption of strikes President Donald Trump asserted that he secured a week‑long pause on Russian attacks after a personal request to President Vladimir Putin, a claim echoed by the Kremlin’s Dmitry Peskov as a limited, energy‑targeted halt ending on 1 February 2026 [3][4][13]. Ukraine, however, documented continued bombardments—about 70 missiles and 450 drones—against its energy grid after the alleged pause, accusing Moscow of breaching the agreement [4][5]. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and former President Donald Trump’s son‑in‑law Jared Kushner prepared to join the next round of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, while prisoner‑exchange negotiations proceeded in parallel [1][4][15].

Ukrainian Flamingo missiles strike Russian Kapustin Yar test site On 5 February 2026, Ukraine’s General Staff reported that FP‑5 “Flamingo” cruise missiles hit the Kapustin Yar complex, heavily damaging a hangar used for medium‑range ICBM launch preparation and evacuating personnel [1]. The missiles, developed by Fire Point, have a 1,860‑mile range and travel at 560 mph, with production aimed at seven units per day by October 2025 [1]. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War linked the target to Russia’s Oreshnik ballistic‑missile program, underscoring Kyiv’s focus on degrading Russia’s strategic missile capabilities [1].

Political outlook: Zelensky positioned for post‑war election Mykolaiv Governor Vitaliy Kim told Newsweek on 4 February 2026 that President Volodymyr Zelensky is “the best candidate” for Ukraine’s next presidency, expecting him to win once hostilities end [2]. Kim noted that elections are currently barred under martial law and can only occur months after fighting stops, but emphasized the public’s desire for peace and reform [2]. The governor’s assessment coincided with renewed Russian drone and missile attacks on major cities, highlighting the tension between military pressure and Ukraine’s political planning [2][4].

Sources

Timeline

Dec 6, 2025 – Russia launches an overnight barrage of 653 drones and 51 missiles across Ukraine, striking energy facilities, a railway hub near Kyiv and causing at least 8 wounded; Ukrainian air defenses shoot down 585 drones and 30 missiles while the IAEA reports a brief loss of off‑site power at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, undersc [30].

Dec 6, 2025 – Russia conducts a massive attack with ≈ 650 drones and 50 missiles, damaging DTEK‑operated thermal plants, cutting heat and water for thousands in Odesa, and briefly knocking out power at Zaporizhzhia before reconnecting; Poland scrambles jets to protect its airspace as Kyiv discusses peace talks with U.S. envoys [25].

Dec 7, 2025 – A “massive combined strike” hits Kremenchuk, cutting water, electricity and heat; Kyiv reports 77 Ukrainian drones shot down and Zelensky praises a constructive phone call with Donald Trump’s team after three days of Florida talks on a peace framework [24].

Dec 11, 2025 – Ukraine’s long‑range drones strike the Filanovsky offshore platform in the Caspian Sea, marking the first attack on Russian Caspian oil infrastructure and expanding Kyiv’s energy‑target campaign that has already hit 77 facilities since August [23].

Dec 12, 2025 – President Zelensky visits troops near Kupiansk after recapturing settlements, saying frontline successes “strengthen diplomacy” and urging allies to back Ukraine’s peace push [22].

Dec 13, 2025 – Berlin prepares to host high‑level peace talks involving the United States; Russia bombards the Ukrainian power grid with > 450 drones and 30 missiles, plunging over a million people into darkness amid freezing temperatures [21].

Dec 23, 2025 – A Ukrainian drone strike ignites a fire at an industrial site in Russia’s Stavropol region; officials report no injuries but highlight the target’s role in Russia’s energy system [28].

Dec 23, 2025 – Russia unleashes 635 drones and 38 missiles in a coordinated strike, killing 3 civilians (including a 4‑year‑old) and cutting power in 13 regions; DTEK labels it its seventh major strike since October, noting 220 hits on its facilities since the invasion [20].

Dec 23, 2025 – Amid the same wave, Russia launches a massive drone‑and‑missile assault that kills a 4‑year‑old in Zhytomyr, injures 17, and prompts Zelensky to brief his negotiating team on the “signal” from Moscow as U.S. peace talks wrap up in Miami [19].

Jan 2, 2026 – Moscow alleges a 91‑drone** attack on Putin’s Novgorod residence, releasing video evidence and sharing data with the United States; Zelensky dismisses the claim as a fabrication, while CIA officials confirm Ukraine did not target the residence [18].

Jan 9, 2026 – Russia confirms a second use of the hypersonic Oreshnik missile against Ukraine’s Lviv region near a Polish NATO logistics hub, framing the strike as a warning to European leaders over foreign troop deployments [15].

Jan 9, 2026 – Russia deploys the Oreshnik missile in an overnight barrage that hits Kyiv (four dead, 25 injured) and Lviv, claiming retaliation for a Ukrainian drone strike on Putin’s residence; Kyiv denies the allegation [16].

Jan 9, 2026 – Moscow announces a massive Oreshnik‑armed strike on Ukraine, describing it as a response to an alleged drone attack on Putin’s residence; the attack kills 4 and injures 22 in Kyiv and damages infrastructure in Lviv [17].

Jan 10, 2026 – Ukraine’s drone strike ignites a fire at the Zhutovskaya oil depot in Russia’s Volgograd region; Russia simultaneously launches an Oreshnik hypersonic missile and drones that disrupt Kyiv’s power and heating, prompting UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric to warn of civilian casualties and service outages [14].

Jan 13, 2026 – The U.S. labels Russia’s launch of a nuclear‑capable Oreshnik missile near Poland as a “dangerous escalation” at a UN Security Council emergency session, condemning attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and warning of mounting casualties [13].

Jan 16, 2026 – President Zelensky admits Ukraine’s air‑defence systems lack missiles but notes a new substantial missile package arrives, stressing that winter will not end soon and urging rapid deliveries from allies [11].

Jan 16, 2026 – Zelensky urges NATO to provide steady missile deliveries, arguing that stockpiles sit idle while Ukraine’s defenses run dry; he cites internal legal limits on transfers and notes Trump’s recent decision to block Tomahawk sales [12].

Jan 24, 2026 – Ukraine condemns fresh Russian strikes that kill 1 and injure 35, labeling the attacks “brutal” and a direct assault on Abu Dhabi peace talks; Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha says the strikes prove Putin belongs in a tribunal, not at a negotiation table [5].

Jan 24, 2026 – Energy workers like Oleksandr Adamov operate inside bullet‑proof capsules at power plants as Russia’s 612 attacks on Ukrainian energy sites in 2025 continue; a Jan 9 missile barrage cuts power to 300,000 Kyiv homes and deprives 1 million people of water [10].

Jan 27‑28, 2026 – A Russian drone hits a passenger train in Kharkiv, killing 5 and injuring dozens; Zelensky calls the strike “purely terrorism” and condemns the targeting of civilians, while Odesa endures a heavy drone barrage that kills 3 and damages an energy facility [4][9].

Jan 29‑30, 2026 – President Trump tells his cabinet that he asked Putin to halt attacks on Kyiv for a week because of the extreme cold and claims Putin agreed; Zelensky calls the statement “important” and notes parallel talks in the UAE, though Russia has not officially confirmed a pause [3].

Jan 30, 2026 – Zelensky proposes a reciprocal energy cease‑fire, saying Ukraine will mirror any Russian step to stop striking Russian energy sites; the United States acts as mediator at the Abu Dhabi summit where energy‑ceasefire talks are slated to resume on Sunday [8].

Feb 1, 2026 – A Russian drone strikes a bus carrying DTEK miners in Pavlohrad district, killing 12 and injuring 8; a separate drone hits a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia, injuring 6 as women give birth, prompting energy minister Denys Shmyhal to call the attack “cynical and deliberate” [7].

Feb 2, 2026 – Russia pledges a temporary pause on civilian targets during the cold snap, then ends it; a drone strike kills 12 miners and hits the same maternity hospital, while Ukraine cooperates with SpaceX to block Starlink use on Russian drones, and three‑way peace talks shift to mid‑week [2].

Feb 3, 2026 – Russia ends the brief strike pause and launches ≈ 450 drones and 70 missiles at Ukraine’s power grid as temperatures plunge to –20 °C, damaging DTEK thermal plants and prompting Poland to scramble jets; NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte arrives in Kyiv, pledging unwavering support as three‑way Abu Dhabi negotiations begin, with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner slated to attend [6][1].

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