Russian forces launched a mass ballistic missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight on February 3, striking multiple energy facilities across the country in what DTEK described as "the most severe" attack since the start of 2026.
More than 1,100 buildings in Kyiv's Darnytskyi and Dniprovskyi districts remain without heating as temperatures plunged to -24°C (-11°F), Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported. Emergency power outages were introduced on the left bank of the Dnipro River in the capital's eastern districts following the strikes.
The attack targeted thermal power plants operated by DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, marking the ninth mass attack on its thermal facilities since October 2025. The strikes caused "significant damage to equipment," according to the company, which warned that Ukraine's energy system is currently operating under severe constraints.
At least nine people were injured in the overnight assault, which combined ballistic missiles and drones in a coordinated strike pattern designed to overwhelm air defense systems.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited a damaged Kyiv energy site on February 4, hours after the attack, in a show of solidarity with Ukrainian authorities. Speaking to Euronews, Rutte emphasized NATO's commitment to supporting Ukraine's energy infrastructure defense.
The systematic targeting of civilian energy infrastructure has become a hallmark of Russia's winter campaign, with repeated attacks aimed at breaking Ukrainian civilian morale and creating humanitarian crises in urban centers. International humanitarian law experts have described the deliberate targeting of civilian heating infrastructure during deadly winter conditions as potential war crimes.
In Ukraine, as across nations defending their sovereignty, resilience is not just survival—it's determination to build a better future. Even as Kyiv residents faced sub-zero temperatures without heat, city authorities mobilized emergency warming centers and repair crews worked around the clock to restore services.
The attack comes as Ukraine continues to advance EU membership negotiations and strengthen defense partnerships with NATO allies, demonstrating the nation's determination to secure both immediate security needs and long-term European integration despite ongoing Russian aggression.
Ukrainian air defense forces intercepted a significant portion of the incoming missiles and drones, but the sheer volume of projectiles overwhelmed defenses in some areas, allowing strikes on critical energy nodes. The pattern of attacks suggests Russian forces are attempting to degrade Ukraine's energy resilience ahead of continued ground operations.
DTEK announced emergency repair operations are underway, though the extent of damage means full restoration could take days or weeks depending on the severity of equipment damage and availability of replacement parts.
