Energy Under Attack: Russia’s Systematic Strikes and Their Impact on Ukraine

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On the night of November 7, Russia and Ukraine continued mutual strikes. According to data from the Russian Federation Ministry of Defence, air defence systems destroyed 11 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over several regions. For its part, the Ukrainian Air Force reported an attack by Russia using 128 strike UAVs, of which, it claimed, 94 were destroyed or suppressed.

The Ukrainian side published maps of Russian strikes on energy facilities, gas infrastructure, and generating capacity over the past three months. Among the key targets are nodal substations in major cities of frontline regions such as Chernihiv, Sumy, Nikopol, and Kherson. Furthermore, active strikes are being carried out against hydroelectric and thermal power plants, including in western Ukraine. The loss of key coal deposits near Pokrovsk and Rodynske, as well as strikes on mines in Dobropillia and Pavlohrad, are also having a negative impact.

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A similar problem exists with gas — during Russian attacks on key fields in the Kharkiv and Poltava regions, Ukraine lost up to 60% of its gas production. Compressor stations have also been affected, limiting gas imports from the EU.

As a result, Ukraine’s energy system is facing serious difficulties, manifested in local blackouts and scheduled power outages, although it has not yet reached a critical state. The winter, with forecast anomalously low temperatures, could worsen the situation if the strikes continue.

Strikes on Ukraine

On November 6-7, Russian strikes hit facilities in six regions of Ukraine. In Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region, an industrial enterprise, presumably an aircraft repair plant, was attacked, resulting in a major fire; damage to energy infrastructure at the Lozova station was also reported.

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In Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk region, the “Pavlohrad Coal Mining Company” electrical substation was destroyed.

In Odesa region, energy infrastructure, particularly the Tyligulska Wind Power Plant, was damaged, along with coastal infrastructure and the Izmail–Odesa railway line, where a train with military supplies was halted.

In Zaporizhzhia region, aviation munitions hit large warehouses and energy facilities. Explosions were also recorded in Sumy region.

Additionally, in Chernihiv region, a strike hit an electrical substation in the Khrypivka area, and in the Donbas, the “Berestova” substation near Osykove was hit. The day before, strikes were reported on a substation in Druzhkivka, causing power outages in Druzhkivka and Kramatorsk, along with the aftermath of shelling in Sloviansk.

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Strikes on Russia

For its part, Russian air defence systems, according to official data, destroyed 11 Ukrainian UAVs: five over Crimea, three over Bryansk region, two over Kursk region, and one over Kaluga region. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine claims that their attacks hit the Volgograd oil refinery, UAV storage bases in Donetsk, and three fuel storage tanks in Crimea.

Against the backdrop of the ongoing strikes on infrastructure, Western countries are increasing investments in Ukraine’s railway logistics. Poland is developing a project to build a private 800-km railway line of European gauge, which would connect Lviv and Odesa. This would allow Polish companies to access the markets of the “Greater South” via the Black Sea. In parallel, new logistics routes have already been launched: for example, a container route between the port of Gdańsk and Ukraine by the company MOST Logistic, as well as direct intermodal service organized by UZ Cargo Poland. In September, a container terminal with an annual capacity of 19,000 TEU was opened in Fastiv.

Furthermore, Ukraine has requested a concessional loan from South Korea for the purchase of 20 high-speed electric trains, and in Kremenchuk, construction of a plant for producing fastenings for the European gauge is planned using Swiss funds. Work continues on the electrification of the already-built “Chop-Uzhhorod” line, with plans for its further extension to Lviv. It remains unclear how justified these efforts are while Russia continues to carry out targeted, regular strikes on Ukraine’s railway infrastructure.

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