Russia hits ports, Kovel railway station overnight, targets Ukraine’s power infrastructure amid severe winter temperatures

2025-12-26 12:43 6 min

Overnight on 26 December, Russia launched another drone and missile attack on Ukraine, targeting power infrastructure, ports, and railways. Damage was confirmed to energy facilities across several oblasts, in addition to strikes on port infrastructure and a key railway station in Volyn Oblast. Ukrainian officials reported no casualties, but electricity outages and fires were recorded.

Every night, Russia carries out drone attacks against Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure, deliberately targeting energy facilities to leave Ukrainians without power and heating during winter, as temperatures fall below −10°C, in an effort to break Ukraine’s will to resist the invasion. In recent months, Moscow has also expanded its strikes to railway infrastructure, rolling stock, and ports. Power infrastructure hit across multiple oblasts

Ukraine's Deputy Energy Minister Olha Yukhymchuk reported that Russian forces struck energy generation and transmission infrastructure in several oblasts overnight on 26 December. Power outages occurred in Donetsk, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Kharkiv oblasts. Due to limited available capacity following repeated attacks, electricity consumption limits remained in place in most oblasts.

Yukhymchuk said Ukraine was adjusting disconnection schedules, including for consumers supplied via lines tied to critical infrastructure that had previously been exempt. She confirmed that Ukraine’s energy system continued to function in parallel with the European grid and relied on electricity imports and emergency aid from partners when necessary.

In Mykolaiv, Molniia-type drones struck the city and nearby areas, cutting electricity in parts of Mykolaiv Raion, local authorities said. By morning, almost all customers had power restored.
In Odesa Oblast, drone strikes on the port area also disrupted local power infrastructure and caused blackouts.
DTEK enegy company reported significant damage at two of its power facilities in the south of Odesa Oblast.

Port infrastructure and vessels damaged in Odesa and Mykolaiv oblasts

Russian drones struck port infrastructure throughout Odesa Oblast during the night. According to Vice Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba, the attacks damaged grain elevators, warehouses of civilian companies, a barge, and ships sailing under the flags of Slovakia and the Republic of Palau. Fires broke out at multiple impact sites. Port workers began inspecting damaged facilities, while emergency teams worked to restore electricity.

Odesa Oblast head Oleh Kiper said Russian forces targeted Izmail and Odesa raions and the city of Odesa. The strikes caused fires and damaged administrative buildings, equipment, and vehicles at port sites.

In Mykolaiv Oblast, a Russian drone strike hit a port terminal and damaged a ship sailing under the flag of Liberia.

Kovel railway station struck by Russian drones

Russian drones struck the Kovel railway station in Volyn Oblast, a key hub on the Poland–Ukraine rail corridor. Kuleba confirmed damage to a locomotive and a freight wagon. The blast wave from a drone strike at the Kovel railway station shattered windows at the nearby locomotive depot.

Ukrainian Air Force reports on missile and drone attacks

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile from occupied Crimea and 99 one-way attack drones, including Shahed and Gerbera. The drones were launched from Bryansk, Kursk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, and from Hvardiiske in occupied Crimea. Ukrainian air defense systems—including aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare systems, and mobile fire groups—shot down or suppressed 73 drones over the north, south, and east of Ukraine.

According to the Air Force, 26 drones and the ballistic missile hit targets in 16 locations.