600,000 residents without power, heat, or water after Ukrainian strike in Belgorod region

600,000 residents without power, heat, or water after Ukrainian strike in Belgorod region
Buildings during a power blackout, that according to local authorities was caused by a recent Ukrainian missile attack in Belgorod, Russia, 9 January, 2026
Reuters

The governor of Russia's Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, reported that 600,000 residents are currently without power, heating, or water following a missile strike by Ukraine on Saturday.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor, shared the news via Telegram, stating that efforts are underway to restore services, though he described the situation as "extremely challenging."

Footage from Reuters captured in Belgorod city showed streets in darkness, with locals navigating their way using hand-held torches and car headlights.

The Belgorod region, which is adjacent to Ukraine's Kharkiv region and had a population of 1.5 million before the war, has been a frequent target of Ukrainian attacks since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Meanwhile, Russia has consistently targeted Ukraine’s power infrastructure, resulting in rolling blackouts and damage to heating systems, especially during this winter. A recent overnight strike on Thursday caused significant disruptions, leaving around half of Kyiv's apartment blocks without heating.

With temperatures in both Russia and Ukraine plummeting well below freezing in recent days, the impact on daily life is becoming increasingly severe.

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