Damage from Russian strikes on Ukraine, January 7, 2026

Saturday’s Coverage: “Massive” Russian Attack on Energy Infrastructure

UPDATE 1122 GMT:

Russian finance officials are reportedly warning Vladimir Putin of a potential economic crisis by the summer.

The officials say falling oil revenues means the Federal Government’s budget deficit will grow unless there are further tax hikes, said “a person in contact” with them. Pressure is mounting on the Russian banking system due to high interest rates and corporate borrowing to fund the invasion of Ukraine.

One Moscow business executive said the crisis could hit in “three or four months”. Real inflation is spiraling far beyond the officially-declared rate of 6%, despite interest rates at 16%.

The executive noted the largest numbers of closures of restaurants in Moscow since the COVID pandemic and the forced layoffs of thousands of workers.

UPDATE 1115 GMT:

Ukraine attacked energy facilities in the Belgorod region in western Russia on Saturday, cutting power to many residents.

At least two of the strikes hit the Belgorod electrical substation. The Luch Thermal Power Plant was also hit.

On Sunday morning, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said 80,000 people remain without heat, 3,000 without gas, and another 1,000 without electricity. Twelve warming stations have been set up in the city.

Gladkov added that restoring power is “progressively extremely difficult.”

UPDATE 1110 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has summarized the latest Russian strikes.

The world must not turn a blind eye to Russian attacks. When there is no global response, the strikes become more frequent and increasingly brutal.

This can be stopped through real support for Ukraine and our defense. We need missiles for air defense systems and weapons for our warriors, who hold back this aggression every single day.

And for diplomacy to work, constant pressure on Russia is essential. The price of this war for them must be so high that the war becomes untenable for the Russian Federation.

UPDATE 1057 GMT:

At least four civilians were murdered and at least 31 injured by Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day.

Air defenses downed 69 of 101 drones. The other 32 struck 13 locations.

In the Kherson region in southern Ukraine, one person was killed and 18 injured by Russian drone, aviation, and artillery strikes.

In the Donetsk region in the east, two civilians were slain and three wounded.

In the Zaporizhzhia region in the south, one person was murdered and eight injured amid 577 Russian attacks on 30 settlements.

Casualties were also reported in the Dnipropetrovsk and Chernihiv regions.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has told the nation of “a level of attack that no terrorist in the world has ever dared” after Russia’s latest mass missile and drone strike on energy infrastructure.

Moscow fired around 40 missiles and more than 400 drones early Saturday, targeting the electricity grid and substations. Damage was reported in seven regions.

Ukraine’s largest private electricity provider, DTEK, said damage to substations forced operators to reduce output at nuclear power plants. Residents in Kyiv now have electricity for just 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day.

“Ukraine’s energy workers need the help of our allies to strengthen air defenses and [to] send emergency energy equipment and mobile generators,” the provider said.

Zelensky echoed the message and added:

Russia must feel the world’s response.

Russia must show that not only such strikes and the war matter to it, but also the ongoing negotiations that are supposed to deliver results.