Russian strikes plunge Ukraine's industrial southeast into blackouts

Cars move along a dark street during a power blackout after critical civil infrastructure was hit by today's Russian drone strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine January 7, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

KYIV, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Ukrainian officials raced ‌to restore power on Thursday after Russian drone attacks plunged two southeastern regions into near-total blackout overnight, strikes that President Volodymyr ‌Zelenskiy said were aimed at "breaking" his country.

Zelenskiy said Russia was intent on using wintry weather as a weapon rather ‌than allowing U.S.-led diplomacy to work towards a resolution of nearly four years of conflict.