Widespread blackouts were reported in Ukraine and Russia as drone strikes intensified across both nations in the final days of 2025, leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity amid freezing winter temperatures.
Over 100,000 people in the Moscow region were effected by the outage, according to Russian energy company PAO Rosseti. Videos shared on social media showed darkened residential towers and emergency generators being trucked into city districts.
While Russia attributed the blackout to an automatic shutdown at a substation, the timing coincided with a major drone barrage targeting the region.
Meanwhile, Russian drones struck residential buildings in Odesa, Ukraine, injuring at least five people including three children, and knocking out heat, water, and power across sections of the city, according to city officials.
Ukraine’s grid operator, Ukrenergo, implemented rolling blackouts across most regions on December 31, citing recent Russian strikes that crippled energy infrastructure. The Energy Ministry said recovery would take time due to the extent of the damage.
What To Know
- Local reports suggested as many as 600,000 Moscow residents were hit by the blackout. Newsweek hasn’t verified that the figure.
- Russian drones hit Odesa, injuring a 7-month-old baby and two other children, and sparking fires in homes and vehicles.
- Ukraine’s grid operator announced nationwide outages due to Russian strikes on nuclear and thermal power facilities.
- Authorities said energy restoration efforts are ongoing but hampered by continuing attacks and infrastructure damage.
- The blackout occurred one day after the Kremlin accused Ukraine of trying to strike Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence—a claim Kyiv denies.
- Ukraine reportedly struck an oil depot in Russian-occupied Rovenky, Luhansk Oblast, and the Tuapse Oil Refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai, according to Russian Telegram channels, with fires breaking out at both sites.
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