Russian strikes disrupt Ukrainian power grid and cut external supply to Zaporizhzhia NPP
Russian forces attacked Ukrainian energy infrastructure overnight and on November 8, causing new power outages across six regions. The worst damage was reported in Dnipropetrovsk, while the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost external power and switched to diesel generators for the 16th time since the start of 2026.
Key points
- Power outages were reported in Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions.
- Emergency shutdowns were used in Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv and Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Kharkiv and Sumy regions.
- Network restrictions remained in place in Kyiv and Kyiv region because of significant infrastructure damage.
- Zaporizhzhia NPP lost external power and switched to diesel generators.
- It was the 16th loss of external power at the plant since the beginning of 2026.
- Renewed strikes and air alerts delayed electricity restoration work.
Why it matters
The attacks disrupted electricity supply across multiple Ukrainian regions, forced emergency shutdowns and network restrictions, and delayed restoration efforts. The loss of external power at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant also forced the facility to rely on diesel generators. An independent United Nations commission of inquiry concluded that attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure were deliberate and formed part of state policy intended to deprive civilians of essential resources.
What happened
Russian forces attacked energy infrastructure overnight and during the morning of November 8. New outages were recorded in Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions. The most severe situation was in Dnipropetrovsk, where numerous facilities important to the region's electricity supply were damaged. Emergency shutdowns were also used in Kyiv and Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Kharkiv and Sumy regions, while significant damage kept network restrictions in force in the capital region.
The strikes also caused the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to lose external power and switch to diesel generators. Energy workers are carrying out repair and restoration work where security conditions permit, including around the clock in the capital region, but repeated attacks and air alerts are complicating operations and delaying the return of electricity. Ukraine's Ministry of Energy warned that the energy-system situation could change throughout the day because of continued attacks.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage focuses on the Ministry of Energy's operational assessment of the outages, emergency shutdowns, network restrictions and restoration efforts. It also highlights the severe damage in Dnipropetrovsk and the loss of external power at Zaporizhzhia NPP, placing the attacks in the broader context of a campaign launched ahead of the heating season.
Background
Russia's 2026 campaign against Ukrainian energy infrastructure began in late September, ahead of the heating season. Volodymyr Putin and the Russian military leadership repeatedly said Russia was deliberately targeting energy facilities in Ukraine. The loss of external power at Zaporizhzhia NPP was the 16th such incident since the beginning of 2026. An independent United Nations commission of inquiry described the attacks as deliberate and part of a state policy aimed at causing civilian resistance.