(MOSCOW, RUSSIA) –
Large parts of the Moscow region were left without electricity after reports of drone activity, highlighting the growing reach of Ukrainian strikes and the pressure facing Russia’s energy and security systems. Russian officials said more than 600,000 residents experienced power cuts during winter conditions, prompting emergency measures to stabilise the grid.
Russian authorities deployed mobile generators to residential areas in an effort to restore electricity to apartment blocks. Video footage circulating online showed generators being activated to supply individual buildings, but energy specialists said such measures could not replace stable grid supply across a major metropolitan area.
The blackout followed a series of Ukrainian attacks on energy and military infrastructure linked to Russia’s war effort. In occupied eastern Ukraine, an oil depot in Luhansk region was struck, with images showing fires burning at the site. Separately, Ukrainian forces confirmed that the Novocherkassk oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov region was taken offline after strikes using British supplied Storm Shadow missiles. Both primary distillation units at the facility, which has a capacity of about five million tonnes per year, were reportedly shut down.
Ukrainian drones also targeted facilities at an occupied airport used to store and launch Shahed attack drones. Ukrainian officials said logistics hubs, warhead storage sites and drone preparation areas were hit, disrupting Russian strike capabilities.
On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces reported a successful drone strike on a building believed to be housing elite Russian military personnel near Kupiansk, an area where Russian units have struggled to resupply trapped forces. Ukraine also released footage of repeated strikes on offshore drilling platforms in the Caspian Sea, forcing Russia to suspend operations at highly flammable sites.
Economic indicators inside Russia continue to deteriorate. Russian Railways announced further cuts to investment in rail cars and locomotives for a second consecutive year, citing heavy losses and the sharpest freight traffic decline in 15 years. Manufacturing activity fell for a seventh straight month as 2025 ended, reinforcing concerns about a prolonged economic slowdown.
Russian business leaders have appealed to the Russian dictator Vladimir to curb a wave of state asset seizures affecting factories, ports and major companies valued at more than four trillion rubles, approximately 43 billion US dollars. Analysts note that property rights remain weak under wartime conditions, with the state asserting greater control over strategic assets.
On the diplomatic front, Russia accused Ukraine of attempting to assassinate the Russian dictator by attacking his residence with 91 drones. Moscow claimed all drones were intercepted and that no damage or casualties occurred. Ukraine dismissed the allegation as a fabrication, pointing to the absence of photographic or video evidence, which typically appears online after incidents inside Russia.
The claim emerged amid ongoing contacts between Russia and the United States over possible negotiations. Ukrainian officials said Kyiv continues to engage diplomatically while rejecting what it described as dangerous and unsubstantiated Russian statements.
The situation reveals how the war is increasingly affecting Russia’s capital region and domestic economy, while Ukraine continues to expand the range and sophistication of its operations. Power disruptions, infrastructure damage and economic strain are likely to intensify the pressures already facing Moscow as winter deepens.
