Governor: Ukrainian Strike Plunges Russia's Belgorod Into Darkness

Governor of the Russian city of Belgorod Vyacheslav Gladkov has confirmed that a Ukrainian strike caused significant damage to energy infrastructure in Belgorod, resulting in widespread power outages.

The attack comes amid escalating Russian strikes targeting Ukraine’s energy facilities in recent weeks, The Caspian Post informs via Ukrainian media.

Gladkov noted that nearly 40,000 residents across seven municipalities in Belgorod were left without electricity following the assault.

“We have received reports from energy officials on the extensive damage caused by last night’s shelling in Belgorod. The destruction is substantial, and the repair efforts will be extensive,” said Gladkov.

Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to the affected areas, and hospitals in Belgorod switched to backup power systems to ensure continued operation. Authorities are also managing school operations amid the ongoing outages.

By the morning of October 6, partial power outages persisted in 24 settlements, impacting approximately 5,400 residents. While no specific timeline for full restoration was provided, Gladkov expressed confidence that power would be restored soon. “Restoration efforts are underway, and we hope to complete them very shortly,” he stated.

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency released an intercepted phone call purportedly from a resident of Belgorod, describing widespread blackouts and internet disruptions following the attack. In the recording, a woman is heard saying, “All of Shchebekino was without power. The streets were completely dark.”

In September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Ukraine would retaliate against Russia’s energy sector if Moscow attempted to plunge Ukraine into darkness again. Russia has launched repeated attacks on Ukraine’s power grid, gas facilities, and heating systems ahead of winter, aiming to make civilian life unbearable.