KYIV, Jan 26 – Russian forces carried out a combined missile and drone attack on Kharkiv on Monday evening, injuring at least two people and causing widespread power outages after damaging energy infrastructure, regional and energy officials said.

Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said the attack involved both missile strikes and drones. Two civilians were wounded and are receiving medical treatment.

According to him, two schools in the city’s Industrialnyi district were damaged, along with an energy infrastructure facility.

“Our energy sector came under enemy strikes – there is quite serious damage,” Syniehubov said, adding that emergency power outage schedules were introduced as a result.

In a video address, the governor said around 80% of the city of Kharkiv and the surrounding region were left without electricity due to emergency shutdowns. He stressed that energy workers, rescuers and other emergency services were working to eliminate the consequences of the attack and restore power supplies as quickly as possible.

Separately, First Deputy Energy Minister Artem Nekrasov said on Monday night that Russia had again shelled Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leading to additional power outages in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions.

He added that the power supply situation in Kyiv and the Kyiv region also remained difficult.

“In Kyiv and the Kyiv region, there is still a significant electricity shortage. The situation is difficult, emergency outages are in effect,” Nekrasov said during an online briefing, noting that a return to planned hourly outage schedules would be possible only after the energy system stabilises.

According to him, hourly outage schedules are currently being applied in all regions of Ukraine for all categories of consumers, along with capacity restrictions for industry and business, while emergency outages remain in place in several regions.

National Power Company Ukrenergo reported that electricity consumption continues to rise. As of 9:30 a.m. on January 26, consumption was 5.8% higher than at the same time on the previous working day, partly due to fewer restrictions in some regions.

Ukrenergo also said that difficult weather conditions had left more than 40 settlements in the Ternopil and Kyiv regions partially or completely without electricity, with repair crews already working to restore damaged power lines.

Energy holding DTEK said the Kyiv region has transitioned from prolonged emergency shutdowns following earlier Russian attacks to scheduled hourly electricity restrictions. Under Monday’s schedule, consumers are expected to be without power for between 15 and 17 hours a day, depending on their group. (om/ez)