Headlines
Russian drone attack forces power cuts in Ukraine's Kryvyi Rih, military says
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 14, 2026
Russian Drone Strikes Cause Power Outages in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine
Impact of Russian Drone Attacks on Kryvyi Rih
Jan 14 (Reuters) - Russian drones struck infrastructure in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih on Wednesday, forcing emergency power blackouts for more than 45,000 customers and disrupting heat supplies, military administration head Oleksandr Vilkul said.
Emergency Measures and Public Safety
"Please fill up on water and charge your devices, if you have the chance. It's going to be difficult," Vilkul said on the Telegram messaging app.
Ongoing Conflict and Infrastructure Damage
Water utility pumping stations switched to generators and water remained in the system, but there could be pressure problems.
Economic Importance of Kryvyi Rih
The full scale of the attack was not immediately known. There was no comment from Russia about the strike.
Russia has repeatedly struck Ukraine’s power plants, substations and transmission lines with missiles and drones, seeking to knock out electricity and heating and hinder industry during the nearly four-year war.
Kyiv says the campaign has forced rolling outages and emergency cuts to cities across the country, as repair crews work under fire and Ukraine relies on air defences and electricity imports to stabilise the grid.
Kryvyi Rih, a steel-and-mining hub in the Dnipropetrovsk region and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s hometown, has been hit repeatedly, with strikes killing civilians and damaging homes and industry.
The city sits close enough to southern front lines to be within strike range, while its factories, logistics links and workforce make it economically important and a key rear-area centre supporting Ukraine’s war effort.
(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Stephen Coates)
Frequently Asked Questions about Russian drone attack forces power cuts in Ukraine's Kryvyi Rih, military says
1What is emergency power blackout?
An emergency power blackout is a temporary suspension of electricity supply to prevent damage to infrastructure or ensure public safety during critical situations.
2What is infrastructure damage?
Infrastructure damage refers to harm or destruction to essential facilities and systems, such as roads, bridges, utilities, and buildings, which can disrupt services and economic activities.
