Ukraine Strikes Knock Out Thousands in Russia's Belgorod Power Outage

Ukrainian forces launched overnight attacks on Russia's Belgorod region, damaging power infrastructure and causing significant outages affecting thousands of residents. Despite efforts by engineers and emergency teams restoring power to nearly 34,000 consumers, approximately 5,400 remain without electricity across multiple municipal areas. The attacks, which also struck homes and energy facilities in various Ukrainian regions, resulted in the deaths of at least five people, including four members of a family in Lviv, the western Ukrainian city. The Russian Defense Ministry claims it targeted Ukraine's energy and oil infrastructure, including fuel storage and drone launch sites, in a large-scale offensive using air force, drones, artillery, and missiles, though independent verification remains pending. Both sides characterize their strikes as efforts to destroy infrastructure critical to the other's war capabilities, reflecting the ongoing conflict's toll on civilian utilities and services. Ukrainian President Zelensky has warned of retaliatory actions if Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities persist, underscoring the escalating tit-for-tat nature of the conflict.