Russian forces launched a series of drone attacks overnight on January 7-8, 2026, targeting critical energy infrastructure in Ukraine's industrial southeastern regions, primarily Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia. These strikes resulted in widespread blackouts, plunging major areas into darkness and cold. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, a key industrial hub, over a million consumers were left without heat and water supplies, with nearly 500,000 households still without power as of January 8. The attacks severely disrupted daily life, affecting critical services like hospitals (which switched to generators), electric transportation, and mobile communications. Eight mines in the region were also disconnected, though workers were safely evacuated. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba confirmed ongoing repair efforts to restore essential services. While power was largely restored in the Zaporizhzhia region, officials there described it as the first 'total blackout' in recent years. Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov characterized the situation as a 'national emergency,' particularly as Ukraine faces a cold snap with temperatures expected to drop below -10 degrees Celsius. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vehemently condemned the strikes, calling them an attempt to 'break Ukraine' and stressing the urgent need for accelerated delivery of air defense systems. The attacks underscore Russia's continued strategy of targeting civilian infrastructure during winter to inflict hardship on the Ukrainian populace.