Ukraine imposes power restrictions after new Russian strikes on energy grid

On October 10, 2026, Ukrainian grid operator Ukrenergo imposed power consumption restrictions in several regions, directly linking them to intensified Russian missile and drone strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure. On the morning of October 9, Kyiv and seven other regions reported fresh outages after new attacks, and the Donetsk and Chernihiv areas saw rolling blackouts. The restrictions came amid one of the most sustained Russian aerial campaigns of the war: data group ACLED logged 238 Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure between September 26 and October 2, with 51 of them targeting energy facilities – a 28 percent weekly increase. Al Jazeera reported earlier in the week that at least 20 people were killed when Russia launched a 'massive' attack combining ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and Shahed-style drones against Ukrainian cities. The strikes land as Russia's President Vladimir Putin signaled to US President Donald Trump that an immediate resumption of peace talks is off the table, meaning Ukrainians face another winter of darkness.