There’s fear that the Kiev blackouts from last winter will return even worse

First, food shortages – now, blackouts and lack of heating?

After Volodymyr Zelensky launched a 40-day campaign of missile and drone strikes against Russian economic infrastructure, Moscow has retaliated with overwhelming force.

The recent wave of attacks, besides targeting military sites, weapons and ammo depots, has also destroyed around 90% of Ukraine’s commercial warehouses, and now there’s widespread reports of empty shelves in the country’s markets and grocery stores.

Empty shelves in Kiev

But with the upcoming winter, there’s widespread fear that the situation will become much worse, as the Russian forces are preparing for a ‘significant offensive against Ukrainian energy infrastructure’.

This has been announced today by the Russian defense ministry.

BREAKING – Russia says preparing ‘massive strikes’ against Ukraine’s energy sector: ministry

— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) August 30, 2026

Politico reported:

“In a post on Telegram, the ministry said Russian forces had ‘begun preparations to launch massive strikes against Ukraine’s energy facilities’, describing the move as retribution for Kiev’s targeting of Russian energy infrastructure.

Earlier this month, Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal told POLITICO that ‘Putin wants to finish off (Ukraine’s) energy system’ and that Kyiv would work on strengthening its energy and infrastructure resilience to avoid a repeat of last winter’s freezing blackouts.”

Euronews reported:

“The warning revives fears of a repeat of last winter, when Moscow’s bombardment of Ukrainian power plants devastated the country’s grid and left millions without heat or electricity in sub-zero temperatures.

[…] Overall, Russia launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 130 drones of various types between late Saturday and early Sunday, the Ukrainian air force said.”

Read more:

Russia Changes Tactics, Submits Kiev to Three Straight Days of Drone and Missile Strikes – Weapons and Ammo Depot in Residential Area Is Struck, Burning for Hours (VIDEOS)