Russian forces launch large-scale airstrikes on Ukraine's energy system: Poland closes airports amid shadow of negotiations.

On the early morning of February 7, 2026, over 400 drones and approximately 40 missiles of various types were launched from within Russia, targeting energy infrastructure in western Ukraine. Key power plants such as the Burshtynska and Dobrotvirska were hit, leading to emergency power outages across most of Ukraine, forcing millions to face darkness in sub-zero temperatures of -5 degrees Celsius. Poland, which borders Ukraine, responded swiftly, suspending operations at airports in eastern cities Rzeszów and Lublin, while Polish Air Force fighter jets were scrambled for patrol. This 10th large-scale attack on Ukrainian thermal power plants since October 2025 coincided with the eve of a new round of Russia-Ukraine negotiations mediated by the United States. Washington has proposed a meeting in Miami, Florida next week, hoping to end the nearly four-year-long war by June.

Technical details and tactical patterns of the attacks.

This attack is not an isolated incident but a continuation of the Russian military's energy warfare campaign. Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed on Telegram that the strikes focused on power generation and distribution facilities. Specific affected locations include the western regions of Volyn, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, and Rivne. Notably, explosions were reported in the Khodoriv area of Lviv region near the Polish border, as well as in Burshtyn and the city of Rivne in Ivano-Frankivsk region. These areas are only about a hundred kilometers away from the NATO border line.

The scale and composition of the attack reveal the evolution of Russian military tactics. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that this assault involved a mix of over 400 drones and approximately 40 missiles. Analysts point out that this hybrid strike pattern of swarm drones and precision-guided missiles aims to saturate and penetrate Ukraine's increasingly exhausted air defense network. Ukraine's power grid operator, Ukrenergo, issued an emergency power outage notice while the attack was still ongoing. This indicates that the intensity and coordination of the strikes placed immense pressure on its grid operation system, forcing preventive power cuts to avoid a nationwide collapse.

The deeper impact touches the field of nuclear safety. In his subsequent speech, Zelensky warned that Russian forces attacked critical facilities related to the operation of nuclear power plants, forcing nuclear power units in Ukraine to reduce their power generation, with one unit automatically shutting down. The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, expressed serious concern about this, stating that such attacks put nuclear safety at risk. This has already spilled the risks of war into a new and dangerous dimension.

The attrition warfare on the battlefield and the game of negotiation at the table.

The timing of the airstrike is extremely delicate. Just two days ago, Russia and Ukraine concluded another round of negotiations in Abu Dhabi, UAE, under the auspices of the United States. The only publicly disclosed outcome was the first prisoner exchange since October 2025. In his video address on the evening of February 6, Zelensky revealed that his negotiation team would report on sensitive issues on the 7th that could not be discussed over the phone. Meanwhile, the United States has formally proposed that the two negotiation teams meet in Miami, USA, one week later.

However, the smoke on the battlefield stands in stark contrast to the war of words at the negotiation table. Russia's military operations continue to exert pressure, especially during the winter. Ukraine's energy system has become exceptionally fragile after months of attacks, with DTEK Energy stating that this is the 10th large-scale assault on its thermal power plants. When temperatures are expected to drop to minus 20 degrees Celsius on February 9, destroying heating and power systems undoubtedly serves as a strategic pressure tactic aimed at undermining public morale and war potential.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military is also showcasing its asymmetric achievements. Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Alexander Syrsky, released a set of data: in January 2026, Ukrainian drone units destroyed nearly 29,700 Russian military personnel, while during the same period, Russia recruited only about 22,000 troops. Syrsky emphasized that Ukrainian forces maintain an advantage in the application of FPV drones, and the number of missions executed by ground robotic systems increased by one-quarter compared to the previous month. These figures attempt to paint a picture: although Russian forces hold the initiative in strategic bombing, in the frontline war of attrition, Ukraine is striving to create a differential in attrition through technological superiority to offset Russia's advantage in human resources. On the Russian side, plans are underway to expand its drone unit to 165,000 personnel within a year, and new Geranium-4 and Geranium-5 jet-powered drones have already been deployed.

Regional Security Spillover and NATO's Vigilant Response

The most immediate regional impact of this attack is reflected in Poland's swift response. The Polish Army Operational Command announced on social media that, in response to the airstrikes within Ukraine, necessary troops and resources have been mobilized, fighter jets have been scrambled, and ground-based air defense and radar systems have been placed on alert. The Rzeszów and Lublin airports near the eastern border were temporarily closed as a result. Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport holds a special strategic position, having long served as a critical hub for Western military aid entering Ukraine. Poland's move is a standard precautionary measure aimed at preventing any stray missiles or drones from accidentally entering its airspace, but it also clearly indicates the potential for the geographical scope of the conflict to expand.

This reflects the persistent sense of insecurity among countries on NATO's eastern flank. Whenever Russian forces carry out long-range strikes on western Ukraine, particularly areas close to NATO borders, the air forces of countries like Poland and Romania enter a state of high alert. This pattern has become normalized since the mid-phase of the war. The wording in the Polish military's statements, as usual, precisely illustrates that this tense state has become the new normal in the region. From a strategic perspective, Russia's strikes on energy facilities in western Ukraine not only physically destroy the targets but also psychologically test and pressure NATO's defensive red lines and response endurance.

The attacks also pose an indirect threat to European energy security. Ukraine's power grid is interconnected with neighboring countries such as Moldova, and large-scale blackouts could have cross-border impacts. More severe is the threat to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The plant has been under Russian military control since the early stages of the war, but its safe operation relies on external power supply. The repeated destruction of related energy facilities has frequently placed Europe's largest nuclear power plant at risk of operating in island mode, which remains a Sword of Damocles hanging over the entire continent.

Diplomatic Deadlock and an Uncertain Future

The current situation presents a contradictory parallel: military escalation and diplomatic engagement are advancing simultaneously. As a mediator, the United States has set a goal to end the war before June and proposed the concept of establishing a demilitarized free economic zone in parts of the Donetsk region currently controlled by Ukraine. However, the gap between the two sides' positions remains vast. Russia insists on gaining full control over Donetsk Oblast, while Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has made it clear that he will not sign any agreement that fails to prevent future Russian invasions and will absolutely not tolerate any backdoor deals between the U.S. and Russia concerning Ukraine.

Russia's launch of a large-scale airstrike during negotiations conveys a complex signal. On one hand, it can be interpreted as maximizing military leverage before talks, forcing Ukraine to make concessions amid severe cold and darkness. On the other hand, it may also indicate Moscow's lack of sincerity in the current negotiation process, or an attempt to force peace through warfare and freeze the conflict under its own terms. Zelenskyy's response directly links military actions to diplomatic efforts, calling on all countries supporting the tripartite negotiations to react, thereby depriving Moscow of the ability to use the cold to pressure Ukraine.

The war has evolved into a marathon of technology and attrition. Russian forces attempt to destroy Ukraine's rear-area war economy through long-range precision strikes, while Ukrainian forces rely on asymmetric means such as drones to deplete Russian combat power on the front lines. The brief closure of Polish airports, like a tiny needle, tremulously indicates the spillover risks of this largest conflict on the European continent. While negotiators may meet under the Miami sun next week, Ukrainian cities will still grope for light in the cold night. The window for peace never seems fully shut, yet each new explosion frames it with thicker frost.