February 27, 2026
“The lights went out, the internet vanished, and the water was soon gone too”: Residents of Russia’s Belgorod are feeling the effects of war
While Kremlin propagandists celebrate the extensive damage Russia’s military has inflicted on the Ukrainian energy grid, Russian border regions hit by retaliatory shelling are experiencing outages of their own. Since late 2025, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been carrying out missile strikes on energy facilities both in the city of Belgorod and in the surrounding region. In the depths of winter, residents were left without electricity, heating, or water, and on Feb. 8, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov even announced a “partial” evacuation of residents from the region. To prevent accidents caused by the frost, utility services began draining water from heating systems. This measure affected 455 apartment buildings, and in dozens of blocks pipes had already been damaged or burst. By mid-February, a significant share of homes had been reconnected to utility networks, but residents understand that this solution is temporary. Many continue to leave the city.
TL;DR
- Ukrainian missile strikes on Belgorod's electrical substations and thermal power plants have caused widespread blackouts, leaving over 80,000 people without heat and thousands without electricity and gas.
- To prevent catastrophic damage from freezing temperatures, water is being drained from heating systems in hundreds of apartment buildings, with some pipes already having burst.
- Residents are resorting to buying heaters in bulk, stocking up on water, and adapting to life with frequent power outages, while expressing bitterness about the ongoing war.
- The repeated strikes have damaged key energy infrastructure, including the Belgorod thermal power plant and the Luch thermal power plant, preventing timely repairs and recovery.
- Belgorod's vulnerability stems from its proximity to the Ukrainian border, making it a target for retaliatory attacks on energy facilities.
- Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov described the situation as "catastrophic" and warned of potential evacuations, admitting the region cannot fully solve the problem.
- Life in Belgorod has become difficult, characterized by darkness on streets, dangerous driving conditions, and a constant sense of insecurity.
- Some residents, like Vitaly, have decided to leave Belgorod with their families due to the unbearable living conditions caused by the war.
- Military analysts suggest Belgorod is being used by Moscow as part of its air defense system, with inadequate protective measures for energy facilities compared to Ukraine's.
- Kyiv's capability to strike Moscow's energy infrastructure is limited, leading to a continued threat for Belgorod and other border cities as long as Russia's attacks on Ukraine persist.
Continue reading the original article