In a significant escalation of hostilities, Ukrainian forces launched a major drone assault deep inside Russian territory, striking a critical power station in the Moscow region and leaving thousands of residents without heating as temperatures hovered around freezing.
A Deep Strike and a Strategic Shift
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, targeted the Shatura Power Station, located approximately 120 km (75 miles) east of the Kremlin. Moscow region governor, Andrei Vorobyov, confirmed the facility was hit, triggering a large fire. This represents a notable shift in Ukrainian tactics, which have previously concentrated on damaging Russian oil refineries rather than electricity and heat infrastructure serving the capital.
Video footage circulating on social media showed balls of flame and thick black smoke pouring from the plant. Governor Vorobyov stated that while some drones were intercepted by air-defence systems, several fell on the station's territory, causing the blaze. The emergencies ministry reported that three transformers at the site had caught fire.
Immediate Fallout and Emergency Response
The immediate consequence for the local population was a severe disruption to essential services. The town of Shatura, with a population of about 33,000, was plunged into a heating crisis. One resident confirmed there was no heating in their home.
Authorities scrambled to mitigate the situation. Vorobyov announced that backup power had been activated and that mobile heating systems were being deployed to the area. He assured residents that "all efforts are being taken to promptly restore heat supply." The incident highlights the vulnerability of energy infrastructure, even in regions far from the front lines.
A Broader Context of Escalating Strikes
This deep-strike operation comes as Russia's defence ministry claimed it had downed 75 Ukrainian drones in the preceding 24 hours, including several over the Moscow region. The attack also forced a temporary, hour-long halt to flights at Vnukovo airport.
The assault on Shatura, one of Russia's oldest power stations founded under Vladimir Lenin, signals a potential new phase in the conflict. For months, Russia has systematically targeted Ukraine's power grid, causing widespread blackouts. Ukraine's focus on Russian energy revenues has now broadened to include direct retaliation against infrastructure serving Moscow and its surrounding region, which is home to more than 22 million people.
There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials on the attack. Meanwhile, the Russian defence ministry announced that its troops had captured three villages in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions, underscoring the continued intensity of ground fighting.
