February 23, 2026
On the night of February 23, Belgorod, Russia, was hit by a massive missile strike. Due to
severe damage to the city’s energy infrastructure, a partial blackout occurred, and water and heat supply interruptions were reported.
The attack was reported by local public groups, which published videos of the shelling and its aftermath. Belgorod Region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov subsequently confirmed the strike and reported damage to energy facilities.
He wrote: “The city of Belgorod and the Belgorod district were subjected to massive missile attacks. As a result, there was serious damage to the energy infrastructure.”
Footage has surfaced on social media showing explosions and car alarms.
The video shows flashes after the impacts, and the streets are plunged into darkness. Eyewitnesses report that the city has been almost completely de-energized, with only car headlights illuminating the roads.
Several public groups previously reported damage to the Frunzenskaya electrical substation. Footage was also released showing the aftermath of the strike on this facility. Separately, there was a report of a probable missile strike on the Belgorod Thermal Power Plant.
According to Gladkov, the attack resulted in power, water, and heat outages in residents’ homes. All emergency services are on the ground. Information on casualties and the final extent of the damage is being determined.
The regional governor noted that a full damage assessment will be provided later. Experts are currently inspecting energy facilities and networks.
This isn’t the first time attacks on Belgorod have occurred. The city is periodically hit by drones and missiles.
On February 7, Belgorod was attacked by unknown missiles. Following the strikes, the city experienced a blackout.
A few days earlier, on February 5, Belgorod also came under missile attack. Then, power, heat, and water outages began throughout the region.
On February 14, it was reported that after strikes on energy infrastructure, the city was left without heat and hot water at least until the end of the heating season.
Earlier, on February 3, a similar attack struck the Frunzenskaya and Belgorod substations, which also resulted in large-scale power and heat outages.
As OBOZ.UA reported, following the Defense Forces’ retaliatory strikes against Russian attacks on the Ukrainian power grid, hundreds of apartment buildings in Belgorod alone were left without heat and power. The city has begun reopening heating stations and draining water from heating systems, and the evacuation of children and pensioners has been announced. Local authorities warned that restoration work would take a “long period,” leading to the closure of some hospitals, schools, and kindergartens in Belgorod.
Turn Belgorod into Mariupol.
Or into Bakhmut.