Russia conducted a large-scale drone assault on Ukraine overnight into January 1, 2026, firing 205 strike drones in one of the war’s most intense barrages. The primary targets were energy facilities across seven regions, causing damage and temporary power outages despite strong Ukrainian defenses.
Ukrainian air forces neutralized 176 drones through shoot-downs or electronic jamming. Confirmed impacts occurred at 15 sites, prompting immediate restoration efforts by power engineers and rescuers.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the deliberate timing of the New Year’s address, emphasizing successful interceptions while calling for faster deliveries of air defense systems.
Drone trajectories and regional impacts
Drones approached from multiple directions, affecting Volyn, Rivne, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv regions. Energy infrastructure bore the brunt, with fires reported in Zaporizhzhia and scattered outages elsewhere.
Guided bomb strikes Feldman Ecopark near Kharkiv
Amid the broader attacks, a Russian guided aerial bomb hit the Feldman Ecopark outside Kharkiv. The strike destroyed heated enclosures, killing most exotic birds such as parrots and pheasants that depended on warmth.
Large cats, including lions and tigers, suffered injuries after their winter housing was damaged. A park volunteer was also wounded.
Park founder and Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Feldman reported the losses. The facility, a popular zoo and conservation site, has been struck multiple times since 2022.
Pattern of winter strikes on power infrastructure
Russia has consistently targeted Ukraine’s energy system during colder seasons to trigger blackouts and disrupt heating. This assault aligns with that strategy, using massed low-cost drones to overwhelm defenses and exploit winter vulnerabilities.
The New Year’s Eve launch amplified potential civilian hardship, though high interception rates mitigated severe widespread disruption.
Official Ukrainian accounts highlight defense successes and damage
Ukrainian leaders and monitors emphasized the effective repulsion of most threats while detailing specific impacts, including fires and animal losses.