In a dramatic escalation of conflict, NATO fighter jets were dispatched as Russia initiated a severe assault involving missiles and drones, inciting alarm among NATO forces.
On February 7, 2026, Russian military operations intensified, particularly targeting Ukraine during these harsh winter months, with significant attacks directed at essential power facilities. In response to the incoming missiles and drones aimed at western Ukraine, Polish authorities promptly restricted certain areas of their airspace to ensure safety.
The most substantial damage occurred at the Burshtyn thermal power plant located in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. This facility is crucial for energy distribution in western Ukraine and serves as a vital connection to the broader European electricity grid. Reports from Ukrainian monitoring channels indicated that approximately 12 cruise missiles launched from the sea were focused on the Burshtyn power plant in a well-coordinated strike, accompanied by multiple waves of drones. The assault began around 4 a.m., leading to a series of explosions that continued for hours, while air raid sirens blared throughout the area.
The Burshtyn power station plays a key role in stabilizing electricity supplies across Western Ukraine. Even minor damage to this facility poses a serious risk of widespread power outages and instability in the electrical grid, potentially leaving millions without electricity during frigid temperatures.
The overnight offensive involved the launch of dozens of cruise missiles along with nearly 100 drones, all aimed at overwhelming the air defense systems in both western and central Ukraine. In a harrowing scene at a maternity hospital in Lviv, newborns were quickly moved to underground shelters shortly after birth as explosions echoed through the city. One poignant social media post captured the gravity of the situation: "All these babies would be sleeping peacefully if it weren’t for the Russians. The first minutes of their lives they are spending under Russian attack.”
Additional energy facilities that were targeted included the Dobrotvir plant in Lviv, the Ladyzhyn plant in Vinnytsia, the Trypilska plant near Kyiv, and a major high-voltage substation that supplies power to the capital. Ukraine’s national energy operator, UkrEnergo, confirmed the implementation of emergency power outages across multiple regions, including Kyiv, indicating that the electrical system was under immense strain due to the attacks.
Explosions were also reported in Rivne, Vinnytsia, and Kropyvnytskyi, while drones specifically targeted Volyn and other western regions. Additionally, Ukrainian monitoring sources shared footage showing a massive fire at a Roshen confectionery plant in the Kyiv area. This facility is notably the flagship company of former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, who is famously referred to as Ukraine’s ‘Chocolate King’ due to his previous business ventures before taking office from 2014 to 2019.
