Russian Strikes Leave 173,000 Households Without Power in Odesa as Attacks on Infrastructure Intensify

Russian forces launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on key power transmission facilities in Odesa Oblast on the night of 1–2 September, leaving more than 350,000 households without electricity. As of the afternoon of 2 September, energy workers had restored power to about 177,000 homes, but around 173,000 remain in the dark, according to DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company (Source 6). The attack also damaged a DTEK production site, including vehicles and an office building.

The same night, Russian strikes hit the city of Odesa, injuring three people, including a child, and damaging infrastructure and residential buildings, Serhii Lysak, head of the Odesa City Military Administration, reported on Telegram (Source 5). The Ukrainian Air Force had earlier warned of ballistic missiles, guided aerial bombs and Banderol loitering munitions heading toward Odesa.

These attacks are part of a sustained campaign against civilian infrastructure in the Odesa region. On 1 September, a Russian strike damaged a Nova Poshta logistics terminal in the village of Nerubaiske, just north of Odesa city. Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa Oblast State Administration, confirmed no one was injured and firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze (Source 4). The terminal had been hit before in earlier attacks.

A day earlier, on 31 August, Russian forces struck an Ukrnafta petrol station in Odesa Oblast, destroying the building and significantly damaging equipment, the State Emergency Service reported. Nineteen firefighters and four appliances were deployed to extinguish the resulting fire (Source 2). Earlier that evening, a large-scale missile and drone attack on the city of Odesa damaged unspecified infrastructure, with details still being assessed (Source 3).

This wave of strikes follows a pattern of Russian attacks targeting both energy infrastructure and logistics hubs in southern Ukraine. The repeated targeting of Nova Poshta terminals — the company is Ukraine’s largest private delivery service — suggests an effort to disrupt civilian supply chains and economic activity. The attack on power transmission facilities comes as autumn approaches, raising concerns about Ukraine’s ability to maintain electricity supply through the winter.

The Odesa region has been under near-daily air alerts. On 27 August, Russian forces struck the city for almost the entire night, damaging infrastructure, an educational facility and a high-rise residential building, though no casualties were reported at that time (Source 1).

Ukrainian authorities continue to document the attacks and carry out repairs. The State Emergency Service and energy workers are prioritizing restoration of power to as many households as possible. The 173,000 still without electricity in the Odesa district — which includes parts of the city itself — are likely to face extended blackouts as repairs to high-voltage transmission equipment take time.

Russian officials have not commented on these specific strikes. Moscow consistently denies targeting civilians, though Ukraine and international observers have documented thousands of attacks on residential areas, energy grids, and civilian infrastructure since the full-scale invasion began.