At least 120 attacks launched on Ukraine’s key energy facilities this winter season

KYIV: Russia has carried out more than 120 strikes on Ukraine’s key mineral infrastructure, as winter set in, a different kind of attack picked up pace across Ukraine, according to officials.

These attacks have targeted iron ore supply chains, coal mines, rail routes and export hubs, showing a clear shift from isolated hits to a more coordinated campaign.

At the same time, the country’s energy system has also come under intense pressure. State oil and gas firm Naftogaz said on Thursday that at least 129 attacks were carried out by Russia on Ukrainian gas and heating facilities during the recent 151-day heating season.

Describing the scale of damage, the company said, “The Russians hit pipelines, gas production, underground storage facilities, heating systems, everything that Ukrainians depend on for heat and gas.”

Ukraine’s mineral sector is not just about mines. It is a full network, from iron ore pits and coal fields to railways and Black Sea ports, that keeps exports moving. Iron ore is Ukraine’s second-largest export after agriculture, and nearly 90 percent of it moves through Black Sea ports, making these routes highly critical.

Ports in the Odesa region have come under repeated attacks. Cargo terminals, storage areas and loading equipment have been damaged again and again. As a result, export capacity at major ports has dropped by up to 30 per cent. Frequent air raid alerts have also forced operations to stop for days — and sometimes weeks, causing major delays.

The impact is not limited to coastal areas. Inland, railways, which carry ore and coal to ports, have also been heavily targeted. Ukraine’s infrastructure ministry says there have been hundreds of strikes on transport systems, including 266 attacks on railways in 2026 alone.

Coal mines, especially those producing coking coal for steel, have also faced disruption. Some have been damaged, while others were forced to shut down due to nearby fighting or power shortages. This has created a ripple effect, even when mining continues, transporting materials has become slower and more expensive.

Together, the strikes on energy and mineral infrastructure point to a broader strategy. By targeting gas supplies, heating systems, mines, railways and ports at the same time, the campaign is not only disrupting exports but also making it harder for Ukraine to keep homes warm and industries running.

In this winter phase of the war, the pressure is being applied across the board, from power and heating to production and transport, deepening the strain on Ukraine’s economy and daily life.