Surging Ukrainian Drone Attacks Cause Blackouts in Belgorod

Fri Oct 24 2025 22:18:03 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The Belgorod region of Russia faces increased blackouts and air raid alerts as Ukrainian drone strikes rise sharply, marking a significant change in the conflict dynamics.

As Ukraine intensifies drone attacks on Russia's Belgorod region in retaliation for previous bombardments, residents are experiencing blackouts and heightened anxiety. The frequency of these strikes has drastically increased, with more than 4,000 drone attacks reported in September alone. Amidst air defense challenges, local citizens express growing concern about the ongoing conflict's direct impact on their daily lives, including fuel shortages and power outages.

Residents of Russia's Belgorod region say blackouts, air-raid sirens, and the sound of gunfire aimed at incoming Ukrainian drones are becoming increasingly common, as Kyiv retaliates against repeated bombardments of its cities with cross-border strikes of its own.

It's so loud and so terrifying, says Nina, a Belgorod resident who asked us to change her name.

I was coming back from the clinic when a siren went off. As usual, I received Telegram alerts about a drone attack. Then bursts of automatic gunfire broke out, I ran into a nearby courtyard and tried to hide under an arch, she recalls.

According to analysis by BBC News Russian, the number of Ukrainian drone attacks on the Belgorod region has increased nearly fourfold since the beginning of 2025. In September, over 4,000 Ukrainian drones were recorded in the region compared to roughly 1,100 in January. The governor reported that one of the major strikes last month included over 260 drones.

Ukraine continues to suffer far greater losses from Russia's persistent missile and drone strikes, which regularly result in civilian casualties and extensive damage to infrastructure.

Maybe they should stop being too comfortable there in Belgorod? Ukrainian President Zelensky commented earlier this month. They must understand: if they want to leave us without power, then we will do the same.

Belgorod serves as a key logistics hub for Russian operations near the Ukrainian border and has seen increasing missile attacks since summer. This autumn has seen the region face significant power shortages, previously uncommon.

Local student Ekaterina (not her real name) noted her harrowing experience during a missile alert, with sirens blaring and explosions occurring nearby, resulting in outages and disarray in her neighborhood. While the center of Belgorod regained electricity quickly after missile strikes, suburbs faced prolonged outages.

Maria, an elderly resident, expressed disbelief over the government's advice to procure backup generators in light of severe fuel shortages. Residents are struggling to find fuel sources amid escalating conflict and price surges for necessary supplies. Reports suggest that recent drone attacks could be attributed to Ukraine's increasing production of its lightweight "Darts" drones, effective for overwhelming defensive systems.

As the war reshapes life in Belgorod, residents feel its direct impact daily, leading to a sense of urgency and concern over the broader implications of continued military actions.