Russian forces pounded Ukrainian ‌power infrastructure before a new round of peace ​talks, killing three energy workers and ⁠leaving tens of thousands of people without power and heat, officials said on Tuesday (February 17, 2026). Russia, which began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has frequently carried out attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities this winter that ‌have knocked out power and heating. Power infrastructure supplying Ukraine's strategic Black Sea port city of Odesa suffered "incredibly serious" damage, said private energy company DTEK. "Repairs will take a long time to restore the equipment to working order," the company said on social media. Ukraine's air force said Russia launched ‌nearly 400 drones and 29 missiles.

Source: The Hindu February 17, 2026 12:34 UTC