{ "id": 387360, "title": "Russia plans to make upcoming winter unsurvivable for Ukrainian civilians: Moscow is hitting Ukraine’s gas extraction sites to make heating impossible in cold", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/russia-plans-to-make-upcoming-winter-unsurvivable-for-ukrainian", "topic": "world", "section": "World", "published": "2026-08-09T15:20:47.000Z", "source": { "name": "Euromaidan Press", "slug": "euromaidan-press", "url": "https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/08/09/russia-plans-to-make-upcoming-winter-unsurvivable-for-ukrainian-civilians-moscow-is-hitting-ukraines-gas-extraction-sites-to-make-heating-impossible-in-cold/" }, "original_language": "en", "account": "Russia is intensifying its attacks on Ukraine's gas extraction sites in preparation for the upcoming winter, according to official reports. The Naftogaz Group, Ukraine's state-owned gas company, reported that the Russian forces have relentlessly targeted various extraction sites across eastern, western, and central Ukraine. The goal of these strikes, as stated by the acting Naftogaz chairman Serhii Fedorenko, is to cripple the country's ability to produce gas before the cold weather sets in. Fedorenko emphasized the heightened intensity of the attacks on oil-and-gas infrastructure recently.\n\nOn the night of August 9, several extraction assets of Ukrnafta and a drilling site were severely damaged by Russian forces utilizing dozens of strike drones. While the safety measures prevented any harm to the workers at the affected facilities, the attacks led to substantial destruction, rendering parts of the equipment inoperable and halting the operations. The assault also extended to Naftogaz's retail and production network, with seven filling complexes in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Mykolaiv oblasts coming under drone attack on August 7 and 8. One worker was injured during the incident and is currently hospitalized.\n\nCentral Ukraine was also targeted by Russia, with jet-powered drones striking Naftogaz production facilities on August 8, causing significant destruction. Despite the fierce assault, the facility personnel were safely sheltered at the time of the attack. The primary objective behind these strikes is to ensure that Ukraine is unable to heat itself during the winter months, effectively transforming the conflict into another battleground for civilian populations. The Russian strategy, as indicated by First Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, aims to destroy the systems necessary for Ukrainians to survive the cold, turning the winter season into a decisive front in the ongoing war.", "summary": "Russia struck Naftogaz Group assets across eastern, western, and central Ukraine, hitting gas extraction sites and fuel stations.", "key_points": [], "editors_take": null, "illustration": null, "coverage": { "outlets": 12, "also_reported_by": [ { "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press", "title": "Russia, Ukraine exchange overnight strikes that leave 7 dead, many injured", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/russia-ukraine-exchange-overnight-strikes-that-leave-7-dead-many-373136", "published": "2026-08-09T10:45:55.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Associated Press", "title": "Russia, Ukraine exchange overnight strikes that leave 7 dead, many injured", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/russia-ukraine-exchange-overnight-strikes-that-leave-7-dead-many", "published": "2026-08-09T10:53:01.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Euromaidan Press", "title": "Third one down: Ukraine keeps destroying Russia’s $1.8 million Starlink jammers", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/third-one-down-ukraine-keeps-destroying-russias-1-8-million-starlink", "published": "2026-08-09T11:59:47.000Z" }, { "outlet": "UATV English", "title": "Russia Fired 61 Missiles at Ukraine in a Week, 56 on Ballistic Trajectories — Zelenskyy", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/russia-fired-61-missiles-at-ukraine-in-a-week-56-on-ballistic", "published": "2026-08-09T12:04:00.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Kyiv Independent", "title": "Inside Ukraine's 40-day drone campaign to weaken Russia | Ukraine This Week", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/inside-ukraines-40-day-drone-campaign-to-weaken-russia-ukraine-this", "published": "2026-08-09T12:27:36.000Z" }, { "outlet": "NDTV", "title": "Russia, Ukraine Exchange Overnight Strikes, 7 Killed, Many Injured", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/russia-ukraine-exchange-overnight-strikes-7-killed-many-injured", "published": "2026-08-09T12:42:06.000Z" }, { "outlet": "France 24", "title": "Russia and Ukraine exchange deadly overnight strikes", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/russia-and-ukraine-exchange-deadly-overnight-strikes", "published": "2026-08-09T13:22:24.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Euronews", "title": "13 killed in Ukraine and 90 injured as Russia intensifies overnight bombardment campaign of Ukrainian cities", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/13-killed-in-ukraine-and-90-injured-as-russia-intensifies-overnight", "published": "2026-08-09T13:29:24.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Business Recorder", "title": "Ukraine's Zelenskiy says up to 50,000 North Korean troops to be deployed in Russia", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/ukraines-zelenskiy-says-up-to-50-000-north-korean-troops-to-be", "published": "2026-08-09T13:40:30.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Business Insider", "title": "Taiwan's war drills showcased a new strike drone class that Ukraine used to smash Russia this year", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/taiwans-war-drills-showcased-a-new-strike-drone-class-that-ukraine", "published": "2026-08-09T13:48:56.000Z" }, { "outlet": "SABC News", "title": "Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of lethal attacks", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/ukraine-and-russia-accuse-each-other-of-lethal-attacks", "published": "2026-08-09T15:40:05.000Z" } ] }, "ai_generated": true, "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original." }