Drone and missile attacks hit Russia: Blackout in Oryol, power plant struck in Belgorod
Local authorities confirmed the attack (Photo: Getty Images)
On the evening of Tuesday, January 20, Russia was attacked by unknown drones and missiles, targeting the cities of Oryol and Belgorod, according to Russian Telegram channels.
According to online sources, the attack on Belgorod occurred after 8:00 PM Kyiv time. Posts claim that a missile strike hit the DTEK Energot power plant, causing a large fire.
Shortly after, the regional governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, confirmed the attack, stating that it was carried out on the region’s energy infrastructure.
“As a result of the shelling, facilities within the region’s energy complex were damaged. We are conducting demining operations and beginning emergency repairs. In addition, in Belgorod, the premises and equipment of one enterprise were damaged,” Gladkov reported.
At the same time, there were no major disruptions in Belgorod, unlike in Oryol.
According to SHOT subscribers, at around 9:30 PM, more than 10 explosions were heard across Oryol.
Meanwhile, videos circulated on social media allegedly showing drones attacking the local thermal power plant, causing a blackout in parts of the city.
Drone and missile attacks hit Russia (photo: Russian media)
Drone and missile attacks hit Russia (photo: Russian media)
Drone and missile attacks hit Russia (photo: Russian media)
Drone and missile attacks hit Russia (photo: Russian media)
Drone and missile attacks hit Russia: Blackout in #Oryol, power plant struck in Belgorodhttps://t.co/yxJqT1MgoK pic.twitter.com/qoZAWNxu47
— RBC-Ukraine (@NewsUkraineRBC) January 21, 2026
A little later, the governor of the Oryol region, Andrey Klychkov, confirmed the information, stating that the region’s fuel and energy infrastructure had been attacked.
“Minor damage was inflicted on the region’s fuel and energy infrastructure… In some homes in the Severnyi and Zheleznodorozhny districts of Oryol, there are disruptions in electricity and water supply, and efforts are underway to restore services,” he wrote.
Incidents in Russia
On the evening of January 8, Belgorod and nearby settlements also experienced a blackout following an unknown missile attack on substations and thermal power plants. A similar situation was observed in Oryol.
Additionally, it was reported that on the evening of January 12, the Oryol thermal power plant was hit by drones, resulting in a fire.
