UKRAINE ANALYSIS HUB

05 August 2026

Since late May 2026, sustained Ukrainian strikes on Russian military and energy infrastructure in occupied Crimea have triggered widespread blackouts and fuel shortages across the peninsula. Home to an estimated 2.5–3 million people, more than 70% of the peninsula's residents have experienced power outages. Water supply in Crimea's nine largest cities is either completely cut off or limited to one to two hours per day. Power outages have also led to shortages of insulin and other temperature-sensitive medications, as refrigerators in many pharmacies are inoperable. Fuel shortages have driven gasoline prices up two- to threefold at the few filling stations still operating. Road transport and logistics have also been disrupted, as traffic on the Crimean Bridge has been periodically blocked or restricted, resulting in multi-kilometre queues and delays for both civilian and freight transport. These effects have increased logistical costs, constraining Crimea's tourism-dependent economy during the peak summer season. (Suspilne Crimea 07/07/2026, DW 23/07/2026, Slovo i Dilo 28/07/2026)

19 June 2026

The last functioning maternity hospital in the Donetsk region, in Sloviansk, closed on 8 June 2026 after a nearby Russian FAB-250 airstrike damaged the facility, eliminating access to maternal and newborn healthcare in the region and adding strain to health services. Worsening water shortages, evacuations, and damage to around 50% of apartment buildings in Sloviansk compound these pressures, further increasing the vulnerability of women and infants. (Glavcom 11/06/2026, Tochka Shodu 09/06/2026,
Politarena 24/04/2026)

15 June 2026

During the 2 June attack on Kyiv, 41,000 residents temporarily sheltered in the metro, the highest number recorded during a night-time air raid alert in recent years. This followed a Russian shift towards systematic strikes on the capital, announced publicly by officials in late May. The recent 24 May, 2 June, and 15 June attacks involved over 1,860 drones and 230 missiles, with Kyiv as the primary target, amid growing pressure on stocks of US-supplied Patriot interceptors. (The Kyiv Independent 02/06/2026, The Guardian 02/06/2026, NV 02/06/2026).

09 June 2026

Kostiantynivka, a key stronghold in a chain of fortified cities in Donbas known as 'Fortress Belt', has come under increasing Russian pressure from the south and southwest in May–June. The remaining 2,500 residents rely on just two operational wells, one supplying drinking water. The situation is worsening because of continued infiltration attempts, intensified attacks on supply routes, and strikes involving prohibited phosphorus munitions, which are subject to international restrictions. (Babel 04/06/2026, Ukrinform 09/06/2026, Ukrinform 21/04/2026

18 May 2026

The 2,000 remaining residents in Oleshky, a besieged frontline city in the Russian-occupied part of Kherson oblast, are experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis, with lack of access to food and healthcare. The city remains inaccessible because of mined roads, with the last food supply delivered on 17 February 2026. There is a risk of disease outbreaks caused by the inability to bury the dead and limited evacuation options. (Kyiv Independent 15/04/2026, Glavcom 23/04/2026, Hromadske 12/05/2026)

23 April 2026

Russian forces advanced within 15km of the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk area by the end of March, resulting in increased civilian fatalities in Kramatorskyi raion by almost threefold compared to the same period in 2025. Over 600 people were evacuated from Sloviansk in the week of 24–31 March alone – three times the previous week and at rates higher than throughout the winter – prompting an increase in cash aid for evacuation in transit sites from 10,800 to 12,300 UAH by 1 April to account for increased displacement costs. (Reuters 20/03/2026, ACLED 15/04/2026, Free Radio 31/03/2026)

20 January 2026

On 19 January 2026, Russian missile and drone strikes caused power, heating, and water outages for at least 5,600 high-rise buildings in Kyiv amid prolonged deep frost conditions and temperatures as low as −15° C. Russia's campaign against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, averaging more than 36 attacks per week nationwide, is among the highest levels since February 2022, affecting Chernihivska, Dnipropetrovska, Donetska, Kharkivska, Kyivska, and Odeska oblasts and Kyiv city the most. Ukraine faces a 40% power capacity deficit nationwide, with only 11GW available of the 18GW required. In response to the worsening crisis, the Ukrainian Government, for the first time, has declared a national energy emergency and is supporting civilians with charging stations, warmth, hot drinks, and psychosocial support. That said, repeated blackouts, limited heating, and prolonged cold exposure may overwhelm services, worsen winter-related health conditions, and increase vulnerability, especially among older adults and children. ACLED accessed 15/01/2026, UNICEF 16/01/2026, Ukrinform 20/01/2026)