Blackout hits key Russian-held city as Kyiv intensifies campaign to cripple military bases, energy networks and supply routes.
A major blackout has plunged the occupied Crimean city of Kerch into darkness after Ukrainian drone strikes hit the Russian-controlled peninsula, in the latest blow to Moscow’s military infrastructure.
Russian-installed officials admitted the city had lost power overnight following what they described as an “enemy drone attack”.
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Ivan Koshel, the Kremlin-appointed head of Kerch, said emergency services were working to restore electricity while critical facilities were being powered by backup systems.
“Unfortunately, as a result of an enemy (drone) attack, Kerch is completely without power,” he said.
The outage comes as Ukraine ramps up a campaign aimed at isolating Crimea and disrupting the military and logistical network Russia relies on to sustain its war effort.
Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed it had shot down 93 Ukrainian drones overnight, but the strikes highlighted the growing reach of Kyiv’s unmanned warfare capabilities.
Crimea, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, has become a crucial hub for Moscow’s operations in southern Ukraine — hosting military bases, supply routes and naval facilities.
Ukraine’s Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov previously described the peninsula as a key target.
Ukraine struck the Sevastopol Thermal Power Plant.
Nearly half of occupied Crimea's electricity generation depends on this plant.
Occupation has a price. pic.twitter.com/zAFqRbmunE
— UAVoyager🇺🇦 (@NAFOvoyager) July 15, 2026
“Crimea has essentially turned into a military base for the Russians, allowing them to continue occupying the south of our country and transfer forces to the east,” he said.
The blackout followed a new phase of Ukraine’s maritime drone offensive in the Black Sea, with Ukrainian commanders claiming attacks on Russian vessels and shipping infrastructure.
Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, said Ukrainian drones had targeted Russian-linked vessels as part of a wider operation designed to disrupt Moscow’s naval logistics.
The campaign follows repeated Ukrainian strikes on shipping in the Sea of Azov, where Kyiv says vessels are being used to support Russia’s military supply network.
❗️❗️❗️🇷🇺In a devastating blow to the infrastructure of occupied Crimea, a massive Ukrainian drone strike has knocked out the power grid, leaving the strategic port city of Kerch in a total blackout.
Kremlin-installed local authorities confirmed that the city is completely… pic.twitter.com/xr0opBib9Q
— NSTRIKE (@NSTRIKE1231) July 15, 2026
Crimean energy operator Krymenergo confirmed wider power restrictions across the peninsula.
The company warned that emergency outages were being introduced depending on conditions across local power networks, adding that it was unable to provide a fixed timetable for restoration.
The disruption represents another challenge for Moscow, which has repeatedly portrayed Crimea as a symbol of Russian control and strength.
But with drone attacks reaching deeper into occupied territory, the war is increasingly exposing vulnerabilities far from the front line.
Ukraine’s strategy is clear: strike the infrastructure that keeps Russia
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