Al Jazeera News: al jazeera news summary of Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 26, 2026

An assessment dated February 26 and a day-1, 465 roundup detail a massive Russian missile and drone strike on Ukraine overnight February 25–26 that targeted energy infrastructure and left multiple oblasts without power. al jazeera news coverage of day 1, 465 also lists unrelated regional developments and notes ongoing technical talks in Vienna with unclear prospects for averting renewed escalation.

Massive February 25–26 strike

The assessment states that Russian forces launched a large overnight strike package composed of 39 missiles and 420 drones, marking the fourth strike this month that exceeded 400 projectiles. The strike combined ballistic, cruise, anti-ship missiles and a variety of Shahed-type and other drones, with roughly 280 identified as Shahed-type drones.

al jazeera news: Air defenses and strike composition

Ukraine’s air defense systems engaged the package and downed the majority of incoming projectiles. Forces shot down 374 drones and 32 missiles, while an estimated five missiles and 46 drones struck 32 locations and debris from intercepts fell on 15 other locations. The assessment highlights the mixed composition of the attack — including Iskander-M ballistic missiles, S-300 surface-to-air missiles used in strike roles, Kh-101 and Kh-69 cruise missiles, and two Zirkon/Onyx anti-ship missiles — as reflective of a broader pattern in Russia’s campaign.

Damage to energy infrastructure

The strike prioritized energy targets. gas infrastructure in Poltava Oblast and electrical substations in Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts were struck, with additional damage reported in Chernihiv, Zaporizhia, Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, and Kyiv City. The country’s largest energy company noted significant damage to a large substation in the Odesa network and said that 45 percent of that network’s large substations have suffered "colossal destruction. " A deputy energy minister said consumers in Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Poltava, and Kharkiv oblasts were left without electricity after the overnight attacks.

Day-1, 465 developments and diplomatic context

The day-1, 465 roundup lists other developments alongside battlefield reporting. An arrest in an Ethiopian border town followed a regional intelligence lead tied to alleged trafficking for conflict. A national prosecution office named an individual accused of human trafficking. Technical discussions in Vienna are set to continue, though it remains unclear whether outstanding differences can be resolved to prevent further escalation.

• Strike volume: roughly 420 drones and 39 missiles used overnight.
• Defensive outcomes: about 374 drones and 32 missiles shot down; strikes hit 32 locations.
• Infrastructure impact: major damage to substations and multi-oblast power outages reported.

Analysis: The assessment notes a recurring pattern of launching concentrated strike packages that combine large drone swarms with multiple missiles. It also documents adaptations in munitions intended to increase damage to civilian and energy infrastructure, including modifications that add mines and cluster munitions to drones. If high-volume strike packages continue and air-defense burdens remain elevated, energy disruption in affected oblasts may persist and complicate recovery operations. Observers point to the timing of several large strike packages, which have coincided with days before and after bilateral and trilateral negotiations, and to repeated large missile launches earlier in the month as an observable indicator of operational tempo.

Uncertainties: Some details remain not publicly confirmed or are described in general terms in the assessment, including the full scope of equipment losses and the precise operational intent behind timing choices. Technical talks in Vienna are ongoing, and their outcome is uncertain at this time.