Russia launched 4 “Mach 9” anti-ship missiles at Ukraine’s power grid — air defenses downed two and 52 of 62 drones

Russia attacked Ukraine overnight on 16 February with four Zircon hypersonic anti-ship missiles, an Iskander-M ballistic missile, a Kh-31P guided missile, and 62 long-range attack drones, striking several locations across the country and causing new power outages in four oblasts. The strikes injured five people, including a 15-year-old girl, in Kharkiv Oblast, and damaged railway infrastructure near the front line, according to official reports.

Air defense intercepts half of Zircon missiles, 84% of drones

Ukraine's Air Force says the air defense shot down two of the four Zircon missiles and 52 of the 62 drones by 9 a.m. One Russian missile and nine attack drones struck eight locations, while debris from intercepted targets fell at two more sites. Information on three additional missiles was still being verified.

Moscow's forces launched the Zircon missiles from occupied Crimea, the Iskander-M from Russia's Bryansk Oblast, and the Kh-31P from occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The drones flew from five directions inside Russia — Millerovo, Kursk, Bryansk, Shatalovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk — as well as Hvardiiske in occupied Crimea. About 40 of the 62 drones were Shaheds, which in their latest modification carry warheads weighing up to 90 kg. The rest included Gerbera, Italmas, and other types.

Drone strike injures five in Kharkiv Oblast, including teenager

The Kharkiv Oblast prosecutor's office reported that a drone, preliminarily identified as a Geran-2 — the Russian-produced copy of Iran's Shahed 136 — hit a residential area in the village of Tetianivka, Kupiansk district, at around 9 p.m. on 15 February, injuring five people. A 15-year-old girl was among the wounded. The strike damaged houses, outbuildings, and cars.

Russian strikes damage railway near front, passengers rerouted to buses

Russian attacks also damaged railway infrastructure and power lines in Lozova district, Kharkiv Oblast, the head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration Oleh Syniehubov reported on 16 February. Railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia said it restored rail service on the damaged section but asked passengers traveling from Lozova toward Kramatorsk to use free buses, provided by the authorities.

New power outages hit four oblasts as energy system remains under pressure

Russian strikes on energy infrastructure caused new power outages affecting consumers in Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, and Odesa oblasts, Ukraine's First Deputy Energy Minister Artem Nekrasov said during a 16 February briefing. Emergency repair crews began restoration work wherever security conditions allowed.

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Scheduled hourly power cuts remain in force across most of Ukraine, Nekrasov added, with some areas also experiencing emergency disconnections. The return to predictable schedules will happen once the energy system stabilizes.

Separately, severe weather knocked out electricity in more than 178 settlements across seven regions. 

Zelenskyy: Russia fires around 100 Shaheds nightly, 90% intercepted

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on 14 February, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launches roughly 100 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine almost every night, with Ukrainian air defense intercepting approximately 90% of them.

The overnight attack on 16 February fits this pattern — 62 drones with an 84% intercept rate.