UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Preparing ‘massive strikes’ on Ukraine’s energy sector: Russia
Q1. Consider the following statements comparing the successive winters of Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure:
1. Between October 2025 and March 2026, Russia carried out at least 423 attacks on electricity generation, transmission and distribution facilities, besides at least 74 strikes on combined heat and power plants and other heating infrastructure.
2. The winter of 2025-26 was Ukraine's coldest since 2010, with temperatures falling below -20°C, and the resulting electricity deficit forced nationwide scheduled rolling cuts that at times left civilians with power for only a couple of hours a day.
3. The Trypilska thermal power plant, destroyed in an air attack in April 2024, was the biggest energy supplier for the Kharkiv and Poltava regions.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Between October 2025 and March 2026, Russia carried out at least 423 attacks on electricity generation, transmission and distribution facilities, besides at least 74 strikes on combined heat and power plants and other heating infrastructure.
- The winter of 2025-26 was Ukraine's coldest since 2010, with temperatures falling below -20°C, and the resulting electricity deficit forced nationwide scheduled rolling cuts that at times left civilians with power for only a couple of hours a day.
- The Trypilska thermal power plant, destroyed in an air attack in April 2024, was the biggest energy supplier for the Kharkiv and Poltava regions.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q2. In UN reporting on the winter of 2025-26, strikes on Ukraine's 'combined heat and power (CHP) plants' were counted separately from strikes on electricity generation facilities. A combined heat and power plant is one that:
- A. burns two different primary fuels, typically coal and natural gas, and can switch between them when one fuel supply is disrupted
- B. stores surplus heat produced during off-peak hours and reconverts it into electricity when demand on the grid peaks
- C. generates electricity and simultaneously supplies the heat recovered from that same generation to district heating networks
- D. combines thermal and hydroelectric generating units on a single site under a common transmission connection
Q3. The announcement on 30 August 2026 that preparations had begun for 'massive strikes against facilities in Ukraine's energy sector' was issued under the authority of which one of the following?
- A. The Security Council of the Russian Federation, the body that coordinates national security policy
- B. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, in a statement posted on its Telegram channel
- C. Rosatom, the Russian state corporation responsible for nuclear energy and related assets
- D. The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, the principal internal security agency
Q4. With reference to developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict during 2026, consider the following:
1. Naftogaz's gas extraction and processing facilities in the Kharkiv and Poltava regions were among those struck in the largest attack on Ukraine's gas infrastructure since the invasion began.
2. Naftogaz facilities recorded fewer Russian attacks in 2026 than they had in 2025.
3. Ukraine carried out drone strikes on oil facilities located deep inside Russian territory.
4. Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities in August 2026 involved Zircon anti-ship missiles and Iskander ballistic missiles alongside about 120 long-range strike drones.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- Naftogaz's gas extraction and processing facilities in the Kharkiv and Poltava regions were among those struck in the largest attack on Ukraine's gas infrastructure since the invasion began.
- Naftogaz facilities recorded fewer Russian attacks in 2026 than they had in 2025.
- Ukraine carried out drone strikes on oil facilities located deep inside Russian territory.
- Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities in August 2026 involved Zircon anti-ship missiles and Iskander ballistic missiles alongside about 120 long-range strike drones.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 only
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 3 and 4
Q5. The periodic findings that Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure raise serious concerns about respect for cardinal principles of international humanitarian law are documented on the ground by which one of the following?
- A. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, through its country office in Kyiv
- B. The International Atomic Energy Agency, through its support and assistance missions stationed in Ukraine
- C. The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, deployed in 2014 and reporting through OHCHR
- D. The United Nations Development Programme, through its damage and needs assessment teams in Ukraine
Q6. Consider the following countries:
1. Russia
2. Saudi Arabia
3. Venezuela
4. Nigeria
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as being among India's top five sources of crude oil imports in April 2026?
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- Venezuela
- Nigeria
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 4 only
Q7. India's crude oil imports from Russia touched an all-time monthly high in June 2026. That record level was of the order of:
- A. 1.5 million barrels per day, amounting to roughly a fifth of India's crude imports that month
- B. 2.0 million barrels per day, amounting to roughly a third of India's crude imports that month
- C. 2.7 million barrels per day, amounting to close to half of India's crude imports that month
- D. 3.4 million barrels per day, amounting to roughly two-thirds of India's crude imports that month
Q8. The Trypilska thermal power plant near Kyiv, destroyed in 2024 and struck again after being rebuilt, is run by which one of the following Ukrainian state companies?
- A. Naftogaz, the state company responsible for gas extraction, processing and supply
- B. Ukrenergo, the state company responsible for the high-voltage transmission network
- C. Energoatom, the state company responsible for operating the country's nuclear power stations
- D. Centrenergo, the state company responsible for operating a group of large thermal power stations
Q9. Consider the following statements about the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, comparing its position before the conflict with its position in 2026:
1. Its six reactors have continued to generate electricity at reduced capacity through the conflict, in contrast to the Chernobyl plant, which lost all off-site power in January 2026.
2. Before the conflict the plant had ten external power lines available, whereas by early 2026 it depended on its sole functioning 750 kV Dniprovska line after its 330 kV backup line was damaged and disconnected in January.
3. Since late 2025 the International Atomic Energy Agency has facilitated a series of localized ceasefires to permit repairs to the off-site power supply needed for nuclear safety and security at the site.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Its six reactors have continued to generate electricity at reduced capacity through the conflict, in contrast to the Chernobyl plant, which lost all off-site power in January 2026.
- Before the conflict the plant had ten external power lines available, whereas by early 2026 it depended on its sole functioning 750 kV Dniprovska line after its 330 kV backup line was damaged and disconnected in January.
- Since late 2025 the International Atomic Energy Agency has facilitated a series of localized ceasefires to permit repairs to the off-site power supply needed for nuclear safety and security at the site.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q10. In the legal debate over strikes on power grids in armed conflict, an object is characterised as 'dual-use'. The expression denotes:
- A. an object relied upon by both sides of the conflict for the movement of supplies, which for that reason enjoys a protected status pending agreement between the parties
- B. an object serving both civilian and military functions, which must nonetheless be classified as either a military objective or a civilian object, no intermediate category existing in law
- C. a weapon system capable of being employed in both offensive and defensive operations, whose lawfulness depends on the role assigned to it in a given engagement
- D. an installation jointly owned by the state and private operators, whose destruction gives rise to compensation claims by the private owners after hostilities end
Q11. Consider the following statements about diplomatic efforts on the Russia-Ukraine war:
1. On 24 February 2026, the United Nations General Assembly, resuming its Eleventh Emergency Special Session, adopted a text titled 'Support for lasting peace in Ukraine' calling for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all unlawfully detained persons.
2. That text was adopted unanimously, no Member State voting against it and all abstentions being withdrawn before the recorded vote.
3. In May 2026 a three-day ceasefire accompanied by a prisoner exchange was announced through a United States-mediated process, whereas the earlier rounds at Geneva, Abu Dhabi and Istanbul had not produced a ceasefire.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- On 24 February 2026, the United Nations General Assembly, resuming its Eleventh Emergency Special Session, adopted a text titled 'Support for lasting peace in Ukraine' calling for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all unlawfully detained persons.
- That text was adopted unanimously, no Member State voting against it and all abstentions being withdrawn before the recorded vote.
- In May 2026 a three-day ceasefire accompanied by a prisoner exchange was announced through a United States-mediated process, whereas the earlier rounds at Geneva, Abu Dhabi and Istanbul had not produced a ceasefire.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3