Ukraine is facing widespread power cuts of eight to 16 hours across most regions after Russian attacks targeted the country’s energy infrastructure. State transmission operator Ukrenergo reported that the strikes have reduced Ukraine’s electricity generating capacity to “zero,” forcing authorities to implement rolling blackouts.
Moscow has intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities in recent months. From Friday into Saturday, Russian drones and missiles hit hundreds of sites, killing at least seven people and disrupting electricity, heat, and water supplies in several cities. State power firm Centerenergo warned that the country’s generating capacity is critically low.
While some repairs have been carried out and energy redirected, Ukrainian regions including Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Poltava, Chernigiv, and Sumy are expected to continue experiencing power outages. Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk described the attacks as a massive strike with ballistic missiles, saying such a level of direct hits on energy infrastructure is unprecedented since the start of the invasion.
Citizens are relying on backup power sources such as generators, power banks, and small lamps during blackouts. Many areas are operating on emergency power to maintain essential services.
Russian drones specifically targeted two nuclear power substations in western Ukraine that supply the Khmelnytskyi and Rivne nuclear plants. Kyiv’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to respond, stating that the strikes deliberately endanger nuclear safety in Europe. Sybiha also urged China and India to pressure Moscow to halt attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Experts warn that the strikes threaten heating outages as winter temperatures drop. Ukraine’s energy company Naftogaz confirmed this weekend’s attack was the ninth major strike on gas infrastructure since early October. The Kyiv School of Economics reported that nearly half of Ukraine’s natural gas production has been disrupted. Oleksandr Kharchenko, a leading energy expert, warned that if Kyiv’s main power and heating plants went offline for more than three days at temperatures below minus 10C, the capital could face a “technological disaster.”
In response, Ukraine has stepped up strikes on Russian oil depots and refineries, aiming to disrupt Moscow’s energy exports and create fuel shortages.
Early Sunday, Russia claimed to have destroyed 44 Ukrainian drones through its air defense units, according to data reported by RIA News Agency from the Russian Defense Ministry.
The ongoing attacks highlight the vulnerability of Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure amid the prolonged conflict. Authorities continue emergency repairs and efforts to stabilize the power grid, but experts warn that further strikes could severely impact electricity, heating, and essential services across the country.