In brief
Ukraine's southeastern regions have been hit by widespread blackouts due to Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, with critical services struggling amidst a plunge in temperatures. Authorities have begun emergency restoration efforts, but the situation remains challenging as energy workers operate under constant threat. The conflict continues to escalate as Ukrainian officials debate security guarantees from European allies amidst ongoing military aggression from Russia.
Russian attacks left Ukraine's southeastern regions of Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia almost entirely without power, the country's energy ministry said on Wednesday night.
Critical infrastructure was operating on reserve power, it said in a statement on Telegram, while officials reported disruptions to water supplies and the internet.
Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, aiming to paralyze supplies during a severe winter.
Ukraine's energy system is under enemy attacks every day, and energy workers are operating in extremely difficult conditions to provide people with light and heat, Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko stated on Telegram.
She remarked that deteriorating weather conditions only added strain to critical infrastructure. The disruptions in power and heating have coincided with falling temperatures.
Emergency restoration work will begin immediately in the affected regions as soon as the security situation allows, state energy company Ukrenergo announced.
Dnipro city's Mayor Borys Filatov confirmed that all city hospitals are now powered by generators, ensuring essential water supplies and treatment processes continue.
School holidays have been extended until January 9 due to the significant power cuts.
Although some progress has been made in restoring water utilities, complete blackouts linger across the regions.
DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy provider, has been operating under a permanent crisis mode due to continuous artillery strikes on its energy grid.
Maxim Timchenko, the CEO of DTEK, stated that the frequency of the attacks has made recovery efforts nearly impossible.
As the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion approaches, President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated that European allies have yet to provide firm security assurances against further aggression.
Following diplomatic talks in Paris, the UK and France reached a declaration to deploy troops to Ukraine if a peace deal is negotiated with Russia, a move that Moscow has warned could make those forces legitimate targets.
