Russia launched its second major assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure this month on Thursday, cutting power to over 1 million people within Ukraine and more than half a million residents in neighboring Poland, Ukrainian government officials reported.
The attack, which targeted key power facilities across the country, prompted Ukraine to disconnect several of its nuclear power units, which provide over half of the nation’s electricity, according to sources in the energy sector. Additionally, the state-owned oil and gas company Naftogaz confirmed that its facilities were struck in the morning raids.
In the aftermath of the attack, dozens of families in a village near Odesa were displaced when missiles destroyed homes close to a local power substation. The destruction of homes has compounded the difficulties faced by residents in regions already grappling with ongoing power shortages.
In Lviv, the sound of generators became a constant backdrop, as businesses across the city resorted to producing their own electricity to stay operational. Oleksii Kuznetov, who works at a pub, described the situation: “They started cutting the electricity more frequently. Now, we have no power. We’ve set up a generator. It’s enough for the pub to operate—slower, but it works.”
Residents in Mykolaiv were also facing similar struggles. One local resident expressed concerns about the elderly, particularly pensioners living on the upper floors of apartment buildings, who would now be forced to carry water up multiple flights of stairs due to the power outage disabling the elevators.
The attack has heightened concerns about prolonged power outages, particularly as winter sets in, with temperatures across Ukraine hovering near freezing. Ukrainian officials have confirmed that they are turning to backup generators to ensure critical infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and emergency services can continue functioning in the face of the energy crisis.
Thursday’s assault marked the 11th major strike on Ukraine’s energy grid since March. Over the course of the ongoing conflict, Russia has significantly damaged Ukraine’s power-generating capacity, knocking out roughly half of the country’s available electricity supply. The attacks have led to widespread blackouts and forced authorities to implement lengthy power cuts across the nation.
As the conflict continues into the winter months, Ukraine faces mounting challenges in securing consistent power and ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens.
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