Emergency power outages have been brought in across almost all of Ukraine after an intensive campaign of Russian air strikes on energy infrastructure.
This marks the fourth consecutive winter of blackouts throughout Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The energy ministry stated that all but two regions are affected. Only the eastern Donetsk region at the forefront of the war is exempt, while the northern Chernihiv region is already facing hourly outages.
As well as targeting the power network, Russia has increasingly targeted Ukraine's railways. In response, Ukraine has ramped up attacks on Russian oil refineries, both within border regions and beyond.
One oil depot in Crimea, illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014, has been ablaze for three days following a second Ukrainian drone attack in a week, impacting logistics for Russian troops.
Kyiv's armed forces have reported that 16 fuel tanks were damaged, adding to the inflamed tensions and impacting fuel supplies in parts of Russia. Ukrainian leaders hope these initiatives will hinder Russia's military capabilities and prompt negotiation discussions.
Ukraine's energy ministry communicated that emergency restrictions were being implemented due to the complicated situation, urging consumers who still had power to use it sparingly as winter temperatures are expected to drop significantly.
Russian narrative claims that the attacks are directed at military targets, yet civilians continue to face severe repercussions from these strikes. President Zelensky has accused Moscow of attempting to instill chaos and exert psychological pressure.
The situation remains fluid as Ukraine looks toward additional Western military support while the global community observes the ongoing conflict closely.
