Kyiv: Ukraine has been plunged into a state of emergency as it grapples with a wave of power outages triggered by relentless attacks on its energy infrastructure by Russian forces. Ukrenergo, the country’s state power operator, confirmed that emergency blackouts were enforced on Tuesday in response to the devastating blows inflicted on critical power facilities. These attacks have left Ukraine struggling to meet its energy needs, especially amid a sudden drop in temperatures.
“From 21:00 to 24:00 (1800-2100 GMT), Ukrenergo is compelled to implement controlled emergency shutdowns across all regions of Ukraine,” the operator announced on Telegram, as reported by the international news agency AFP.
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The current crisis stems from a severe shortage of electricity within the national grid, a situation compounded by the targeted strikes from Russian forces and a surge in demand driven by the plummeting temperatures. The full extent of the power outages nationwide remains uncertain, but reports from the Kyiv city administration suggest that approximately 10% of households have been affected by disruptions in their power supply.
Footage circulating on social media from Lviv, a city in western Ukraine, paints a grim picture of the situation, with buildings shrouded in darkness and streetlights eerily dimmed. Recognizing the ongoing challenges, Ukrenergo has announced that businesses will be subject to electricity rationing throughout Wednesday, highlighting the severity of the crisis gripping the nation’s energy sector.
