Ukrainian energy infrastructure faced devastating attacks from Russian forces on Wednesday, leaving the southeastern regions of Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia in near-total darkness. The assault has triggered widespread power outages, water supply disruptions, and internet failures during one of the harshest winter periods.
According to Ukraine’s energy ministry, critical infrastructure facilities are now operating on emergency backup power. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed that energy workers are battling extremely challenging conditions to maintain basic services. ‘Ukraine’s energy system is under enemy attacks every day,’ she stated on Telegram, emphasizing the additional strain from deteriorating weather conditions.
Temperatures have plunged across affected regions, compounding the humanitarian crisis. State energy company Ukrenergo announced that restoration efforts would commence immediately once security conditions permit, with priority given to critical infrastructure. Dnipro city hospitals have been completely transitioned to generator power, while water drainage systems rely on alternative energy sources.
The educational sector has also been impacted, with school holidays extended until January 9 due to the power crisis. Regional officials including Zaporizhzhia administration head Ivan Fedorov reported that utility workers are making maximum efforts to restore services despite the complete blackout.
DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy provider serving 5.6 million citizens, operates in permanent crisis mode according to CEO Maxim Timchenko. In recent BBC comments, he revealed that attack intensity has reached unprecedented levels: ‘We just don’t have time to recover.’ The company has faced repeated assaults using drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles as the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches.
The energy crisis unfolds alongside diplomatic developments, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressing concerns about inadequate security guarantees from European allies. Recent talks in Paris resulted in the UK and France signing a declaration of intent regarding potential troop deployments if a peace agreement with Russia materializes—a move Moscow has warned would make foreign forces ‘legitimate targets.’