KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has sustained devastating damage from systematic Russian attacks, with not a single power plant remaining unscathed since the full-scale invasion began, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal revealed Friday. The intensification of aerial bombardments during extreme winter conditions has plunged hundreds of thousands into darkness and cold amid temperatures dropping to -18°C (-0.4°F).
Addressing Parliament, Shmyhal characterized the situation as historically unprecedented, detailing that Russian forces executed 612 targeted strikes against energy facilities throughout the past year. This strategic targeting of critical infrastructure represents what Ukrainian officials describe as Moscow’s deliberate ‘weaponization of winter’ to break national resistance.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concurrently highlighted the critical challenges in securing air defense missiles, disclosing that some systems had been completely depleted until a fresh shipment arrived Friday morning. The acquisition process remains fraught with diplomatic complexities due to allied nations’ stockpile limitations and legal restrictions.
‘Amid warfare, what significance do these regulations hold when we desperately require these missiles?’ Zelenskyy questioned during a Kyiv news conference with Czech President Petr Pavel.
The humanitarian impact has reached crisis proportions. Jaime Wah of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies described this as ‘the hardest winter since the conflict’s escalation,’ with millions enduring extreme cold without heating or electricity atop years of violence and economic hardship.
Emergency measures now include relaxed curfews to facilitate access to public heating centers, while businesses face requests to extinguish decorative lighting to conserve scarce power. ‘Prioritize providing energy to the people—this constitutes today’s utmost importance,’ Shmyhal urged.
Diplomatic movements coincide with the crisis, as a Ukrainian delegation travels to Washington to finalize security guarantees and economic recovery documents. Potential signing could occur at the upcoming World Economic Forum in Davos, where U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear.
International support continues with Britain announcing an additional £20 million ($27 million) for energy infrastructure repairs during Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy’s Kyiv visit marking the UK-Ukraine ‘100-year partnership’ anniversary.
Despite Russia’s military superiority, the conflict remains stalemated along the 1,000-kilometer front line, with Moscow controlling under 20% of Ukrainian territory since 2014.