Ukraine Enforces Nationwide Power Cuts as Russia Ramps Up Strikes on Energy Infrastructure

Ukraine imposed rolling nationwide power outages for a second consecutive day on Thursday, as Russian forces intensified attacks on the country’s energy network amid plunging temperatures, the state grid operator said.

Russian strikes early Thursday targeted gas facilities in eastern Ukraine, causing widespread disruption in what Kyiv described as Moscow’s latest large-scale assault on critical infrastructure.

Since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy grid each winter, forcing Kyiv to implement emergency power cuts and import electricity from abroad.

AFP reporters in the northeastern Kharkiv region described local shops operating by generator power after being plunged into darkness.

“Due to the challenging situation in the energy system, emergency power outages have been implemented in all regions of Ukraine,” national electricity operator Ukrenergo said in a statement, urging citizens to limit consumption.

The Russian army confirmed it had carried out a “massive” strike using ballistic missiles and drones against Ukrainian gas sites. Naftogaz CEO Sergii Koretskyi said there were “hits and destruction in several regions at once,” halting the operation of several key facilities.

According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia launched 320 drones and 37 missiles, of which 283 drones and five missiles were intercepted.

“This autumn, the Russians use every single day to strike at our energy infrastructure,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Media reports indicate that recent Russian strikes have halted up to 60 percent of Ukraine’s gas production and cut electricity to hundreds of thousands of people.

Ukraine has increasingly retaliated with drone and missile strikes on Russian logistics hubs and refineries. Moscow-backed authorities said Ukrainian attacks on Russian-occupied Kherson left nearly 100,000 people without power.

The International Criminal Court last year issued arrest warrants for two senior Russian military officials over the attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities, calling them a “war crime” that caused “excessive” harm to civilians.

Kyiv has renewed appeals to its Western allies for additional air defense systems to protect its critical infrastructure.