Power Outages Reported Across Ukraine Following Overnight Russian Energy Strikes

KYIV/ISTANBUL: Ukraine reported widespread power outages on Monday after Russian strikes targeted energy infrastructure in several regions, worsening the impact of an ongoing winter cold wave.

The state power operator, Ukrenergo, said in a Telegram statement that Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Sumy regions experienced disruptions. Restoration efforts are underway “wherever the security situation currently allows,” the statement added, noting that energy consumption has surged due to plunging temperatures and a reduction in some previously imposed energy restrictions.

In Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kirovohrad, 162 settlements were reported to be partially or completely without electricity in the morning, with repair crews actively working to restore damaged lines.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on social media platform X that Russian attacks in the past 24 hours specifically targeted energy facilities in frontline and border areas. He added that Russia’s military focused largely on logistics, especially railway infrastructure in the Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia regions, rather than deliberately striking power systems.

Zelenskyy said Ukrainian energy teams had fully restored the system following a “technical failure” declared on Saturday but cautioned that challenges remain serious due to ongoing attacks and severe weather.

Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting 157 of 171 drones launched overnight by Russia, while a ballistic missile was also fired, though no further details were provided.

The attacks come amid continued international attention. US President Donald Trump stated that he personally requested Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities during extreme cold conditions, though Moscow’s response remains unclear.

Meanwhile, private energy company DTEK reported a second attack on its coal facilities in Dnipropetrovsk since Sunday, causing damage to administrative buildings. A previous strike on a DTEK bus killed 12 workers and injured 16. Russian authorities have not yet commented on the recent incidents.