As a result of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, Ukrainian authorities have warned residents in the capital Kyiv to expect longer power outages lasting more than four hours.
Rolling blackouts are affecting not only Kyiv but also Ukraine’s central regions, including the city of Dnipro.
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, approximately four million people have been affected, but “shelling will not break us.”
Russia launched dozens of missiles and drones made in Iran this month.
Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is under attack, with Mr Zelensky claiming that one-third of the country’s power plants have been destroyed.
According to the private energy company DTEK, the Kyiv region has lost 30% of its power capacity, necessitating “unprecedented” power cuts.
“Unfortunately, the scale of restrictions has grown significantly, much larger than it was previously,” DTEK director Dmytro Sakharuk said.
Power outages have reduced the use of street lights and electric-powered public transportation, in addition to causing discomfort in people’s homes.
The EU and other international allies of Kiev have condemned deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure, which Ukraine regards as war crimes.
Ukraine’s second city, Kharkiv, which has been heavily damaged by Russian shelling, is also facing lengthy power outages, as are the central cities of Zhytomyr, Poltava, and Chernihiv.
The EU and other international allies of Kyiv have condemned deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure, which Ukraine regards as war crimes.
Ukraine’s second city, Kharkiv, which has been heavily damaged by Russian shelling, is also facing lengthy power outages, as are the central cities of Zhytomyr, Poltava, and Chernihiv.
In retaliation for the 9 October bombing of the Kerch Bridge, a key link to Russian-annexed Crimea, Russia increased missile attacks on Ukraine’s power plants and other civilian infrastructure.
President Vladimir Putin described the explosion as a “terrorist act” in Ukraine. The bridge represents his campaign to integrate large swaths of Ukraine into Russia.
In collaboration with BBC and AFP
