The Ukrainian Ministry of Energy stated on Wednesday (January 7th) that Russia launched a new round of airstrikes that nearly completely cut off the power supply in two regions in southeastern Ukraine, leading to widespread blackouts and severe damage to local energy, water, and heating systems.
According to Reuters, the Ministry of Energy mentioned in a Telegram statement that Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions are currently experiencing almost total power outages, with critical infrastructure like hospitals relying solely on backup power to maintain basic operations.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba stated that repair work in Dnipropetrovsk is progressing in an “intensified mode” while ensuring the safety of workers amidst ongoing airstrikes threats. In Zaporizhzhia, local authorities have activated alternative energy sources to meet basic water supply needs.
For a long time, Russia has targeted Ukraine’s energy network as a key objective, with recent months witnessing escalated and intensified attacks in this regard.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko warned that the coming days will bring snowfall and nighttime temperatures potentially dropping to minus 20 degrees Celsius, exacerbating the impact of power outages and heating interruptions on people’s lives.
In a Telegram post, she wrote: “Ukraine’s energy system is under attack by the enemy almost daily. Energy workers are striving to ensure the most basic lighting and heating for the people under extremely difficult conditions.”
Reports from Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne stated that in Dnipro, the blackout led to the complete suspension of metro services, with some schools extending holidays by two days. Local council officials admitted uncertainty about when power supply could be fully restored.
In Kryvyi Rih, local military governor Oleksandr Vilkul mentioned that some city areas are facing particularly dire situations, prompting the maximum utilization of generators to support civilian life and critical facilities.
The Ukrainian Railways company announced that trains and signal systems in affected areas have been switched to backup systems, with stations relying on generators to maintain basic services.
Furthermore, Ivan Fedorov, the governor of Zaporizhzhia region, noted that the blackout disrupted the air defense alarm system, with some areas not receiving alarm signals.
He mentioned that while “critical facilities” have had power restored, communication systems are still operating in emergency mode, urging residents to avoid unnecessary use of mobile networks.