Russian forces have launched a fresh wave of attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, triggering emergency power cuts in several regions and heightening concerns about a grim winter ahead. Ukraine's national grid operator, Ukrenergo, reported outages on Thursday in areas stretching from Kharkiv in the east to Chernihiv and Sumy in the north, Rivne in the northwest, and Kirovohrad in central Ukraine.
"Where security conditions currently allow, emergency repair and restoration work is already under way," Ukrenergo said in a statement. "Energy workers are doing everything possible to restore power to all disconnected consumers as quickly as possible."
The strikes follow Moscow's admission on Wednesday that it deliberately targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure with drones and missiles in and around Kyiv. Ukrainian officials described the assault as the opening salvo in a concerted campaign to knock out heating and electricity as temperatures drop.
A familiar and feared pattern
Last winter, similar attacks left millions without power or heat for days, with temperatures plunging to -20°C. The memory of that ordeal has made each new strike a source of anxiety. "Every interceptor missile truly saves lives," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday, renewing his appeal to allies for more air-defence systems, including US-made interceptors capable of downing Russia's ballistic missiles. "And the closer we get to winter, the more of this protection we need."
Zelenskyy also reported that a school in Kyiv was hit, though children and teachers had already taken shelter and no casualties were reported. "Russian scumbags continue attacking life across our country, Ukrainian children and our schools," he wrote on X, sharing images of the damaged building with blown-out windows.
In the southern port city of Odesa, a Russian attack overnight struck a business centre, sparking a fire and damaging the roof and facades of two adjacent buildings. One person was injured, according to local authorities. "A fire broke out at the scene and was extinguished by firefighters. Unfortunately, one person was injured," said Oleksander Kolosyuk of the State Emergency Service.
Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia launched 107 drones overnight into Thursday, including 63 jet-powered models. Attacks were recorded at 11 locations, and debris from downed drones fell at four sites. The Air Force warned that the assault was still ongoing, with more drones in the air.
Conservation measures and repair efforts
Ukrenergo has urged households to shift intensive energy use to daytime hours and to conserve electricity in the evening, particularly in Kyiv and surrounding regions. While hourly outages and capacity limits for industrial consumers are not currently in force, the operator stressed the need for reduced consumption at night.
The attacks are part of a broader escalation that has seen Moscow step up strikes on the Ukrainian capital as it braces for another winter of war. The situation has also drawn international attention, with NATO officials recently dismissing Russian nuclear rhetoric and EU ministers calling for a hybrid response that inflicts real pain on Moscow. As Ukraine's allies debate further support, the immediate focus remains on keeping the lights on and homes warm.
With winter approaching, the coming weeks will test both Ukraine's resilience and the West's ability to provide vital air-defence systems. For now, energy workers are racing against time and renewed attacks to restore power, while millions of Ukrainians prepare for what could be another season of hardship.
