URGENT UPDATE: Overnight Russian strikes have left 1 million residents in the Dnipropetrovsk region of southern Ukraine without heat or water. Officials report significant damage to key civilian infrastructure, prompting immediate restoration efforts.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba confirmed that utility companies are working tirelessly to restore services, which had been disrupted in a targeted attack. By mid-morning, power had been restored to approximately 200,000 customers, but authorities advised residents to stockpile water and conserve battery power as a full return to normalcy remains uncertain.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that electricity supply to thousands in Zaporizhzhia was also affected but has since been restored. Restoration efforts are ongoing in other critical areas, including Kamianske, Kryvyi Rih, Nikopol, and Pavlohrad. “Restoration work has been going on non-stop since last night,” said DTEK, Ukraine’s leading private energy firm, emphasizing their commitment to restoring power swiftly.
Zelensky condemned the attacks as lacking military justification, stating their sole purpose was to inflict suffering on the Ukrainian people during harsh winter conditions. “There is no military sense in such strikes on the energy sector,” he asserted, underscoring the need for resilience among Ukrainians. He called on Western partners to continue supplying air defense systems and not to waver in their support amid ongoing peace talks.
The latest strikes are part of a prolonged campaign targeting Ukraine’s electric grid, which has intensified as winter sets in. This surge in attacks aims to cripple critical infrastructure, including gas wells, storage facilities, and pipelines, leaving civilians vulnerable to the cold. Russia has focused on Ukraine’s energy network every winter since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
As the situation develops, residents are urged to remain vigilant and prepared for potential further disruptions. The urgency of restoring power and water cannot be overstated, and officials are mobilizing resources to mitigate the impact of these attacks on everyday life.
Stay tuned for updates as authorities continue to assess the damage and work towards restoring essential services across the affected regions.
