URGENT UPDATE: Overnight Russian strikes have left 1 million residents in the Dnipropetrovsk region of southern Ukraine without heat or water, according to reports from Kyiv. The devastating attacks damaged critical civilian infrastructure, prompting immediate action from utility providers.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba confirmed that efforts to restore services are underway, but with only 200,000 customers having their power restored as of mid-morning, authorities are urging residents to conserve resources. “We cannot guarantee when services will return fully,” Kuleba added, highlighting the dire situation faced by many.
In addition to the Dnipropetrovsk outages, the city of Zaporizhzhia also experienced power cuts, although President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that electricity has been restored there. Restoration efforts are ongoing in other affected cities, including Kamianske, Kryvyi Rih, Nikopol, and Pavlohrad. “Restoration work has been going on non-stop since last night,” said DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, as crews mobilize from across the region.
Zelensky condemned the strikes, stating, “There is no military sense in such attacks on the energy sector,” emphasizing that the strikes serve only to create suffering among civilians during the harsh winter. He characterized Russia’s strategy as an attempt “to break Ukraine” and called for continued support from Western allies to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses amid ongoing conflict.
The strikes come as part of a sustained campaign targeting Ukraine’s power grid, escalating significantly as the country enters winter. Recent attacks have also targeted natural gas infrastructure, including wells and pipelines, further endangering the lives of Ukrainians during the cold months.
As restoration efforts continue, authorities are focused on ensuring critical infrastructure is prioritized. Zelensky has appealed to citizens to remain resilient during these challenging times, urging them not to lose hope despite the adversities they face.
This ongoing situation remains critical, with further updates expected as utility providers work tirelessly to restore power and water to those affected. Stay tuned for more developments as this story unfolds.
