Ukraine Struggles to Maintain Power Supply Amid Intensifying Russian Attacks
Kyiv — Ukraine’s largest private energy provider says the country’s power system remains under constant pressure as Russia continues to target critical energy infrastructure.
DTEK Chief Executive Maxim Timchenko told the BBC that his company now operates in near-continuous crisis mode due to the scale and frequency of Russian strikes. DTEK supplies electricity to around 5.6 million people across Ukraine.
Repeated Strikes Overwhelm Power Grid
According to Timchenko, Russian forces have launched repeated waves of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles against DTEK’s facilities. As a result, repair crews often cannot restore damaged sites before new attacks occur.
“We simply do not have enough time to recover,” he said, as power cuts continue across much of the country during falling winter temperatures.
President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Tuesday that Russia is using winter cold as a weapon. Speaking to the Dutch parliament, he said Ukrainian families spend nights in shelters and basements, relying on air defences to protect vital infrastructure.
Cities Face Extended Blackouts
Meanwhile, conditions have worsened in several cities. In the southern port city of Odesa, tens of thousands of residents went without electricity for up to three days this week after a coordinated Russian strike.
Across the country, electricity rationing has become routine. Authorities now switch power on for only a few hours each day, leaving many homes without heat or running water.
Communities Support Each Other
Despite the hardship, Ukrainians continue to support one another. Yana, an Odesa resident who still has electricity, said she has opened her home to friends so they can charge phones and stay connected.
She added that households with power often allow strangers to wash, shower, or warm up when water and heating systems shut down elsewhere.
Daily Life Adjusts to Power Shortages
In Kyiv, generator noise has become more common than air raid sirens. Many residents rely on generators and power banks to manage daily needs.
Local resident Tetiana said she checks her phone every morning to see when electricity will be available. Like many others, she carefully plans charging schedules to ensure power banks last through the outages.
“You have to remember to charge everything before leaving home,” she said, “so you can manage when the power goes out again.”
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