Russia intensifies attacks on Ukraine's energy grid, triggering rolling blackouts
Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure with reactive drones and ballistic missiles, disrupting electricity through rolling planned outages. Ukraine has responded by striking Russian oil refineries, while a direct missile hit has complicated repairs at a Ukrainian power station.
Key points
- Rolling planned power cuts have followed intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy grid.
- Russian forces are attacking key energy facilities around the clock with reactive drones and ballistic missiles.
- Ukraine has responded by striking Russian oil refineries.
- Officials warn that power supplies must be maintained for at least four hours a day.
- Some families in Kyiv are facing outages lasting up to 20 hours.
- A direct ballistic-missile strike devastated a Ukrainian power station.
- Hourly air raids are obstructing repair work at the damaged station.
Why it matters
Prolonged outages threaten basic living conditions for millions of Ukrainians. Maintaining at least four hours of electricity per day is considered essential to keeping daily life sustainable, while repeated strikes are making recovery more difficult. Air raids also obstruct repairs at damaged energy facilities.
What happened
Russia has changed its tactics and significantly intensified attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Reactive drones and ballistic missiles are being used against key energy facilities around the clock, causing damage before restoration work can be completed and prompting a rolling schedule of planned power cuts. Ukraine has responded by striking Russian oil refineries. A Ukrainian power station was devastated by a direct ballistic-missile strike, but repair crews are struggling to work amid hourly air attacks. Ukrenergo said the national power system remains balanced, despite the disruption.
Background
Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia are continuing as both sides intensify strikes on energy infrastructure. Ukrainian officials have warned that electricity supplies must be maintained for at least four hours a day, and some privately warn that this minimum is already close.