Tens of thousands of residents were left without electricity and heating in southern Ukraine after a wave of Russian night-time strikes targeted the cities of Kherson and Odesa, local officials and energy company DTEK confirmed on Thursday. The attacks mark another escalation in Russia’s campaign to cripple Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as winter approaches.
Energy Facilities Severely Damaged
Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, said Russian forces hit one of its facilities in the Odesa region overnight, cutting power to 51,800 households. Repair crews have been dispatched, though full restoration is expected to take time due to the extent of the damage and ongoing risks from renewed strikes.
In the nearby city of Kherson, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported that operations at a local heat and power plant were suspended after repeated Russian attacks. The shutdown left about 40,500 residents without heating as temperatures continue to drop.
“This entirely civilian facility, which provided heat to the city’s residents, has suffered serious damage: the station’s premises and equipment have been destroyed,” Prokudin said on Telegram. “Once again, terrorists are waging war against the civilian population.”
Escalating Winter Assaults
Russia has intensified its bombardment of Ukraine’s energy sector in recent weeks, a pattern similar to last winter’s campaign that aimed to plunge cities into darkness and undermine public morale. Ukrainian officials say these strikes target essential infrastructure, leaving millions vulnerable as temperatures fall below freezing.
Kherson, located on the frontline along the Dnipro River, faces daily attacks from Russian missiles, drones, and artillery. Since its liberation by Ukrainian forces in late 2022, the city has remained within range of Russian firepower positioned on the opposite bank.
The latest strikes follow warnings from Ukrainian authorities that Russia is preparing another sustained offensive against power networks during the cold season, potentially replicating last year’s large-scale blackouts.
Widespread Outages Across Regions
Ukraine’s energy ministry confirmed that around 60,000 people in the eastern Donetsk region also lost power following overnight Russian attacks, though it provided no further details. Emergency repair efforts are underway across all affected areas.
The renewed assault on energy infrastructure underscores the vulnerability of Ukraine’s grid, which remains a key target in Russia’s strategy to weaken the country’s resilience and disrupt civilian life. Ukrainian officials have urged international partners to accelerate deliveries of air defence systems and energy repair equipment to help protect and stabilise critical infrastructure.
(with inputs from Reuters)
