Millions of Ukrainians are facing worsening living conditions as intensified Russian attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure trigger prolonged electricity blackouts, leaving families struggling to access basic necessities.
In Kyiv, residents are enduring unpredictable power cuts that affect electricity, water supplies, heating and internet access, with some households reportedly experiencing outages lasting up to 20 hours.
For Daryna Kulchytska, a single mother living in a seventh-floor apartment in the Ukrainian capital, everyday life has become a race against time.
Families Struggle to Cope With Long Blackouts
Daryna must prepare meals for her two children, supervise their schoolwork and complete her own work before electricity disappears.
She explained that power sometimes remains available for only two hours before being switched off for as long as eight hours.
“The last few days it was only four or five hours we had power, but it’s not at the same times,” she said.
The situation has become increasingly difficult as temperatures fall and households struggle to keep their homes warm.
When the electricity eventually went off shortly before 7:30pm, Daryna’s apartment was plunged into darkness.
With the lift no longer working and water pumps unable to supply the upper floors, she and her children turned to torches and LED candles. They spent the evening playing Uno before going to bed early.
Her 12-year-old son, Kyryll, described the experience as frustrating.
“There’s no light, no water, no heat, no electricity. And no fun. All the fun got sucked out with the electricity,” he said.
Kyiv Bears the Brunt of Energy Attacks
The Ukrainian capital has been among the areas most affected by the latest wave of power disruptions.
Metro services and trolleybuses have at times been brought to a standstill, while hundreds of thousands of people across the country have reportedly experienced electricity shortages in recent weeks.
Officials fear that conditions could become increasingly difficult for millions of residents if electricity cannot be maintained for at least four hours daily.
The latest blackouts have also started earlier than those experienced during the previous winter and are lasting longer.
Major Power Station Left in Ruins
The scale of the damage was evident at one of Ukraine’s largest power stations following a recent ballistic missile attack.
The facility, whose identity has been withheld for security reasons, was reportedly left severely damaged and taken completely offline.
Turbines were buried beneath rubble, while twisted metal and broken pipes were scattered across the site.
The attack has further weakened Ukraine’s ability to maintain electricity supplies during the colder months.
Russia has intensified attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities, while Ukraine has responded with strikes against Russian oil refineries.
Peace Efforts Continue Amid Growing Hardship
The worsening energy crisis comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war continue, with US envoys meeting Russian and Ukrainian leaders on Thursday, according to the report.
However, for families such as Daryna’s, the immediate concern remains survival through another night without electricity, heating and running water.
As winter approaches, the condition of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is becoming an increasingly urgent humanitarian concern.
