Ukraine has declared a state of emergency in the country's energy sector, with particular focus on Kyiv, as ongoing Russian strikes continue to leave thousands of residents without power.
The nation is in the midst of a particularly cold winter, with overnight temperatures in Kyiv dropping to around -20C.
After a special cabinet meeting, President Volodymyr Zelensky said a round-the-clock task force would be set up to deal with the damaging consequences of Russian airstrikes and worsening weather conditions.
He accused Moscow of deliberately exploiting the harsh, sub-zero temperatures to target critical infrastructure, including energy distribution facilities.
US President Donald Trump recently commented that Ukraine is less ready to make a deal than Russia, highlighting the current challenges in the ongoing conflict.
Kyiv has particularly suffered from the Russian attacks, leaving many homes without power, heating, or running water, especially after intense missile and drone strikes.
The new measures include plans for procuring vital energy equipment from abroad and increasing the number of emergency help points to provide necessary warmth and power to residents, possibly allowing for changes to the midnight curfew in the capital.
Moreover, officials reported extensive impacts throughout the nation, with regions in south-eastern Ukraine facing significant outages as well.
DTEK, Ukraine's largest energy provider, described the ongoing crisis as overwhelming, struggling to recover from the continuous bombardments on their infrastructure.
Despite these hardships, the effort to maintain energy supplies continues, with DTEK currently providing electricity for millions of Ukrainians.
