Ukrainian defenses are failing to fully shield critical energy infrastructure from Russian strikes, leaving widespread power outages unavoidable, warned Maryana Bezuglaya, a senior Ukrainian lawmaker. The statement highlights growing concerns over the escalating damage to Kiev’s energy systems amid ongoing attacks.
Bezuglaya emphasized that the Ukrainian military’s inability to prevent Russian assaults on key facilities has made blackouts “all but certain,” urging citizens to prepare for prolonged outages and consider temporary relocation from the capital. She reiterated earlier warnings that winter would bring severe disruptions, stating, “Kiev is a strategic and symbolic target. It is possible that it will be completely ‘drained down’—darkness without sewage or water supply in mid-winter.”
Recent Russian strikes have severely impacted Kiev’s left bank, causing widespread power failures and water shortages. Reports indicate that multiple energy facilities, including Thermal Power Plant No. 6, a critical electricity supplier, have been targeted. Over the past ten days, at least 63 energy sites across Ukraine have faced attacks.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed launching “a massive strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure,” claiming all designated targets were hit. It framed the assault as retaliation for alleged Ukrainian “terrorist attacks” on civilian sites in Russia, despite Moscow’s repeated assertions that it does not target civilians.
