Ukraine has declared a state of emergency in the country's energy sector, with a particular focus on Kyiv, as ongoing Russian strikes continue to leave thousands of residents without power.
President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of deliberately exploiting the harsh winter conditions as part of its war strategy, with overnight temperatures in Kyiv recently dropping to around -20C.
This declaration comes amid tensions over a stalled peace deal, with Zelensky's US counterpart Donald Trump suggesting that Ukraine is less ready to make a deal than Russia's Vladimir Putin.
When asked about the lack of progress in peace talks, Trump pointed to Zelensky.
In recent weeks, Russian attacks have left homes in Kyiv without regular access to power, heating, or running water. After heavy missile and drone strikes, 70% of the capital went dark for hours last week.
Following a government meeting, Zelensky announced the creation of a task force to address the damage caused by attacks and the cold weather. He also stated that vital energy equipment would be procured from abroad to replace damaged systems.
To aid residents, danger points will provide heat and power, potentially easing the strict midnight curfew.
The energy crisis is not limited to the capital; over one million people in southeastern Ukraine have also faced hours without heat due to Russian strikes.
As DTEK, Ukraine's largest energy provider, continues to face challenges from Russian attacks, CEO Maxim Timchenko noted that the company's operations are under constant crisis due to ongoing bombing attacks.
As anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion approaches, officials fear the relentless nature of the strikes has left the energy infrastructure too damaged to recover.
