Russian air strikes leave hundreds of thousands without power in eastern Ukraine

Over 850,000 residents across eastern Ukraine remain without electricity following a second consecutive night of Russian missile and drone strikes targeting critical energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian energy operator DTEK confirmed significant damage to key facilities, reporting that more than 600,000 people lost electricity in the Dnipropetrovsk region and approximately 250,000 in Kharkiv. The blackouts have heightened concerns over potential disruptions to heating and water supplies as winter temperatures fall. Additionally, the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was forced onto emergency diesel generators to maintain reactor cooling systems after its primary external power line was severed.

Russia's Ministry of Defence confirmed conducting strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure and a commercial container ship during the overnight operations. Emergency repair crews are currently working to restore power.

Sources: France24, La Tribune, Libération, ORF, Tagesschau