Russian strikes leave hundreds of thousands without power across eastern Ukraine

Repair crews in Ukraine are working to restore power to hundreds of thousands of residents after a second consecutive night of Russian missile and drone strikes targeted critical energy infrastructure across eastern regions.

According to Ukrainian authorities and energy operator DTEK, significant damage left over 600,000 people without electricity in the Dnipropetrovsk region and approximately 250,000 in Kharkiv. The widespread disruption has renewed fears of prolonged power, heating, and water outages as winter temperatures decline. Additionally, the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was forced to rely on emergency diesel generators to cool its reactors after losing connection to its primary external power supply.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed launching strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities and a commercial container ship. Emergency teams continue work to stabilize electrical networks.

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