By Micah Jonah
January 9, 2026
Ukrainian authorities are scrambling to restore electricity, heating and water supplies after a wave of Russian attacks on critical energy infrastructure plunged hundreds of thousands of people into darkness during winter.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the overnight strikes were designed to “break” Ukraine by cutting off essential services in the southeastern regions of Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk. Repair crews were still battling to restore power in several areas as temperatures remained low.
“There is absolutely no military rationale in such strikes on the energy sector and infrastructure which leave people without electricity and heating in wintertime,” Zelenskyy said, urging Ukraine’s allies to respond to what he described as Russia’s “deliberate torment” over civilians.
Ukrainian officials said more than one million people were affected across Dnipropetrovsk, with nearly 800,000 still without electricity early Thursday. Eight mines in the region were temporarily shut down due to blackouts, though workers were safely evacuated.
Military authorities confirmed that key energy facilities were damaged, while regional officials warned that water supplies to the industrial city of Pavlohrad and surrounding areas could take up to a day to fully restore.
In neighbouring Zaporizhzhia, Governor Ivan Fedorov said the region experienced its first total blackout in recent years, though power was restored within hours. Mobile networks and emergency air alert systems were also disrupted, prompting officials to urge residents to limit phone usage.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 97 drones during the attack, with 70 intercepted by air defences while the rest struck multiple locations.
Russia has repeatedly intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid during winter months, a strategy Kyiv and its allies say is aimed at wearing down the civilian population as the war enters its fourth year.
Meanwhile, Moscow warned that any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine would be considered legitimate military targets. The statement followed commitments by France and the United Kingdom to provide security guarantees, including potential troop deployments, if a ceasefire is reached.
Despite diplomatic efforts, prospects for a ceasefire remain uncertain, with disputes over territorial control in eastern Ukraine and the Russian occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant still unresolved.
