By Micah Jonah
January 15, 2026
Ukraine has declared an emergency in its energy sector after renewed Russian attacks crippled power and heating systems across major cities, leaving thousands of homes without electricity and heat as winter temperatures dropped sharply.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the situation had become critical following repeated strikes on energy infrastructure, warning that freezing weather is worsening the impact on civilians. In Kyiv, temperatures fell as low as minus nineteen degrees Celsius, while hundreds of apartment, buildings remained without heat – days after a large scale attack damaged key facilities.
City authorities in the capital confirmed that more than four hundred residential buildings were still without heating, with many also facing water and electricity shortages. Emergency crews, power engineers and municipal services are working around the clock to restore supply, but officials say repairs are slow due to the scale of the damage and continued security risks.
Zelenskyy said the government is reviewing curfew restrictions in some areas because of the extreme cold, has ordered an increase in electricity imports to stabilize the grid, prevent further outages. He added that protecting civilians during winter has become one of the most urgent priorities of the state.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko earlier warned that nearly half of the city’s apartment buildings were affected after critical infrastructure was hit, urging residents who can relocate to do so temporarily until basic services are restored.
Energy facilities have remained a major target throughout the war, with attacks reported on power stations, substations, gas pipelines and fuel depots. Both Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of targeting energy infrastructure in ways that deepen humanitarian suffering, strain national economies.
Beyond Ukraine, the conflict is now affecting energy transport routes in the Black Sea. In recent weeks, several oil tankers have been struck by drones, raising alarm among neighbouring countries over the safety of shipping and fuel exports.
On Tuesday, drones hit oil tankers chartered by a major United States energy company as the vessels moved toward a terminal on the Russian coast. Russian authorities blamed Ukraine for the incident, while Kazakhstan said three tankers heading to a key pipeline terminal were also affected and called on Western partners to help secure vital energy routes.
Officials in the region warned that repeated attacks on energy transport and infrastructure could disrupt international supply chains and push fuel prices higher, adding to the economic strain already caused by the prolonged war.
As winter deepens, Ukrainian authorities say restoring heat and power is now as critical as defending the front lines, with civilian survival increasingly tied to the stability of the nation’s energy network.
