Ukraine residents told to ration power as Russia attacks energy facilities
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged residents of Ukraine to ration their use of electricity as the country works to repair infrastructure destroyed by Russia, The Wall Street Journal reports. The energy shortage comes as Russia targets critical energy facilities across the country, depriving Ukrainians of power.
Russia's "special military operation" using missiles and Iranian-made kamikaze drones entered its tenth day and has destroyed about a third of Ukraine's power stations, Reuters reports. Experts have posited that the tactic aims to bring Ukraine into negotiations despite Russia's poor military performance.
Zelensky said he is meeting officials on Thursday to accelerate the repair of these facilities, however, efforts could take months, reports The Washington Post. In the meantime, he implemented a strict energy-saving regime restricting power supply on Thursday between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., Reuters continues. He also encouraged Ukrainians to limit electricity consumption between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. as those are peak hours of usage.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The real problem is the incoming cold weather where the demand for power is much higher. Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, the head of Ukraine's electric transmission company, Ukrenergo said that the "heating season will be very difficult," in a television interview.
Despite the incoming hardships, Ukrainians are prepared to endure. Mikhaylo Holovnenko, a Kyiv resident, told Reuters "we are ready for outages. We have candles, charged power banks. Ukraine is charged to win."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.
-
Today's political cartoons - December 22, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - the long and short of it, trigger finger, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 hilariously spirited cartoons about the spirit of Christmas
Cartoons Artists take on excuses, pardons, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Inside the house of Assad
The Explainer Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez, ruled Syria for more than half a century but how did one family achieve and maintain power?
By The Week UK Published
-
Ukraine-Russia: are both sides readying for nuclear war?
Today's Big Question Putin changes doctrine to lower threshold for atomic weapons after Ukraine strikes with Western missiles
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Incendiary device plot: Russia's 'rehearsals' for attacks on transatlantic flights
The Explainer Security officials warn of widespread Moscow-backed 'sabotage campaign' in retaliation for continued Western support for Ukraine
By The Week UK Published
-
The North Korean troops readying for deployment in Ukraine
The Explainer Third country wading into conflict would be 'the first step to a world war' Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned
By The Week UK Published
-
Experts call for a Nato bank to 'Trump-proof' military spending
Under The Radar A new lender could aid co-operation and save millions of pounds, say think tanks
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
What would happen if Russia declared war on Nato?
In depth Response to an attack on UK or other Western allies would be 'overwhelming'
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Last updated
-
Missile escalation: will long-range rockets make a difference to Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Kyiv is hoping for permission to use US missiles to strike deep into Russian territory
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Atesh: the Ukrainian partisans taking on Russia
Under The Radar Underground resistance fighters are risking their lives to defend their country
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
'Second only to a nuclear bomb' – the controversial arms Russia is using in Ukraine
The Explainer Thermobaric bombs 'capable of vaporising human bodies' have been used against Ukraine
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published