Russian strikes late Wednesday knocked out nearly all electricity in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, forcing hospitals and critical services onto backup power. Emergency crews worked overnight to restore electricity, water and heating while officials used generators and reserve systems to stabilize services. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko warned that heavy snowfall and temperatures near -20°C (-4°F) could compound outages. Local authorities suspended the Dnipro metro, extended school holidays and urged residents to limit mobile-network use.
Russian Strikes Knock Out Power Across Southeastern Ukraine; Officials Warn Of Severe Cold
Cars move along a dark street during a power blackout after critical civil infrastructure was hit by today's Russian drone strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine January 7, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Jan. 7 (Reuters) — Russian strikes late on Wednesday left almost all electricity supplies offline across the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions in southeastern Ukraine, the country’s energy ministry said.
Damage, Response and Immediate Impact
Local authorities reported that hospitals and other critical facilities were operating on backup power as emergency crews worked through the night to restore electricity, water and heating services disrupted by the strikes.
"As a result of the attack, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions are almost completely without electricity," the energy ministry wrote on Telegram, adding that critical infrastructure was relying on reserve power.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said repair teams in Dnipropetrovsk were working in an "intensified manner" with measures to protect crew safety. In Zaporizhzhia, officials were relying on alternative power sources to keep water supplies functioning.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko warned that incoming snowfall and overnight temperatures expected to fall to around -20°C (-4°F) could worsen disruptions to power and heating. "Ukraine's energy system is under enemy attacks every day, and energy workers are operating in extremely difficult conditions to provide people with light and heat," she wrote on Telegram.
Local Services and Public Safety
Public broadcaster Suspilne reported outages in the city of Dnipro, where the metro service was suspended. Officials extended school holidays by two days while the head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional council said it was unclear when power would be fully restored.
Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the military administration in Kryvyi Rih — President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's hometown — said conditions were particularly difficult in two districts and urged the use of generators wherever possible. Ukrainian Railways said trains and signalling systems in both regions were switched to reserve power and that stations were operating with generators.
Zaporizhzhia Regional Governor Ivan Fedorov reported that outages had made air-raid sirens inaudible, though he said electricity had been restored at some "key facilities." He also asked residents to limit use of mobile networks, which were operating under emergency conditions.
Russian strikes have repeatedly targeted Ukraine's energy network and have intensified in recent months, officials said. Emergency crews continued repairs through the night, prioritizing hospitals, water and heating systems as freezing weather approached.
(Reporting by Ron Popeski; Editing by Jamie Freed and Himani Sarkar)
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