Ukraine's power grid near collapse as Russian strikes intensify

A mother racing against the dark

Daryna Kulchytska is a single parent in a seventh floor flat in Kyiv with two children. She faces rolling power cuts with unpredictable timing, sometimes just four or five hours daily.

“For two hours we have electricity, then for eight hours we don't.”

Russia intensifies attacks on energy

As peace talks continue with US envoys meeting Russian and Ukrainian leaders on Thursday, Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine's energy grid. Ukraine has responded by striking Russian oil refineries.

Officials warn of unsustainable conditions

Ukrainian officials are concerned that life will quickly become unsustainable for millions if power supplies cannot be maintained for at least four hours per day.

Power cuts worse than last winter

The power cuts were introduced earlier this year than last winter and are already lasting longer, making homes darker and colder. Temperatures are dropping both indoors and outdoors.

Children cope with endless darkness

Twelve-year-old Kyryll, who learned English during two years in the US, describes the disruption bluntly. He and his sister Olena gather for card games before early nights when power fails.

“There's no light, no water, no heat, no electricity. And no fun.”

Kyiv plunged into complete darkness

Kyiv has been worst hit by blackouts. Metro trains and trolleybuses have been brought to a standstill at times. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians nationwide have gone without power in recent weeks.

“You look outside and sometimes you see nothing. You have a big city around but you see nothing because there's no light.”

Power station destroyed by ballistic missiles

One of Ukraine's largest power stations was hit by ballistic missiles in the most powerful and devastating attack of Russia's campaign against Ukrainian energy targets.

Workers rebuild under constant attack

Volodymyr Kovalenko, who has worked at the power station for twenty five years, was on duty when missiles hit at three am. Repair work is hampered by air raids every fifteen to thirty minutes.

“It was a very powerful attack. We'd never experienced anything like it.”

Recovery effort faces emotional toll

Vadym Bobyr, thirty nine, is leading the recovery effort at the damaged plant. He says workers must mentally prepare for jobs only to abandon them when air raid sirens force them to dive for cover.

“It's emotionally difficult, because we've already repaired all this, got it running again, and now it's happened all over again.”

Energy workers face deadly risk

Since August there have been almost daily attacks on power facilities, claiming several lives every week. The danger is escalating. The shattered plant will not carry electricity before the end of this winter, at least.

Russia deploys new weapons tactics

Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, says Russia is using waiter drones that cling to pylons and cables undetected until detonation. Attacks have doubled in power and scale.

“What is different is the scale of attacks and the different types of weapons used in these attacks.”

Rebuilding will take until next summer

Timchenko says rebuilding the damaged power station will take at least until next summer because workers under sustained attack are limited to only one or two productive hours per day.

“We are fighting for survival of not only the whole country but ordinary people, especially during winter.”

Families face impossible choice

Many Ukrainians are choosing to leave Kyiv or Ukraine altogether to avoid months of bitter cold. Daryna is torn between staying close to friends and relatives and the worry of how unbearable life may become.

“I don't want to live without light. But actually people in Ukraine say, OK, without light, but without Russians.”