Ukraine Faces Nationwide Blackouts After Russian Strikes
Ukraine is set to experience scheduled nationwide blackouts on February 11 after a series of Russian missile and drone strikes damaged critical energy infrastructure, the state grid operator Ukrenergo said. The outages come amid what Ukrainian officials describe as one of the worst energy system strains in recent winter, with emergency repairs and load management ongoing.
Russian attacks on energy facilities have left parts of several regions without power. Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions reported outages as crews worked to restore service. The situation in Kyiv and Odesa remains difficult as engineers operate around the clock to repair damage and stabilize supply.
Scheduled Outages Across All Regions
Ukrenergo said hourly power outage schedules and capacity restrictions will be in effect across all Ukrainian regions throughout February 11. The company attributed the measures directly to the fallout from recent Russian strikes on energy infrastructure. Citizens and businesses are advised to check local distribution company updates for specific outage timings and scopes.
Officials urged consumers to conserve electricity and, where possible, shift energy-intensive tasks to late night hours to balance loads and ease stress on the grid.
Regional Power Losses And Emergency Cuts
In addition to scheduled rotations, emergency power cuts have been introduced in some areas where the energy system is under acute strain. As of the morning of February 11, outages were confirmed in three oblasts with repair crews actively working to reconnect customers.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said strict blackout schedules reflect both the damage caused by hostile strikes and unusually low temperatures that drive up consumption. Authorities plan to review lists of critical infrastructure to ensure priority supply to essential services and homes.
Nuclear Plants Operating Below Capacity
Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, which typically supply a majority of the country’s electricity, have been operating below full capacity since the strikes. Damage to substations tied to nuclear facilities forced output reductions, widening the gap between generation and demand. Repair work continues, but widespread energy rationing remains necessary.
With thermal power plants damaged or out of service, Ukraine has increasingly relied on imports and strict load management to sustain essential services. Officials say winter conditions and continued strikes complicate efforts to fully restore the grid.
Context Of The Escalation
Earlier this month, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia launched hundreds of drones and scores of missiles in coordinated attacks aimed at energy infrastructure, underscoring Moscow’s intent to degrade Ukraine’s civilian energy capacity during winter. These strikes have repeatedly disrupted power supplies and forced rolling outages over recent weeks.
Get real time update about this post category directly on your device, subscribe now.
