Ukrainian authorities were today battling to get energy supplies back up and running again for more than one million people amid freezing temperatures after Vladimir Putin’s latest onslaught.
With around 80 per cent of the country’s heating hubs now destroyed or damaged, engineers were working round the clock to return power to those who have been left shivering in darkness.
And with Winter closing in, the urgency was plain for all to see.
Emergency workers toiled amid freezing temperatures in horrendous conditions in the wake of Thursday’s massive attack – which saw Moscow again targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for the second time in less than two weeks.
In total, 10 such attacks have now taken place this year, imposing an enormous burden on the entire energy system.
Before the first of this month’s attacks, on 17 November, Ukraine had already lost 9GW of generation capacity – about half of the power consumed during last winter’s peak heating season.
One of the engineers working to restore power yesterday, only giving his name as Oleksandr, admitted: “The conditions are tough.
“We don’t even have time to restore the main equipment, let alone the roof and walls. Everything gets destroyed again from one strike to the next.”
Humanitarian groups condemned Russian leader Putin’s cruel tactics as he this week launched further onslaughts in his bid to freeze Ukraine into submission.
Catriona Murdoch, Director of Global Rights Compliance’s Starvation and Humanitarian Crisis Division, said: “Russia’s systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure are not just acts of war – they are crimes that deliberately target and terrify the civilian population, leaving millions vulnerable.
“These assaults disrupt every facet of life, from access to clean water and food, to essential mobility for the elderly and persons with disabilities, to healthcare and education.”
She added: “The relentless destruction of power systems is a calculated strategy to create conditions incompatible with life. ICC arrest warrants were issued in relation to such attacks on energy during the winter of 2022, perpetrators must be held accountable for this second wave of attacks which are a violation of international law.”
Ukraine’s western allies are trying to help the country restore power – but the task is Herculean.
Earlier this week, DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, said it had received £89million ($113m) from the European Commission and US government to help restore capacity and protect vital equipment from snow, rain and sub-zero temperatures.
But across the country, mini-generators were once again being rolled out in a bid to find a temporary solution to the cold and dark.
And in tower blocks, where power cuts put lifts out of action and prevent hot water from reaching the upper floors, residents already used to keeping power banks and flashlights to hand are starting to innovate.
Some have even invested in batteries and inverters for their homes, which kick in as soon as the power goes off.