Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have left more than 600,000 people without electricity in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, as Moscow intensified strikes on critical infrastructure ahead of another round of US-brokered peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.
Electricity provider DTEK reported on Saturday that Russian attacks on the power grid had caused widespread electricity disruptions across the region, which borders areas close to active combat zones and serves as one of Ukraine’s key industrial centres.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the overnight attacks on Sunday, saying Russian forces had struck energy infrastructure in the Dnipro region while also carrying out attacks elsewhere in the country.
“There are widespread power outages across the country,” Zelenskyy said in a statement. “Repair work is underway in virtually every affected city and community.”
The latest strikes have placed additional pressure on Ukraine’s already strained electricity infrastructure, with emergency repair teams working to restore supplies amid continued Russian military attacks.
Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha said electricity company workers had begun restoration efforts but were facing significant difficulties because of continued Russian shelling.
“Power company workers are already working to restore electricity. Their efforts are being hampered by constant Russian shelling,” Hanzha said.
He added that hospitals and other critical infrastructure facilities were relying on backup generators to maintain essential services during the blackout.
The latest disruption follows another wave of Russian attacks on November 3, when shelling damaged infrastructure in Dnipropetrovsk, an important industrial region bordering areas affected by ongoing fighting. The November 3 attacks were part of a broader Russian assault targeting energy facilities across Ukraine.
The repeated strikes have raised concerns about the vulnerability of Ukraine’s electricity network as winter approaches and demand for heating and electricity increases. Damage to power generation and distribution facilities could further complicate efforts to maintain essential public services and industrial operations.
The consequences of the latest attacks also extended beyond the civilian electricity network.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, lost its external electricity supply overnight, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
In a statement on Sunday morning, the nuclear watchdog said the facility was relying on emergency diesel generators to maintain essential safety systems.
The generators were providing electricity for reactor cooling and other critical nuclear safety and security functions, the agency said.
The loss of external power at the nuclear facility has renewed concerns about nuclear safety amid the continuing war. Nuclear power plants require reliable electricity supplies to operate essential cooling and monitoring systems, even when reactors are not generating electricity.
The IAEA has repeatedly warned about the risks associated with military activity around the Zaporizhzhia facility, which has remained under Russian control since the early months of the invasion.
The latest attacks come as Ukraine and Russia prepare for another round of US-brokered peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi next week. The renewed diplomatic efforts have raised expectations of further discussions on ending the war, although continued attacks on critical infrastructure underscore the challenges facing negotiators.
Following Saturday night’s strikes, Zelenskyy called on Ukraine’s international partners to strengthen sanctions against Russia, particularly measures targeting its ability to manufacture and acquire missiles.
He argued that restrictions should be coordinated across European countries and the Group of Seven (G7) economies to prevent Moscow from exploiting differences between national sanctions regimes.
“It is very important that they be synchronized across Europe and G7 jurisdictions,” Zelenskyy said.
He also questioned whether international partners were providing sufficient air-defence capabilities to protect Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure from Russian missile attacks.
“If the world does not have enough anti-ballistic capabilities to protect Ukrainian skies, then the missiles must be stopped on the production lines,” he said.
Zelenskyy’s remarks highlighted Kyiv’s growing emphasis on disrupting Russia’s military-industrial supply chains alongside strengthening Ukraine’s air-defence systems.
Ukraine has repeatedly urged Western governments to expand military assistance, impose tougher economic restrictions and prevent Russia from obtaining components and technologies used in missile production.
