Ukraine enacts emergency blackout across country amid Russian strikes

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine’s national energy company announced Wednesday that it has enacted emergency blackouts across the country as Russian strikes have hit infrastructure in multiple regions, including the capital Kyiv.

“Emergency shutdowns are happening in all regions. This is a necessary step to protect power grids from additional technological accidents and support the operation of the power system,” Ukrenergo said in a statement on Telegram.

The statement noted that efforts to fix damages inflicted on energy infrastructure in the country will start once air raid alerts stop, with the help of repair crews and personnel from the State Emergency Service.

“However, due to frost and freezing rain in some regions, emergency restoration work on objects damaged by terrorist rockets may last longer. During the period of lack of electricity, please take care of yourself and your relatives, as well as help those who need it nearby,” the statement added.

Air raid alerts were activated across all regions of Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, due to impending Russian attacks, according to local officials.

Kyiv Governor Vitali Klitschko reported that a residential building was hit by the strikes.

As a result, one person was killed and 20 others are getting medical treatment, according to Kyiv's regional military administration.

Meanwhile, officials in the Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions have also reported explosions.

No warnings were reported in the Crimea region, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.​​​​​​​