Ukraine has declared a state of emergency in the country's energy sector, with particular focus on Kyiv, as ongoing Russian strikes continue to leave thousands of residents without power. The nation is in the midst of a particularly cold winter, with overnight temperatures in Kyiv dropping to around -20C. After a special cabinet meeting, President Volodymyr Zelensky said a round-the-clock task force would be set up to deal with the damaging consequences of Russian airstrikes and worsening weather conditions. He accused Moscow of deliberately exploiting the harsh, sub-zero temperatures to target critical infrastructure, including energy distribution facilities.

In recent weeks, Kyiv has been especially affected by Russian attacks, with a heavy night of missile and drone attacks leaving 70% of the capital without power for several hours. The new measures implemented by Zelensky include procuring vital energy equipment and resources from abroad to replace damaged installations, as well as increasing the number of emergency help points around Kyiv to provide heat and power for residents. These actions come as DTEK, Ukraine's largest energy provider, continues to operate under crisis conditions due to recurrent strikes on the grid, affecting millions of Ukrainians.

Russian attacks on energy infrastructure have not only targeted the capital, with reports indicating that more than one million people in southeastern Ukraine have faced extended periods without heating and water supplies because of ongoing airstrikes.