As biting winter winds sweep across Ukraine, a new wave of Russian attacks has plunged tens of thousands into darkness and cold, hitting the country’s already fragile energy infrastructure with renewed force. On December 4, 2025, a coordinated series of night-time strikes targeted key cities like Kherson and Odesa, leaving entire neighborhoods without power or heat just as temperatures began to drop, according to multiple Ukrainian officials and energy companies.
The latest escalation comes as no surprise to those living in southern Ukraine. Russia has, in recent weeks, intensified its campaign against Ukraine’s utilities sector—an ominous echo of last winter’s strategy to cripple the country’s morale and resilience by targeting basic services. According to DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, Russian forces struck one of its major facilities in the Odesa region overnight, knocking out electricity for 51,800 households. Repair crews were dispatched immediately, but the extent of the damage and the ever-present risk of renewed strikes mean that full restoration is expected to take time.
In Kherson, the situation is even more dire. Regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin announced that the city’s combined heat and power plant—a lifeline for thousands during the harsh winter months—was forced to shut down after being hit by drones, artillery, and other weapons. "This entirely civilian facility, which provided heat to the city’s residents, has suffered serious damage: the station’s premises and equipment have been destroyed," Prokudin stated on Telegram. He added, "Once again, terrorists are waging war against the civilian population." The shutdown left 40,500 customers without heating, and local officials reported that 470 buildings were affected. As the temperature continues to fall, many residents now face the prospect of enduring winter without reliable heat.
Kherson’s plight is particularly acute. Liberated from Russian occupation in November 2022, the city remains within artillery and drone range of Russian forces stationed on the left bank of the Dnipro River. Daily bombardments have become a grim routine, striking not only infrastructure but also residential districts and even rescue crews. Locals describe the use of drones to hunt and attack civilians as "human safaris," underscoring the relentless danger that permeates everyday life.
But the misery isn’t limited to Kherson and Odesa. Ukraine’s energy ministry confirmed that about 60,000 residents in the frontline Donetsk region also lost power following the overnight attacks. In neighboring Dnipropetrovsk oblast, 1,600 consumers were left without electricity. As reported by Ukrenergo, the National Energy Company, emergency restoration work has begun wherever safety conditions permit. Nevertheless, the scale and frequency of the strikes have made it difficult to restore stable electricity supply quickly, and the threat of further attacks looms large.
These outages are, by no means, isolated incidents. Ukrenergo noted that, as of 9:30 a.m. Thursday, electricity consumption nationwide had increased by 1.7% compared to the previous day. This uptick is partly due to cloudy weather, which has reduced the efficiency of household solar installations—just another challenge compounding the crisis. In response, Ukrenergo has advised residents to conserve energy by limiting the use of high-powered electrical appliances and shifting energy-intensive processes to after 10:00 p.m. where possible. Rolling power outage schedules are now in effect across most Ukrainian oblasts, ranging from half a shift to three shifts, as engineers scramble to keep the grid functioning under extraordinary pressure.
For Kherson, the closure of the heat and power plant is a blow that cuts deep. The city’s already precarious living conditions have deteriorated further, with many residents losing heating as the mercury drops. Local authorities are urgently reviewing alternative heating methods for homes that depended on the plant, and talks with international partners are underway to secure electric heaters and other basic equipment. Governor Prokudin has called an urgent meeting to coordinate a response and assess short-term options. In the meantime, public warming centers known as “Points of Invincibility” remain open across the city, offering residents a place to warm up, charge devices, and contact relatives.
The attacks are not only a humanitarian crisis but also a legal concern. Ukrainian authorities have classified the Russian strikes on energy infrastructure as criminal offenses under Article 345 (“Threat or violence against a law enforcement officer”) and Article 194 (“Deliberate destruction or damage of property”) of the Ukrainian Criminal Code. Notices have been sent to the National Police, and power sector workers continue restoration efforts while monitoring the situation closely.
Kherson’s ongoing vulnerability is stark. Despite its liberation, the city’s proximity to Russian positions across the Dnipro makes it one of the most dangerous places in Ukraine for civilians. The city endures almost daily missile, drone, and artillery attacks, with basic services like electricity and heating rendered unstable. Residents describe their lives as a constant struggle for survival, with the threat of bombardment always present.
Across Ukraine, the renewed offensive against energy infrastructure has heightened fears of a repeat of last winter’s large-scale blackouts. Ukrainian officials have issued urgent appeals to international partners, requesting accelerated deliveries of air defense systems and energy repair equipment to help protect and stabilize critical infrastructure. The government has also asked for electric heaters and other emergency supplies to be sent to the hardest-hit regions, hoping to stave off a full-blown humanitarian disaster as winter deepens.
Meanwhile, power engineers are working tirelessly to restore the supply. According to Ukraine’s Energy Ministry, “Power engineers are working to restore the power supply,” but the challenge is immense. The rolling blackouts and scheduled outages are expected to continue for the foreseeable future, with no immediate end in sight.
For many Ukrainians, the latest attacks are a grim reminder of the war’s relentless toll on civilian life. As one resident of Kherson put it, “We just want to live in peace and warmth, but every day brings new dangers.” The struggle to keep the lights on and the heat running has become a symbol of Ukraine’s broader fight for survival—and resilience in the face of relentless adversity.
As winter tightens its grip, the fate of tens of thousands hangs in the balance, with the country’s energy workers, officials, and international partners racing against time to restore some semblance of normalcy amid the chaos of war.