Russia batters power grid in five Ukrainian oblasts

Facilities in Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Odesa, and Donetsk oblasts were hit, prompting nationwide rolling blackouts as repair crews work to stabilize the grid.

Due to the strain on the grid, hourly outage schedules and limits on electricity use for households, industrial customers, and businesses are in effect from midnight to 11:59 p.m. across most of the country. Officials are urging residents to conserve power, especially during peak hours in the morning and evening, to reduce pressure on the system.

Last week, Ukraine’s national grid operator, Ukrenergo, reported that Russia had launched more than 150 missiles of various types and over 2,000 attack drones during a series of massive attacks on the country’s infrastructure throughout October and early November. Power generation, transmission, and distribution sites, as well as gas infrastructure, were among the main targets.