Ukraine cannot lift emergency blackouts due to power deficit
Residential high-rise buildings without electricity in Kyiv, February 7, 2026 (Photo: REUTERS/Gleb Garanich)
Emergency power outages cannot currently be canceled in most regions of Ukraine due to a significant power deficit and damage to transmission and distribution networks, national grid operator Ukrenergo reported on Feb. 8.
The energy system remains under severe strain as crews continue round-the-clock efforts to repair damage from two massive Russian missile and drone attacks this week. Thanks to the nonstop work of energy workers, the volume of restrictions applied in some regions today is lower than yesterday.
Restoration continues at power plants and high-voltage substations that ensure output from nuclear power stations. Nuclear generation remains partially curtailed, Ukrenergo added.
Because of the need for emergency blackouts, the previously published hourly outage schedules are not currently in effect in most regions. Return to planned restriction schedules will occur as soon as the power system stabilizes.
On Feb. 7, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian attacks forced Ukrainian nuclear power plant units to reduce output, with one reactor shutting down automatically.
That night and morning Russia carried out a massive combined strike using 408 strike drones and 39 missiles (including Zircon, Kalibr and Kh-101 types), primarily targeting energy facilities in western Ukraine. Hits and damage were reported in the Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, Kyiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Cherkasy and other oblasts.
Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the strikes hit the Burshtyn and Dobrotvir thermal power plants, nuclear plant substations, and 750 kV and 330 kV overhead lines in eight regions.
Nuclear plants were forced to reduce generation, sharply increasing the power deficit, and intensifying hourly power cuts in all regions. The ministry warned that the nearest days would be difficult due to the severe shortfall that is extremely hard to cover.
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