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Ukraine Declares Energy Emergency as Kyiv Operates on Half Power in Deep Freeze

Emergency imports aim to keep people warm as power supplies trail winter demand.

Overview

  • Kyiv has roughly 50% of the electricity it needs, with about 100 apartment buildings still without heat as the city closes schools until February 1 and dims street lighting to one fifth.
  • Authorities enacted a national energy state of emergency, ordered large electricity imports, directed state firms to procure at least half of their consumption from abroad, and relaxed curfews for access to heating hubs.
  • New energy minister Denys Shmyhal told parliament Russia has attacked every power plant and carried out 612 strikes on energy assets over the past year, adding fuel reserves stand at just over 20 days.
  • President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said demand reached 18 GW against 11 GW of available capacity, prompting rolling blackouts and emergency cuts across multiple regions as repairs and imports continue.
  • The UK announced £20 million for urgent grid repairs, while the Red Cross and UNICEF warned of severe hypothermia and health risks as temperatures fall to around minus 18 to 20 degrees Celsius.