Russias attacks trigger energy crisis in Ukraine amid freezing temperatures

Ukraine Declares State of Emergency in Energy Sector Amid Winter Crisis

A state of emergency has been declared in Ukraine’s energy sector, following repeated Russian attacks that have left thousands of homes without heat and electricity. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the declaration on Wednesday, stating that repair crews, energy companies, municipal services, and the State Emergency Service are working around the clock to restore electricity and heating.

Temperatures in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv dropped to -19 degrees Celsius (-2.2 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, with 471 apartment buildings remaining without heat. The situation worsened after a massive Russian attack last week, which left thousands of apartments without heat, electricity, and water. According to city officials, nearly 6,000 apartment buildings in Kyiv are currently without heating.

The energy sector has been a frequent target during Russia’s war on Ukraine, with attacks on oil refineries, gas pipelines, pumping stations, and nuclear and thermal power stations being reported. Russian-appointed local official Yevgeny Balitsky stated that a Ukrainian attack had left over 3,000 people without electricity in Russian-occupied areas of Zaporizhia.

In addition to the attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, oil tankers have also come under attack from drones in the Black Sea. On Tuesday, two oil tankers chartered by Chevron were struck by drones while sailing towards a terminal on the Russian coast. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs blamed the attacks on Ukraine, but the country has yet to publicly comment.

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry expressed concerns over the increasing frequency of such incidents, stating that they highlighted growing risks to international energy infrastructure.

Source: Al Jazeera