A Winter Without Light In Ukraine

After nearly four years of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the sounds of war have become routine in Ukraine’s major cities. Every night is defined by air raid alerts, the hum of drones and the thunder of missile interceptions. But this winter, another sound has taken over. The constant roar of generators now fills neighborhoods, as repeated strikes on the power grid have knocked out electricity.

Russia’s winter campaign has once again focused on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, but officials say this season’s attacks have been more sustained and more precise than before. Rolling blackouts now regularly plunge entire cities into darkness, sometimes leaving hundreds of thousands, and at times millions, without electricity. Heavy snow and bitter cold have turned power outages into a daily struggle for survival. Kyiv and other major cities have been hit particularly hard. Repeated attacks on energy facilities have left large parts of the capital without heat, water or electricity during one of the coldest winters in years. Emergency repair crews work around the clock, often under fire, but many residents still lack at least one essential utility. Having heat, water and electricity at the same time has become increasingly rare.

The human cost of these outages is growing. Families sleep fully clothed beneath layers of blankets and still wake up cold. Prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures has worsened respiratory illnesses, while unstable electricity has damaged appliances and cut off internet access. With electric stoves unusable, some residents have turned to gas stoves or generators to heat their homes, a dangerous decision that has led to fatal cases of carbon monoxide poisoning. The pressure on Kyiv has been so severe that city officials urged residents to leave if they could temporarily. Hundreds of thousands departed, easing the strain on an overwhelmed energy grid. For those who stayed, authorities opened resilience shelters where people can warm up, charge phones and access basic support. These shelters have become lifelines for residents living in unheated apartments.

Behind the blackouts is an intense air campaign. In January alone, Russia launched thousands of drones and missiles into Ukraine. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted many of them, but enough reached their targets to inflict widespread damage. Some of the largest attacks coincided with the coldest nights of the month, amplifying their impact on civilians already struggling under freezing conditions.

Ukrainian officials accuse Moscow of deliberately targeting civilian energy infrastructure in an attempt to freeze the country into submission. The consequences have been deadly. The United Nations reports that 2025 was the deadliest year for Ukrainian civilians since 2022, driven largely by the increased use of long-range weapons. Drones and missiles now account for a significant share of civilian casualties, marking a sharp rise from the previous year.

Despite the devastation, Ukrainians continue to adapt. Generators have become essential, powering hospitals, shelters and critical infrastructure. European countries and Western partners have sent equipment, spare parts and funding to help stabilize the grid and repair damaged facilities. Thousands of so-called invincibility points now operate across the country, offering warmth and brief relief from the cold. Daily life, though transformed, continues. People still shop for groceries and visit cafés when electricity allows. Many plan their days around blackout schedules, learning to appreciate even short moments of light and warmth. The psychological toll, however, is heavy. For the elderly and displaced, winter has added another layer of fear. Broken elevators trap pensioners in high-rise buildings, while power and cell service disruptions raise anxiety about reaching help in an emergency. Families already uprooted by the war now face a season defined by waiting, waiting for heat to return, for lights to flicker back on or for the next attack to pass.

Extemp Question: How has Russia’s winter energy campaign changed civilian life in Ukraine?

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• David Brennan, ABC News

• Mandy Taheri, MSN