Zelenskyy Declares Emergency in Ukraine’s Energy Sector Amid Power Crisis

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced plans to declare a state of emergency in the country’s energy sector following widespread power outages caused by Russian strikes and severe winter weather.

Speaking on Wednesday after a high-level meeting, Zelenskyy said the combined impact of continued attacks on energy infrastructure and deteriorating weather conditions has left large parts of Kyiv without electricity and heating.

“Overall, a state of emergency will be declared for Ukraine’s energy sector,” the president said in a post on X.

He noted that emergency services and energy workers are operating around the clock to restore power and heat to affected areas. To strengthen coordination, Zelenskyy said a permanent headquarters will be established in Kyiv to manage the response to the crisis.

The president added that he has directed the energy minister to supervise efforts aimed at supporting residents and communities affected by the outages, while also resolving urgent operational challenges.

Zelenskyy further disclosed that steps are being taken to significantly increase electricity imports into Ukraine to stabilise supply. He also instructed the government to review existing curfew regulations to account for the extremely cold weather conditions.

Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has repeatedly been targeted since the start of the conflict, with winter conditions worsening the humanitarian impact of power disruptions.