Several regions in Ukraine, including Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Sumy, Chernihiv, Zaporizhia, and Kharkiv, are experiencing temporary power outages due to Russian attacks on March 26, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy.
The hardest-hit areas are Chernihiv and Odesa, where repeated enemy strikes have severely damaged energy infrastructure, leaving a significant number of consumers without electricity.
The Ministry of Energy emphasized that repair teams are working around the clock to restore power to all affected customers. This effort comes amid ongoing assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which have intensified since the onset of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Since the beginning of the current heating season, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has documented at least 256 aerial attacks by Russia on energy facilities and heating systems. The SBU classifies these strikes as crimes against humanity.
On February 25, General Prosecutor Ruslan Kravchenko announced that he had submitted materials to the International Criminal Court regarding Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure from July 2025 to February 2026.
In early February 2026, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Russia had not initiated attacks on civilian objects, asserting that Ukraine had struck first against its energy facilities.
According to United Nations reports, by January 2026, Ukraine had lost over half of its electricity generation capacity due to occupation and damage from attacks, leaving it with only 11 GW of generation capacity, significantly below the 18 GW required during peak winter consumption.
This gap between generation capacity and consumption needs has led to prolonged electricity supply interruptions. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal stated on March 25 that the World Bank estimates Ukraine will require nearly $91 billion over the next decade to restore its energy sector.
Power outages in Ukraine continue as a result of recent Russian strikes, particularly affecting Chernihiv and Odesa. The ongoing conflict has severely damaged the country's energy infrastructure, necessitating significant investment for future recovery.