Ukrainian energy operator Ukrenergo has announced the implementation of power restrictions across all regions of Ukraine due to a challenging situation within the energy system. The measures include schedules for limiting power supply to industrial consumers and hourly power outages.
Emergency power cuts are currently in effect in certain areas, with plans to lift these restrictions once the energy situation stabilizes, according to the company.
The necessity for these limitations stems from the aftermath of previous Russian missile and drone attacks, coupled with increased energy consumption driven by the inefficiency of solar power plants and dropping temperatures.
Earlier today, the company reported new outages in the Kharkiv, Donetsk, Mykolaiv, and Chernihiv regions as a result of Russian drone strikes on energy facilities and shelling in frontline areas. The Ukrainian Air Force indicated that on the night of March 18, Russian forces launched an attack involving 147 strike drones, over 70 of which were Shahed drones. Air defense forces intercepted 128 of these drones, while 15 struck 12 locations, with debris falling in three areas.
Since the onset of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia has targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Attacks intensified in the autumn of 2025.
Ukrainian Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko announced on February 25 that he has submitted materials to the International Criminal Court regarding Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure from July 2025 to February 2026.
The Security Service of Ukraine has classified these strikes as crimes against humanity. It has documented at least 256 aerial attacks by Russia on energy facilities and heating systems since the beginning of the current heating season.
In early February 2026, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Russia had not initiated attacks on civilian objects, asserting that Ukraine was the first to strike at its energy facilities.
According to United Nations data, as of January 2026, Ukraine has 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 required 18 GW during peak winter consumption. This gap between generation capacity and consumer needs has resulted in prolonged power supply interruptions.
Ukrainian authorities have instituted power restrictions nationwide due to ongoing disruptions in the energy system, primarily caused by Russian attacks and increased demand. The situation highlights the severe impact of the conflict on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and its ability to meet winter consumption needs.