Zelensky states that an energy emergency has been declared in frozen Ukraine as a result of Russian attacks.

Ukraine struggles to restore heat and power as temperatures drop to -19°C.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said a state of emergency is being declared for Ukraine’s energy sector, as thousands of homes are left without heat and electricity amid freezing winter conditions caused by repeated Russian attacks.

Zelensky’s announcement came as temperatures plunged to -19 degrees Celsius (-2.2 Fahrenheit) in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, where hundreds of apartment buildings were left without heat following a massive Russian attack last week.

“The consequences of the Russian attacks and worsening weather conditions are grave,” Zelensky said in a post on Twitter late Wednesday. He added that “repair crews, energy companies, municipal services and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine continue to work around the clock to restore electricity and heating.”

Zelensky also said he has asked his government to review curfew restrictions during “this extremely cold weather” and that the country is working to increase its electricity imports to ease the dire situation.

In Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, 471 apartment buildings remained without heat on Wednesday, nearly a week after the Russian attack left thousands of apartments without heat, electricity and water, according to city officials.

The attack, which began last Thursday night, prompted Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko to urge people to leave the city, saying that “half of the apartment buildings in Kyiv – about 6,000 – are currently without heating as the capital’s critical infrastructure has been damaged by a major enemy attack.”

Energy supplies have been a frequent target during Russia’s war on Ukraine, with Moscow and Kyiv launching attacks on oil refineries, gas pipelines, pumping stations, and nuclear and thermal power stations, which are powered by coal, oil and gas.

More than 3,000 people in areas of Russian-held Zaporizhia have lost power due to the Ukrainian attack, Russian-appointed local official Yevhen Balitsky said on Telegram on Wednesday.

attack on the black sea

Frequent attacks on energy supplies during Russia’s war with Ukraine have extended beyond the two countries’ borders, including against oil tankers in the Black Sea.

In recent months, several oil tankers in the Black Sea have been attacked by drones, raising concerns in neighbouring countries, including Turkey and Kazakhstan.

On Tuesday, drones attacked two oil tankers chartered by United States oil company Chevron in the Black Sea, according to related companies. The ships were headed to a terminal on the Russian coast, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday, blaming Ukraine for the attacks, which has yet to comment publicly.

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that three oil tankers were hit in the attack and were headed to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal, where an oil pipeline from the Central Asian country terminates.

The ministry urged the US and Europe to help secure the transportation of the oil.

“The increasing frequency of such incidents highlights increasing risks to the functioning of international energy infrastructure,” it said.