Harsh weather conditions are exacerbating pressure on Ukraine’s power systems, the country’s national energy agency said.
It comes after relentless Russian strikes tore through the country’s power grid late last year.
“Electricity consumption in Ukraine has increased due to low temperatures exacerbated by strong winds in most areas,” Ukrenergo said on Tuesday.
Supply limits in many regions have already been “exceeded”, so emergency cuts are now in place, the company said.
Strong gusts of wind caused “damage to distribution network operators” and repairs are underway, the company added.
A bit of context: Moscow has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and left many residents without access to heat and electricity.
Amnesty International has previously said Russian strikes on critical systems were “unlawful” and amounted to “a war crime”.
“Russia’s targeting of Ukrainian civilian infrastructure is unlawful. The morale of the civilian population is not a legitimate target, and carrying out these attacks for the sole purpose of terrorizing civilians is a war crime,” said Marie Struthers. , Amnesty International’s director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said in a statement in October.
“All those who ordered and carried out these criminal attacks must be held accountable. As Russia intensifies its efforts to terrorize civilians in Ukraine, the international community must respond urgently and condemn these heinous attacks.”
