News
October 22, 2025
Russia's new energy assault pushes Ukrainians into another winter of blackouts
SHOSTKA, Ukraine — As the lights went out in her hometown, 40-year-old Zinaida Kot could not help but think about her next dialysis treatment for kidney disease. Without electricity, the machine that keeps her alive stops working.
**Russia's new energy assault pushes Ukrainians into another winter of blackouts**
SHOSTKA, Ukraine — The biting chill of winter is settling over Ukraine, and with it comes a renewed threat: widespread power outages. A recent escalation in Russia's attacks on energy infrastructure is plunging cities and towns across the country into darkness, leaving millions facing another season of hardship.
For Zinaida Kot, a 40-year-old resident of Shostka, the blackouts are more than just an inconvenience. They are a direct threat to her life. Zinaida suffers from kidney disease and relies on a dialysis machine to filter her blood and keep her alive. When the power goes out, so does the machine, leaving her in a desperate race against time. "When the lights go out," she explains, "I can't help but think about my next treatment. Without electricity, I'm helpless."
Zinaida's situation highlights the devastating impact of the energy crisis on vulnerable Ukrainians. Hospitals, reliant on constant power for life-saving equipment, are struggling to maintain operations. Water supplies are disrupted, heating systems fail, and communication networks crumble, further isolating communities already grappling with the trauma of war.
The recent wave of attacks marks a renewed focus by Russia on crippling Ukraine's energy grid. This tactic aims to demoralize the population, disrupt the economy, and weaken the country's ability to resist the ongoing invasion. Ukrainian energy companies are working tirelessly to repair damaged infrastructure, but the scale of the destruction is immense, and resources are stretched thin.
As winter deepens, the challenges facing Ukrainians will only intensify. The lack of consistent electricity exacerbates existing problems, including food shortages, limited access to medical care, and the psychological toll of living under constant threat. While international aid continues to flow into the country, the situation remains precarious. For Zinaida and countless others, the fight for survival is now inextricably linked to the availability of electricity, a basic necessity transformed into a lifeline in the face of a brutal war. The coming months will test the resilience of the Ukrainian people as they brace themselves for another winter shrouded in darkness.
SHOSTKA, Ukraine — The biting chill of winter is settling over Ukraine, and with it comes a renewed threat: widespread power outages. A recent escalation in Russia's attacks on energy infrastructure is plunging cities and towns across the country into darkness, leaving millions facing another season of hardship.
For Zinaida Kot, a 40-year-old resident of Shostka, the blackouts are more than just an inconvenience. They are a direct threat to her life. Zinaida suffers from kidney disease and relies on a dialysis machine to filter her blood and keep her alive. When the power goes out, so does the machine, leaving her in a desperate race against time. "When the lights go out," she explains, "I can't help but think about my next treatment. Without electricity, I'm helpless."
Zinaida's situation highlights the devastating impact of the energy crisis on vulnerable Ukrainians. Hospitals, reliant on constant power for life-saving equipment, are struggling to maintain operations. Water supplies are disrupted, heating systems fail, and communication networks crumble, further isolating communities already grappling with the trauma of war.
The recent wave of attacks marks a renewed focus by Russia on crippling Ukraine's energy grid. This tactic aims to demoralize the population, disrupt the economy, and weaken the country's ability to resist the ongoing invasion. Ukrainian energy companies are working tirelessly to repair damaged infrastructure, but the scale of the destruction is immense, and resources are stretched thin.
As winter deepens, the challenges facing Ukrainians will only intensify. The lack of consistent electricity exacerbates existing problems, including food shortages, limited access to medical care, and the psychological toll of living under constant threat. While international aid continues to flow into the country, the situation remains precarious. For Zinaida and countless others, the fight for survival is now inextricably linked to the availability of electricity, a basic necessity transformed into a lifeline in the face of a brutal war. The coming months will test the resilience of the Ukrainian people as they brace themselves for another winter shrouded in darkness.
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Politics