Ukraine rolls out power-saving steps as half of capital in dark

Ukraine will introduce more restrictions on power usage and will allow additional energy imports as it struggles to repair infrastructure shuttered in Russian strikes, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on Tuesday.



Russian forces have sharply increased the number and intensity of attacks on Ukrainian gas and energy infrastructure in recent months, targeting both power generation facilities and electricity transmission systems.



For weeks, citizens in many Ukrainian regions have already been facing rolling blackouts and emergency power cuts. Power was out simultaneously for roughly half of the residents in the capital Kyiv on Tuesday.



"Additional lighting for buildings, streets, parks, decorative garlands, and outdoor advertising in city centres are not a priority during this difficult period for the energy sector," Svyrydenko said on X, announcing new measures to improve the situation for civilian consumers.



The list of facilities with the right to receive energy without interruptions should be further shortened.



Hospitals, schools, critical facilities, and defence industry enterprises remain the exception.