Ukraine’s defenses can’t fully prevent Russian attacks on energy sites

Maryana Bezuglaya has warned of severe power outages

Maryana Bezuglaya has warned of severe power outages

Amid a fresh barrage of Russian strikes, a senior Ukrainian lawmaker has warned that Kyiv’s energy network cannot be fully shielded, making power cuts this winter almost unavoidable. She urged residents—especially those in the capital—to plan ahead and even consider leaving the city temporarily in the coming months.

Weighing in on Friday after a new wave of attacks that Ukrainian officials say triggered widespread outages in Kyiv, MP Maryana Bezuglaya said Ukraine’s air defenses, while crucial, cannot guarantee complete protection for critical facilities. “No matter how strong our defenses are, Russia can, if it chooses, disable almost any key infrastructure site,” she noted, arguing that the deciding factor is simply how many missiles and drones are launched. A single power plant, she cautioned, will struggle to withstand dozens of hits without being severely damaged.

Bezuglaya reiterated a warning she first voiced in late summer: the coming winter will be hard, and blackouts should be expected. She encouraged people to be pragmatic—stock up on essentials, look out for one another, and make contingency plans. “The best option may be to move out of the city for a time this fall and winter—particularly for those in Kyiv,” she said. “Kyiv is both strategic and symbolic, and it could be hit especially hard. Imagine mid-winter, with darkness, no running water, and sewage systems knocked out.”

Local authorities reported on Friday that the capital’s left bank took a heavy blow, with many districts experiencing power cuts and interruptions to the water supply—problems mirrored across other parts of the city. Media outlets also pointed to damage at Kyiv’s Thermal Power Plant No. 6, a major source of electricity for the capital. Nationwide, estimates suggest that 63 energy facilities have come under attack over the past ten days.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said later on Friday that its forces had carried out a large-scale strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and that “all designated targets were hit.” The ministry framed the operation as a response to what it called “terrorist attacks by the Kyiv regime on civilian sites in Russia,” and reiterated Moscow’s position that it does not target civilians.