Ukraine grapples with severe energy shortages and missile strikes as Russian attacks intensify

For more than four years Russian forces have repeatedly targeted Ukraine's power plants, substations and distribution networks, aiming to deprive civilians of electricity, water and heating. The attacks have left millions of Ukrainians without power for up to 18‑20 hours a day. In response, the humanitarian organization Electricians Without Borders, together with local partners and French energy companies, is deploying emergency generators, solar lamps and hybrid photovoltaic systems to keep hospitals, water pumps and other vital services running.

In early August, the intensity of the Russian offensive escalated further. Ukrainian air‑force reports say Russia launched 115 long‑range drones and 28 missiles, including Iskander ballistic missiles and Zircon hypersonic weapons, over Kyiv and the Kharkiv region. The missile barrage caused civilian deaths in Balaklia and Kyiv, and Ukraine’s air‑defence struggled to intercept the missiles, though drone interceptions have improved to about 90%. President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that better anti‑missile systems are essential, while conflict analyst Ulrich Bounat noted the shift from drones to more costly missiles as a logical escalation by Moscow.