Ukraine Call to Cut Electricity Use Amid Russian Attacks and Power Outage Risks
Ukraine is asking residents to lower their electricity use during peak hours after fresh strikes hit key energy sites. The government emphasizes that the outages could happen as a direct result of the recent attacks on critical infrastructure, creating a burden on the national grid and the communities that rely on it. The request is practical, not punitive, aiming to keep essential services running and to reduce the likelihood of rolling blackouts that would affect homes, clinics, schools, and businesses across the country.
In a coordinated message from Kyiv, authorities urged people to limit nonessential electricity use in the late afternoon and evening, especially during the window from five o’clock to ten o’clock. The guidance is described as temporary but necessary to stabilize the grid while repair crews assess damage, restore damaged lines, and restore generation capacity as quickly as possible. The strategy hinges on spreading demand more evenly so that no single moment overwhelms the system, especially when fuel supplies and maintenance resources are stretched thin by ongoing operations and weather-related challenges.
Following the briefings, Andriy Gerus, a chair of the Parliament’s Energy Committee, was cited by UNIAN as recommending the minimization or avoidance of nonessential appliances. The measures include turning off boilers, stoves, and space heaters when not needed, unplugging devices that draw standby power, and using energy-saving settings on major household equipment. The guidance also stresses practical steps for households and businesses to conserve energy without compromising safety, comfort, or critical productivity during the peak energy window. In addition, institutions such as hospitals and emergency services are encouraged to implement prioritized load-shedding plans to maintain essential functions while the supply is temporarily constrained. UNIAN’s report underscores the government’s effort to balance public safety, economic activity, and national resilience in the face of ongoing disruption.