Humanitarian Impact of Attacks on Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure

Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia in Darkness

Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia in Darkness

Attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have significantly deepened humanitarian instability, particularly affecting vulnerable populations. In January, the situation became critical in the Odesa region, Dnipropetrovsk oblast, and Zaporizhzhia, where entire cities were left without electricity following large-scale strikes.

Odesa Without Power Supply

Since the start of the full-scale war, humanitarian needs in Ukraine have remained extremely high. Millions of people require safety, access to basic services, adequate shelter, and psychosocial support. Attacks on critical infrastructure - especially the energy sector - directly exacerbate these needs, as power outages disrupt heating, water and heat supply, healthcare services, and essential municipal systems.

People in Kryvyi Rih Charging Mobile Devices

On the night of 8–9 January 2026, Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack across Ukraine, including Kyiv and Lviv. The strikes resulted in civilian casualties, numerous injuries, and damage to critical infrastructure, including electricity grids and heating systems.

In Kyiv, power outages left 6,000 residential buildings without heating amid severe cold temperatures. At least four people were killed, including a 58-year-old emergency medical worker who lost his life while responding to the attack. Twenty-four people were injured, and rescue teams managed to save a family with a child from the rubble. The attack damaged 19 multi-storey apartment buildings, private homes, and elements of critical and railway infrastructure. Disruptions to electricity and water supply were reported across the city.

Consequences of the Strikes on Kyiv

In Lviv, infrastructure facilities were also damaged following a strike involving an «Oreshnik» missile, indicating a potential escalation of strategic attacks targeting vital energy and civilian networks.

Evangelical churches in the affected regions play a crucial role as local humanitarian hubs, providing assistance to internally displaced persons, families in crisis, elderly people, and those who have lost access to basic services due to energy disruptions.

However, ongoing power outages severely limit church ministries and humanitarian programs, reducing their capacity to deliver life-saving assistance to communities in need.

Supporting churches in strengthening their energy resilience and humanitarian response capacity is critical to ensuring continuity of assistance during wartime. One of the most urgent and practical forms of support is the provision of fuel for generators, enabling churches to produce electricity, maintain heating, operate humanitarian spaces, and continue serving affected communities during prolonged power outages.

Hope Heats Ukraine

Even in the coldest moments of war, churches across Ukraine continue to serve as places of warmth and refuge. Through the Hope Heats Ukraine appeal, €503,161.91 has already been raised to help churches keep generators running, maintain heating, and continue vital humanitarian ministries during ongoing power outages.

The need, however, remains urgent. By giving to the Hope Heats Ukraine appeal, you can help ensure that churches remain open as centres of hope, care, and practical support for vulnerable communities across Ukraine.

Give today here!