"We've Mastered Surgery Without Power": Ukraine's Energy Crisis Deepens
For Tetiana’s son, a stable power supply is a lifeline. Born with severe disabilities, he relies on electricity-dependent devices to breathe, eat, and receive his medication. “Our lives hinge on electricity. If not for this devastating war, we could manage,” Tetiana tells the BBC.
As Russia relentlessly targets Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, blackouts have become a daily struggle. Even regions once spared from power cuts now face hours-long outages almost every day.
Tetiana, residing in Odesa’s southern port city, finds these power cuts unbearable. Her generator, fueled by petrol, requires constant refueling and needs to cool down every six hours. Power outages also disrupt mobile phone networks, complicating her ability to call for an ambulance when her son suffers convulsions and turns blue. “Sometimes it takes an hour for help to arrive. My son could die without oxygen. I have no words,” she says. Recently, blackouts in Tetiana’s area have stretched up to 12 hours daily.
For millions across Ukraine, a lack of electricity means no running water, air conditioning, elevators, or access to critical medical equipment. Over the past three months, Ukraine has lost nine gigawatts of generating capacity—a third of its pre-invasion capacity, enough to power the Netherlands during peak hours or the combined needs of Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, according to the national energy company, Ukrenergo.
“All state-owned thermal power plants are destroyed. All hydropower plants have been damaged by Russian missiles or drones,” Ukrenergo spokeswoman Maria Tsaturian tells the BBC. The electricity shortage is exacerbated by rising summer temperatures, as air conditioning demands surge.
To address the deficit, Ukrenergo has enforced widespread, hours-long power cuts daily. Consequently, Ukrainians increasingly depend on fuel-powered generators and large power banks.
In Kyiv, prolonged power outages have become a norm. Roksolana, elected by her 24-story apartment block’s residents to manage building facilities, explains the challenges. “Living in high-rises without power means no running water on upper floors and non-functional elevators. Mothers with children and the disabled have to plan outings around electricity schedules,” she notes. “Elderly residents can’t easily leave for necessities, and many are trapped in stifling apartments without air conditioning.”
Residents in tall buildings are also more vulnerable to airstrikes, unable to reach underground bomb shelters. In Zaporizhzhia, dentist Volodymyr Stefaniv recounts having to reschedule appointments last minute and occasionally losing power mid-surgery. “We start generators to finish procedures. There’s no other option—we can’t ask patients to return tomorrow,” he says. “Power cuts have become particularly frequent, creating significant disruptions.”
Stefaniv, who perfected the use of a head torch for emergency surgeries while treating soldiers on the front line, continues to offer free or discounted services to the Ukrainian military. “I can treat toothaches and swelling without electricity. We’ve learned to perform surgeries without it,” he asserts.
Maria Tsaturian from Ukrenergo acknowledges the public’s frustration over the persistent power cuts but emphasizes the necessity. “We are at war. The energy sector is a prime target for Russian attacks. Destroying the power grid cripples the enemy’s economy and life,” she explains. “This is the price we pay for freedom.”
