Ukraine is reeling from the aftermath of extreme weather that swept through the southern regions earlier this week, claiming the lives of 12 people and leaving more than 800 villages without power, according to an official statement from Kyiv on Wednesday. The severe weather, compounded by the ongoing conflict with Russia, has further exacerbated the challenges facing the nation.
Hurricane-force winds and heavy snowfall battered southern Ukraine on Monday, impacting areas already grappling with the consequences of Russia’s invasion. The destructive weather also extended its reach to the occupied territories, including Moscow-annexed Crimea and southern Russia.
Ukraine’s Interior Minister Igor Klymenko reported an increase in the death toll due to the adverse weather conditions, now standing at 12 individuals, with 23 others sustaining injuries. Although the severe weather has subsided, the aftermath has left hundreds of villages in the dark.
The dual impact of extreme weather and the ongoing conflict has resulted in 812 settlements being without electricity, according to Ukraine’s Energy Ministry. Of these, 368 communities faced power outages directly linked to the recent storms, while another 444 endured disruptions due to hostilities and technical issues arising from the conflict.
To address the power crisis, Ukraine has initiated intensive repair efforts in the southern regions, importing electricity from neighboring Slovakia, Romania, and Moldova. The state energy company, Ukrenergo, highlighted the most challenging situation in the southern Odesa and Kherson regions, which have been frequent targets of Russian strikes.
This unfortunate turn of events comes at a time when Ukraine has been on high alert for potential Russian cyber attacks on its energy grid. Last winter, similar attacks left millions without power in freezing temperatures.
While Ukraine is grappling with the aftermath, Moscow has reported casualties in Crimea and southern Russia due to the storms. Sergei Aksyonov, the Kremlin-backed leader of Crimea, declared an “emergency” regime in 15 municipalities across the peninsula, including major cities like Simferopol and the popular seaside resort of Yalta. Repair work is underway, but approximately 43,000 people remain without power.
As Ukraine confronts the dual challenges of extreme weather and the ongoing conflict, emergency response efforts and international support will play a crucial role in restoring normalcy to affected regions.