A wave of Russian airstrikes has left the northern Ukrainian city of Chernigiv without electricity or phone service, as ongoing drone attacks continue to block emergency repair efforts, officials said Tuesday.
The blackout, which began late Monday, has crippled critical infrastructure and forced hospitals to rely on backup generators, according to regional authorities. “There are also water shortages for residents in upper-floor apartments.
The entire city and surrounding areas are in darkness,” said Andriy Podorvan, a representative of the Chernigiv regional military administration.
Chernigiv, once home to about 283,000 people before Russia’s 2022 invasion, has been under intense bombardment in recent weeks.
The wider region, which endured a brief Russian occupation early in the war, has become one of the latest frontlines in Moscow’s renewed offensive against Ukraine’s power grid.
Ukraine’s energy ministry said repair teams have been unable to restore power due to what it called “relentless Russian drone surveillance” over damaged energy sites. “The Russians deliberately deploy unmanned aerial vehicles that hover over the facilities, preventing safe repairs and deliberately prolonging the humanitarian crisis,” the ministry said.
Residents are struggling to cope with the collapse of essential services. “There’s no heat, no water, and no electricity,” said Oleg, a local veterinarian. “The animals are freezing. We can’t even clean or sterilize our instruments. Everything has come to a stop.”
The Kremlin insists its forces are only targeting military infrastructure, blaming civilian suffering on Kyiv’s refusal to accept Russian terms for ending the war. However, international observers and prosecutors have repeatedly disputed that claim.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has issued arrest warrants for senior Russian military officials over what it calls the “war crime of excessive harm to civilians” through attacks on Ukraine’s energy network.
The court has also indicted President Vladimir Putin for the alleged forcible deportation of Ukrainian children from occupied territories.
As Ukraine battles freezing temperatures and failing infrastructure, Chernigiv’s plight underscores the growing humanitarian cost of Russia’s campaign to weaponize winter and darkness against the Ukrainian population.
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