Ukrainians left freezing as Russia hits power grid while trilateral talks get underway in UAE | World News
Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s state grid operator, has said that most parts of the country were facing emergency power outages following Russia’s latest aerial assault.The overall energy situation has “significantly” deteriorated, Ukrenergo said, adding that several power generation facilities are undergoing emergency repairs.
“The equipment is operating at the limits of its capabilities,” it said, adding that power blocks were carrying a “tremendous” overload due to earlier damage from Russian strikes.
Workers repair the destroyed DTEK company’s power plant after a recent Russian missile attack on the country’s energy system in an undisclosed location in Ukraine Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mykola Tys)
‘Humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine’
Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private power producer, said the country is nearing a “humanitarian catastrophe” after months of Russian airstrikes on energy systems.
Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in recent months, leaving residents without heating or power in freezing winter temperatures.Story continues below this ad
The capital Kyiv and surrounding regions are among the most affected, authorities say, and Kyiv’s mayor urged residents to leave temporarily if they have somewhere else to go.
“We need an energy ceasefire. A ceasefire on the energy assets,” Timchenko said. “How can you talk about peace and (keep) attacking people, and knowing that people are freezing? How can these things go in parallel?”
Ukraine has endured two weeks of temperatures between minus 15 and minus 20 degrees Celsius, he said, with Russia striking gas transportation, storage and production facilities.
“We are close to a humanitarian catastrophe,” Timchenko said. “People get power for 3-4 hours, then a 10- to 15-hour break. We have apartment blocks without heat for weeks already.”Story continues below this ad
Snow covers the Orthodox Monastery of Caves and the city park hills in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, as Ukraine was hit severe frosts amid regular Russian air attacks against the country’s energy sector that leave people without power, heating and water. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
EU to send generators to Ukraine
As Ukraine continues to battle the punishing cold amid Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, the European Union said on Friday that the 447 generators will be delivered to the country to “restore power to hospitals, shelters and critical services”.
Trilateral talks in UAE
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates’ Minry of Foreign Affairs on Friday said that talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States have begun in Abu Dhabi. The trilateral talks, the first of its kind engagement brings together representatives of Russia, Ukraine, and the United States in Abu Dhabi.
The Russian delegation will be headed Gen Igor Kostyukov, director of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency. The Ukrainian team will led the Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council and former defence miner, Rustem Umerov.
According to the UAE Foreign Minry, the talks are scheduled to continue over the next two days.
