Kyiv faces prolonged blackouts after substations destroyed

All key substations around Kyiv have been severely damaged by Russian attacks, causing prolonged power outages with no stable schedules expected soon, according to Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Kucherenko. The region can generate only 10-15% of its needed electricity. Kucherenko stated that Russian strikes targeted both generation facilities and grid substations, with destabilizing Kyiv being a political goal. Power surges from the damaged grid have disrupted the metro system, while hospitals with backup power receive priority over other infrastructure. The attacks have forced nuclear plants to cut output, with Ukraine's energy operator calling the November 3 strikes one of the most serious of the war, involving over 20 targeted hits.