Ukraine's power grid nears breaking point as Russian strikes cause prolonged blackouts

Ukraine's power supply is nearing a critical threshold as Russian strikes on its energy grid cause widespread blackouts, leaving millions of families with only a few hours of electricity daily and plunging homes into darkness and cold. Planned power cuts, in place since October, have intensified, with some Kyiv families facing outages of up to 20 hours per day. The strikes have severely damaged major power stations, and energy workers face constant danger from air raids while attempting repairs, which are expected to take until at least next summer. Officials warn life may become unsustainable if power cannot be maintained for at least four hours daily, prompting some residents to consider leaving the capital. Despite the hardship, many Ukrainians remain defiant, prioritizing their independence over comfort.