Russian Strikes Plunge Southeastern Ukraine into Darkness Amid Freezing Cold

• Russian strikes on Wednesday night caused near-total power outages in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
• Hospitals and critical infrastructure are operating on reserve power, with emergency crews working to restore electricity, water, and heating.
• Deputy PM Oleksiy Kuleba and PM Yulia Svyrydenko highlighted intensified repair efforts and the severe impact of impending -20°C temperatures.
• The city of Dnipro experienced power cuts, stopping its metro, while school holidays were extended in affected areas.
• Officials in Zaporizhzhia warned that air raid sirens were inaudible due to power loss, urging residents to limit mobile network use.

Why It Matters: Russian strikes caused widespread power outages in southeastern Ukraine, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis amid freezing temperatures.