Ukraine's key Black Sea port of Odesa and surrounding areas endured widespread power outages on December 13, 2025, after a massive overnight Russian barrage targeting the nation's energy grid. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported Russia unleashed over 450 drones and 30 missiles, hitting infrastructure across seven regions including Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Kirovohrad, leaving thousands without electricity, heat, or water.
The assault crippled substations and civilian facilities in Odesa, forcing hospitals onto generators and sparking fires at grain silos in nearby Chornomorsk port, with no fatalities but several injuries noted. Ukraine's grid operator confirmed extensive blackouts in southern zones, while DTEK utility teams rushed to clear debris and restore service amid winter's approach. Zelenskiy decried the strikes as terror against civilians, coinciding with U.S. peace envoy talks in Berlin under President Trump.
This escalation revives Moscow's winter strategy to overload Ukraine's defenses and cripple power supplies, echoing patterns since the 2022 invasion that have strained repairs despite Western aid. Kherson's regional capital lost all power, impacting over 140,000 residents with limited water access, as emergency crews battled sub-zero conditions. Kyiv vows resilience while pressing allies for more air defenses to shield critical assets.