KYIV: Following damage inflicted by Russian strikes on its energy infrastructure, Ukraine's leading energy provider, Ukrenergo, has implemented emergency power cuts in eight out of the country's fifteen regions.

Affected areas include Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovograd, Kyiv, and Cherkasy.

The measure is aimed at mitigating the strain on an energy system under increased pressure due to continuous Russian aggression.

Notably, DTEK, a major private network operator, later reported that scheduled power outages in Kyiv were canceled.The recent escalation of attacks by Russia targeting Ukraine's critical infrastructure has raised concerns over the nation's preparedness for winter conditions.

As temperatures drop, the potential for widespread power shortages looms large, especially considering previous incidents where significant portions of Ukrainian cities have been left without electricity.

For instance, last week witnessed several hours of outages across various parts of Kyiv.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned Russia's strategy, characterizing it as a deliberate attempt to sow chaos and disrupt the lives of civilians.

The strikes have additionally affected Ukraine's gas sector, further exacerbating the energy crisis.

In response, Ukraine has adopted a strategy of targeting Russian oil refineries and hydrocarbon infrastructure using drones, leading to increased fuel prices within Russia since the summer.The ongoing conflict, which sees continuous violations of energy infrastructure by both sides, remains a significant concern for global stability, particularly as it affects the availability of power and heating resources in a region already suffering from the human and economic tolls of war.