Over 1,000 towns plunge into darkness amid harsh winter conditions in Ukraine

Severe winter weather in Ukraine has led to power outages in over 1,000 towns and villages in nine regions. The country's power grid operator, Ukrenergo, has urged residents to conserve electricity due to the weakened energy system caused by Russian strikes. The severe weather conditions, including strong winds and ice, have caused significant damage to distribution networks and delayed repair efforts. Ukraine is importing electricity from Romania and Slovakia to meet the demand.