Ukraine is shivering in the dark. President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared a state of emergency in the country’s energy sector as a relentless barrage of Russian missile strikes decimates the power grid amidst biting sub-zero temperatures.

With the mercury in Kyiv plummeting to -20C, the capital is facing a humanitarian catastrophe. Zelensky accused Moscow of "weaponizing winter," deliberately targeting substations and heating plants to break the Ukrainian spirit. "They cannot defeat our army, so they are trying to freeze our children," he told the nation in a somber address.

The Trump Factor

The crisis is compounded by geopolitical uncertainty. US President Donald Trump recently signaled a slowdown in aid, stating that Ukraine is "less ready to make a deal" than Russia. This hesitation in Washington is being felt on the frontlines, where air defense ammunition is running critically low.

• Blackouts: Rolling blackouts are now the norm, with some regions receiving only four hours of electricity a day. Hospitals are running on generators, and "invincibility points"—heated tents with power and internet—are overflowing.
• Global Response: The EU has pledged emergency generators, but the scale of destruction is outpacing the repairs. Zelensky has formed a 24-hour task force to source transformers from abroad, a logistical nightmare in a country under siege.