Russian Strike on Kharkiv Power Plant Triggers Kyiv Blackouts After Energy Ceasefire

A Russian strike on Kharkiv's CHP-5 thermal power plant has left Kyiv and surrounding regions without electricity and running water. The attack targeted one of Ukraine's main combined heat and power facilities, destabilizing the grid and causing pump failures in the capital. DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, and municipal emergency crews have deployed teams to stabilize the damaged grid and restore water service to residential areas. Local officials are urging residents to conserve emergency water reserves and charge portable devices while repair crews assess structural damage in Kharkiv.

The strike occurred hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate “energy ceasefire.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the announced agreement was “news” to Kyiv. He added that Ukraine remains open to halting strikes on Russian oil refineries if Moscow stops bombarding Ukrainian utility targets.

Zelenskyy also said that Russian Shahed drones had been in the sky all day and that the strike on CHP-5 had just occurred. He stressed that any truce must reflect the actual conditions on the ground.

The CHP-5 plant is one of Ukraine's primary combined heat and power installations. Its damage severely impacted grid stability across major regions, leading to sudden power cuts and pump failures in Kyiv. Large parts of the capital were left without electricity or running water.

Emergency response efforts are ongoing. DTEK and municipal crews are working to stabilize the grid and restore water flow. Residents have been advised to conserve emergency water and charge portable devices as repair crews assess the full extent of the damage in Kharkiv.