Zelensky: Ukraine races to restore energy after Russian strikes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that his government is racing to restore energy supplies after the latest Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, and that no region is feeling it worse than the capital. In a post on Telegram, he described prolonged power and water outages hitting Kyiv's residents and businesses, calling the challenges there extremely serious.

Zelensky said he held a coordination call on efforts to handle the aftermath of the strikes and get electricity flowing again. The government, he said, is sending additional resources and taking measures it believes can help ease the crunch, according to the post.

Kyiv also has deals in place with Germany and Spain for generators, cables and other equipment, Zelensky said, giving the country a pipeline of hardware from abroad as crews work to patch the grid.

The response is getting a manpower boost on two fronts. Zelensky said the government launched a program of extra monthly payments for everyone involved in the restoration work, and that the Ukrainian military will be brought in to help rebuild the power grid and energy facilities.

The strikes are the latest round to hammer Ukrainian infrastructure, leaving authorities juggling emergency repairs with the daily needs of millions. Zelensky's message framed the effort as an all-hands push, with money, equipment and troops all pointed at the same target: getting the lights back on.