Kharkiv and the surrounding region are facing extended power outages, with electricity now being cut for periods exceeding four hours, according to a spokesperson for Kharkivoblenergo. The prolonged disruptions are a consequence of ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“We are receiving a very limited volume of electricity,” said Volodymyr Skichko, a Kharkivoblenergo spokesperson, during a briefing on Tuesday. “What is it spent on? First of all, on critical infrastructure. This includes heat supply, water supply, wastewater disposal, the operation of the metro, ground electric transport, hospitals, military hospitals and providing for the defense forces. We simply have nowhere to take more electricity from today.”
Currently, the Kharkiv region is operating under schedules of hourly outages, lasting approximately 16.5 hours per day. In addition to these scheduled cuts, emergency outage schedules are also being implemented, according to Skichko. The energy company is unable to predict when power will be restored, as the situation depends on the overall capacity of the transmission system.
“Due to the fact that the transmission system cannot provide the Kharkiv region with enough electricity. This is connected to the constant attacks on energy facilities. The energy equipment of Kharkivoblenergo can distribute enough electricity to all consumers, but it is not arriving in the region in the necessary amount,” Skichko explained. “we are working to ensure that all the categories I mentioned have electricity for at least a few hours a day. Unfortunately, we have nowhere to take more electricity from today.”
As of February 12, 2026, 67,000 consumers in 195 settlements remain without electricity due to previous shelling, according to Kharkivoblenergo. Restoration of power to these areas is hampered by safety concerns, particularly in locations near the border or active combat zones. However, the company reported restoring power to nearly 18,000 customers in the past 24 hours.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that Kharkivoblenergo currently lacks the ability to selectively disconnect homes with electric heating and stoves. “We do not have the ability to discretely disconnect only such vulnerable homes. We need to understand that this is a reality,” Skichko stated.
Elsewhere in the Kharkiv region, at least three people have been killed and twenty injured in Russian attacks over the past 24 hours, including two children, according to Oleg Synegubov, the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration. The attacks involved rockets, guided aerial bombs, and various types of drones. Damage has been reported to residential buildings, infrastructure, and vehicles in several districts.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported ten combat engagements in the Kharkiv region over the past day, with the most intense fighting occurring north of the region, near the town of Volchansk. 124 combat clashes were recorded across the country, accompanied by numerous missile and drone strikes.
Emergency outage schedules were initiated in Kharkiv and the surrounding region on Tuesday, February 12, alongside the existing hourly schedules, as Kharkivoblenergo attempts to stabilize the energy system. The company urged residents to exercise patience and understanding amidst the ongoing disruptions.