Odesa Day Two Without Power, Water, Heat After All Substations "Destroyed"

Russian forces have been uninterruptedly attacking Odesa's energy infrastructure for the third consecutive day, leaving the city in a complete blackout without water or heat for the second day running.

As reported by Hvylya, citing a BBC article, Odesa is enduring one of its most difficult periods since the start of the full-scale invasion. The massive attacks, which began on Friday evening, have virtually paralyzed life in the city, with tens of thousands of families left without electricity, water, and heating.

"Over these days, everything has been flying over the city, except perhaps aliens," a local resident commented with bitter irony on the situation. While most of Odesa remains without power, energy workers are operating around the clock to at least partially restore the electricity supply.

The wave of drone attacks began on Friday evening and continued throughout the weekend. Drones struck the region one after another, hitting energy infrastructure targets. People are keeping warm any way they can, thankful that severe frosts have yet to arrive. They are collecting water from water trucks and springs, and forming long queues to charge mobile phones.

On Saturday morning, all municipal electric transport ground to a halt as all traction substations lost power. Trams and trolleybuses temporarily stopped running their routes.

Scale of Destruction

Oleh Kiper, Head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration (OVA), confirmed on the morning of December 14 that the region had again been subjected to a massive attack using kamikaze drones overnight. Energy, transport, industrial, and civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged. Fortunately, no civilian casualties were reported.

Energy officials admitted the extent of the disaster: all substations around Odesa have been destroyed. The situation is particularly critical in Artsyz, in the south of the region, where the infrastructure is effectively ruined.

Full restoration of electricity and municipal services could take several weeks. Heating and charging centers have been deployed across Odesa to support the population. Critically important facilities are operating on generators.

How the City Lives

Yelena, a local resident, recounts that centralized heating returned to her building on Sunday, but the radiators are barely warm—it is impossible to get warm. The electricity has been out for two days, and it is only promised to be restored on December 16.

"There is no light, but today they started supplying water partially, and that is already a relief. Yesterday, neither the internet nor mobile communications worked. Today is a little better," she shared.

Many Odesa residents have charging stations, generators, and supplies of technical and drinking water at home. People were preparing for this development.

According to Yelena, the most critical situation is in Artsyz. There are simply no set timelines for the restoration of life-support facilities there. The local authorities estimate a minimum of two weeks. Water and generators are being delivered to Artsyz from other cities in the region.

More than 400 heating points have been set up in Odesa, but local media report that they are overcrowded—finding a free outlet is extremely difficult.

Traffic lights in the city are not fully operational; only those equipped with batteries are functioning. How long they will last remains unknown.

Is There Progress?

DTEK reports that after the massive strike, electricity has been restored to nearly 100,000 families. Power supply to critical infrastructure facilities has been partially recovered. However, the Air Force continues to detect new drones moving toward the Odesa region.

Serhiy Lysak, Head of the Odesa City Military Administration, reassured residents: the food supply is stable, stores are open, and there is no shortage of food or drinking water. The fuel situation is under control—gas stations have fuel, and resupply is ensured. The banking system is operating as normal, and ATMs are working.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the energy situation in the Odesa region difficult. Power supply problems are also being recorded in the Mykolaiv, Kherson, Chernihiv, Donetsk, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

"Russia is prolonging the war and seeking to harm our people as much as possible. This week alone, Russians have launched more than 1,500 attack drones, nearly 900 guided aerial bombs, and 46 missiles of various types across Ukraine. All in just one week," the President wrote.

Odesa residents are holding strong and hoping for the fastest possible restoration of infrastructure, understanding that tougher challenges may still lie ahead.