Ukraine's National Energy Company has urged citizens to be prepared for power outages due to expected power cuts due to Russian missile strikes.
Russian missiles hit energy facilities again on Wednesday, part of a series of attacks since October 10.
Grid operator Ukrainergo said Thursday's simultaneous outages of up to four hours would affect the entire country.
This comes at a time when Russia has announced the imposition of martial law in the areas of Ukraine it has occupied.
Strict security measures have also been implemented in Russia, mostly in areas bordering Ukraine.
Ukrainians are urged to stock up on water and make sure they have 'warm socks and blankets and hugs from family and friends to prepare for the blackout.
People have been told that they need to charge phones, power banks, flashlights, and batteries.
According to Oleksandr Kharchenko, adviser to Ukraine's energy minister, 40 percent of the country's energy infrastructure has been badly damaged.
President Vladimir Zelensky said three power plants were destroyed on Wednesday and energy companies were preparing for "all possible scenarios" for the winter. He was to address a meeting of European Union leaders, who are trying to reach an agreement to lower gas prices.
Power installations in Kriviyreh in central Ukraine and Bryshtin in the west were severely damaged. Ukrainergo said it was the highest number of attacks in the past 10 days since the February 24 attack by Russia.
Ukrainergo said it would use "controlled, calculated consumption restrictions" and warned that power cuts could occur across Ukraine from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Citizens are advised to check the websites of regional network operators to see how this will apply to them.
Periodic power outages have already affected parts of the capital Kyiv and many other regions of Ukraine. Russian missiles have damaged infrastructure across Ukraine, including in cities such as Lviv in the west.
Authorities have urged Ukrainian citizens to reduce electricity use in the evening.
"We do not deny that with the onset of cold weather we will be asking you for help more often," said Ukrainergo.
Western leaders have condemned attacks on Ukrainian civilian and power facilities.
EU Commission President Ursula van der Leyen tweeted that "Russia's attacks on civilian infrastructure, especially electricity systems, are war crimes.
"Keeping men, women, and children away from water, electricity, and heat with the onset of cold - these are acts of pure terrorism."
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