>> Eight months into the war in
Ukraine, Russia is targeting
Ukraine's civilian
infrastructure.
With attacks on power plants and
energy infrastructure.
President zelenskyy says 4.5
million Americans have no power.
And he says Russia -- he accuses
rush of energy terrorism.
We spoke to the energy minister
about the challenges of keeping
the light and the heat on as the
cold winter begins.
>> Now is the winter of
Ukraine's disconnect.
In the capital, half a million
have no power.
The entire apartment complex
live only by headlights, small
shops lit only by candles.
Ukraine has instituted rolling
blackouts and asked its
population to save electricity.
As residents adjust their eyes,
the adjust their behavior.
Commutes can be illuminated by
cell phone, flowers can be sold
by flashlight.
In the last month, Russia has
targeted Ukraine's energy
infrastructure.
Hundreds of strikes by Iranian
made drones and Russian missiles
have damaged at least one third
of the country's power plants.
Nearly all of its major
substations and distribution
lines.
>> They are losing on the
battlefield, now they are doing
these acts of terror against
civilians.
>> He's Ukraine's energy
minister and member of the
national security council.
>> How large is the challenge
you face?
>> The hardest time for the
energy system right now.
They know what they are hitting,
and are trying to hit the
system.
Not giving us possibility to
maintain it.
>> One analyst described it as
whack a mole.
The Russians will hit some of
the infrastructure, you will fix
it as long as you can, and they
will hit the same infrastructure
again.
Is that how it feels?
>> It is true.
So we already have some
examples.
They hit one capacity with
almost 10 times.
When we restore, they hit it
again, and hit it again.
>> Crews are in the crossfire.
Since the beginning of the war,
50 repairmen have been killed,
more than 100 wounded.
Including by mines that
destroyed a power truck last
week.
Now the largest energy company
warns it is running out of
replacement parts.
Many are soviet era and
difficult to find.
>> It is -- to find this
equipment.
Another issue is how to receive
it.
How quickly we can receive it.
>> You sent lists of items you
need to Brussels, the European
union, as well as Washington,
the U.S. Government.
What has been the response?
>> Absolute support.
We are in everyday
communication, we identify what
we need, what we already
received, what could be received
in the future, how we could
speed up this process.
>> Speed is of the essence.
Computers and communications the
military rely on all need
electricity.
So does the country's heating.
Officials worry some residents
can have no heat this winter.
They insist though they may have
no power, they are not
powerless.
>> I think that is one of the
goals of Russia, to deprive us
heating.
I'm sure they will fail to
achieve these results.
>> Ukraine's energy and heating
remains vulnerable.
Kyiv knows it must find better
protections, perhaps moving
infrastructure underground.
But thinking long-term is
impossible when they are putting
out fires every day.
>> The energy system also
supports to be reconstructed,
taking down the military threat
from Russia.
Even after our victory, Russia
would still be our neighbor.
That means all of the threats
would be for all of our life and
the life of our kids.
We need time to do this.
In our stations, -- system, and
to survive.
>> Survive another day and
another winter.
For the pbs newshour.