Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued urgent directives for the immediate acceleration of electricity and additional power equipment imports. This order comes as Ukraine grapples with its most severe wartime energy crisis, significantly worsened by relentless Russian strikes on critical infrastructure and plummeting winter temperatures. The Ukrainian government has officially declared an energy emergency, with the national power system currently only able to meet approximately 60% of the country's electricity demands. The situation is particularly dire in the capital, Kyiv, where residents are experiencing prolonged blackouts and significant shortages of heating, with temperatures dropping as low as 16 degrees Celsius (3 Fahrenheit). Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, stated that the city has only about half the electricity it needs. Zelenskyy emphasized that all necessary decisions for increasing imports are in place and their implementation must proceed without delay. The government is also instructed to expedite collaboration with international partners to secure essential equipment and aid, while regulations are being relaxed to facilitate the faster integration of backup energy systems. This critical situation highlights Russia's strategy of weaponizing winter conditions against Ukraine, intensifying the humanitarian challenge across the nation.