Konotop hits fourth day in darkness after drone strikes

Residents of Konotop in Sumy Oblast are entering their fourth day without electricity. The outage began after Russian forces targeted the city's infrastructure, and local authorities confirm the grid has yet to recover.

Mayor Artem Semenikhin told public broadcaster Suspilne that the city remains dark as of the night of October 26 and October 27. He noted that the loss of power has cascaded into other services, leaving most of the population without gas as well. Daily life has shifted to a strict schedule for basic utilities.

According to Semenikhin, the local hospital is now operating on generators to maintain critical functions. Schools have sustained damage in the attacks. Water service is restricted to two daily blocks: from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. outside of those hours, taps run dry for much of the city.

The timeline of the disruption began after 3 a.m. on October 24, when a large-scale drone attack hit energy facilities, a school, and residential homes in the Konotop hromada. That same afternoon, a second drone struck a civilian agricultural business in the district. A 31-year-old farm worker died in that incident, and four others were injured.

Sumyoblenergo, the regional power distribution company, reports that emergency crews are working around the clock to repair the damage. However, the company states that the completion time depends on the security situation and whether crews can safely access the damaged sites. As of now, officials have provided no specific date for when the lights will return.

Semenikhin emphasized the uncertainty facing residents. He stated plainly that there are no forecasts for when power will be restored. The city continues to rely on generators for essential services while repair efforts proceed.