Ukraine says 500 settlements without power as energy consumption hits record

FILE PHOTO: A view shows an energy facility damaged by a Russian military strike earlier this year, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in an undisclosed location, Ukraine August 22, 2023. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich/File Photo

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian energy consumption hovered near record highs on Friday, increasing strains on the fragile power sector as nearly 500 settlements faced blackouts due to Russian shelling, air strikes and bad weather, officials said.

Ukraine, an exporter of electricity before Russia's invasion in February 2022, has been forced to turn to emergency power imports from neighbouring Romania and Poland this week to meet demand, grid operator Ukrenergo said.