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In photos

Ukraine’s power struggle

To keep the lights on, utility workers risk their lives under Russian fire

Photography by Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Reporting by Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Hanna Arhirova And Dmytro Zhyhinas
The Associated Press

Utility workers in Ukraine are risking their lives as they battle to keep the lights as Russia repeatedly attacks the energy system.

The Associated Press interviewed several of the workers about their jobs and how they have changed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine almost four years ago. All of them agreed to be photographed, but three spoke on condition only their first names be used because of heightened security concerns about their locations.

At least 160 workers have been killed and more than 300 wounded since the start of the war. Yet tens of thousands still head to work each day.

After a long shift, Oleksandr Adamchuk returns home at dusk. A water outage prevents son Sashko, 4, from washing his hands at dinner.
Night is Adamchuk’s only time to hang out with his family and do chores. Sashko helps work on a moped, the family's only means of transportation. Oldest daughter Anna rakes leave in the dark.
Russian fire damaged this substation in Chernihiv, and left behind shrapnel Oleksandr Leheda found near power lines his team was supposed to repair. ‘It’s scary to work near the Russian border,’ Leheda said. Every morning, he says, his wife now repeats to him: ‘Be careful,’ ‘Easy,’ and ‘Mind your step.’
Baby Demyan was born too late to meet his grandfather Dmytro, who died last year in a Russian attack on the thermal power plant where he worked. Dmytro was wearing the watch that now sits beside a photo of him with wife Tetiana and daughter Ekaterina.

War in Ukraine: More from The Globe and Mail

The Decibel podcast

Don’t provoke the soldiers. “If he shouts – do not argue, hide and wait.” These are some of the things captured Ukrainian children are told to do in pamphlets from Russian detention centres. Reporter Janice Dickson spoke with The Decibel about the documents and Russia’s strategy for indoctrinating youth. Subscribe for more episodes.


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