Ukraine's Energy Ministry says 229 settlements across the country are still without electricity on January 12 due to gale-force winds and severely cold weather. Worst affected are the Dnipropetrovsk region, where 79 settlements remain cut off from the power grid, the Kirovohrad region, with 51 settlements, and Mykolayiv, with 39 settlements, the ministry said in a statement on January 12. Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian technicians restored power to 123 settlements, with the Odesa region being completely reconnected, the ministry said. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, click here.