KIEV, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine has imposed a state of emergency in its energy sector due to the impact of Russian attacks on energy facilities, Denys Shmyhal, first deputy prime minister and energy minister, said on Friday.

"Our task is coordinated and effective work to stabilize the situation in the energy system as soon as possible, in particular, in the city of Kiev," Shmyhal said on Telegram.

Under the emergency measure, residents will be allowed to access emergency heating shelters at night despite the curfew, Shmyhal said.

The government has also instructed relevant agencies to streamline procedures for connecting backup power equipment to the electricity grid and to redistribute such equipment across regions based on critical need.

State-run companies, including Ukrainian Railways and gas operator Naftogaz, have been ordered to increase electricity imports to at least 50 percent of their total consumption.

Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the energy situation is most difficult in Kiev, Odesa and the central Dnipropetrovsk region.