“The people who live in Kherson must get out of the most dangerous zone [combat] operations, because the civilian population should not suffer from bombings, attacks, counter-attacks or any other kind of military operations,” the Russian president told a group of volunteers from patriotic organizations in Red Square on Friday. The comments were the first time Putin publicly called for the evacuation of civilians – which aides have been urging in recent weeks – and apparently acknowledged that fighting had reached Kherson, the only regional capital Russia has captured in its eight-month invasion of Ukraine . As the Russian military retreats in the south, it has continued to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving nearly 5 million people without power as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the Kremlin of resorting to “energy terror.” The outages are the result of massive Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian power facilities in recent weeks that have plunged much of Kiev and the rest of the country into nighttime darkness. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Friday that 450,000 residents of the capital were without power. The attacks began last month as Ukrainian advances in the east and south of the country forced Russian troops to retreat. Russia has continued to lose ground to Ukraine’s larger, better-equipped forces in Kherson despite annexing the surrounding province and three other areas of southeastern Ukraine in September. Putin declared martial law in the four regions last month, giving officials additional powers, including the ability to forcibly evacuate civilians. Officials stationed in Russia have repeatedly called on locals to leave Kherson province west of the Dnipro River in recent weeks. Zelensky used his Thursday night speech to urge Ukrainians to be frugal with the power they had. “To endure the Russian energy scare. . . it’s our national duty, one of the main ones now,” he said, adding that 4.5 million consumers have been temporarily disconnected. He continued: “They cannot defeat Ukraine on the battlefield, and that is why they are trying to break our people in this way – to humiliate the Ukrainians, to hit the morale of our people, the resistance of our people.” The absence of heating and light comes as Ukraine enters winter, when temperatures can drop well below freezing. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu admitted this week that his country’s armed forces were targeting critical infrastructure in an effort to “neutralize military infrastructure facilities, as well as facilities affecting the reduction of Ukraine’s military capability.” Recommended The impact of Russia’s attacks is visible in Kyiv. Missile craters were quickly filled and windows were shattered. But after sunset, the city descends into eerie blackness. Street lights and business signs remain off, candles flicker in windows and people walk the streets with torches, their faces illuminated only by smartphone screens. Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said last month that Russia’s attacks had destroyed 50 percent of the country’s thermal output and 30 to 40 percent of the national electricity infrastructure. The power outages have also affected businesses, some of which were forced to close during the blackouts. A major supermarket was forced to cancel dozens of delivery orders after the power went out and was unable to process card payments. However, sporting goods and electronics stores have been flooded with customers. Oleh Mrichko, a manager at the Gorgany sporting goods store in Kyiv, said more people were coming “after every drone and missile attack.” “They come in to buy them,” he said, gesturing to a shelf of lamps and portable cooking stoves. Customers have also been provided with down jackets, gloves, hats, torches, tarps, fire extinguishers, woolen socks and hand warmers.