Dec. 7, 2025, 6:00 AM ESTBy Elmira AliievaFor some, being trapped in a confined space as zombies leap out with chain saws would be a nightmare. But just 100 miles from the front line with Russia, some Ukrainians see it as a chance to escape bigger problems in everyday life. While officials remain locked in negotiations to end the war, Russian drones and missiles keep pounding Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, plunging entire neighborhoods into darkness as temperatures plunge. At his escape room in Ukraine’s eastern city of Dnipro, Igor Nazarenko is one of many business owners finding new ways to keep things running during the hourslong power outages. An expanded lineup of horror-themed rooms, designed to unfold in twilight or complete darkness, can operate whether the power is on or off, Nazarenko, 38, told NBC News in a telephone interview last month. In Ukraine, escape rooms continue to attract customers despite the disruptions brought by war. Den Polyakov for NBC NewsEscape rooms — immersive experiences where visitors are locked inside an enclosed space and must find clues to make their way out — are “booming in popularity” in Ukraine, Nazarenko said. Nazarenko said his escape-room chain, XRoom, hit a record number of visits last month, even as operating without electricity became increasingly difficult. The business’ escape rooms rely mainly on interactive performances, where hired actors physically engage with the participants, frightening them or giving them clues. With war-related stress now woven into the fabric of his customers’ daily lives, visitors now “want more pain” — and are open to more physical, thrill-seeking experiences that allow them “to switch from everyday worries and feel strong emotions in controlled conditions,” Nazarenko said.“Conveniently, this can be done in the dark and doesn’t require centralized electricity,” he added. Scheduled energy outages are leaving many residents and businesses without light for eight to 16 hours a day. Den Polyakov for NBC NewsAs temperatures drop and the hours of darkness grow longer, Moscow has intensified its bombardment of Ukraine’s power plants and substations — a tactic it has deployed every year since the start of its full-scale invasion in 2022. Winter in Ukraine is typically snowy and cold, with temperatures between December and March sometimes plunging to as low as minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit, according to data from the World Health Organization’s latest winter risk assessment for Ukraine. This year, emergency power cuts have been imposed across Ukraine since early October, in what the Ministry of Energy said were necessary steps to stabilize the grid.
