An escalating energy crisis is underway in Crimea as blackouts sweep the Russian-occupied Ukrainian peninsula and local Kremlin-installed authorities set up "emergency assistance centers."

Ukraine struck several substations in Crimea overnight on July 5, plunging the Russian-occupied territory into a blackout, social media channels reported.

Overnight Ukrainian attacks on Crimea knocked out power across the entire annexed peninsula, local energy authorities said Monday morning, as a separate strike on Russia’s…