Electricity supply in Ukraine: all thermal and hydroelectric power plants damaged

Ukraine is preparing for a harsh winter with massive power supply problems. According to Prime Minister Schmyhal, all thermal and hydroelectric power plants have been damaged by Russian attacks. Electricity imports are not sufficient.

Because of the Russian attacks on the Ukrainian power grid, people can expect power cuts throughout the winter. Although the situation is currently under control, there are still shortcomings in the power supply due to the damage, Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal said. “All thermal and hydroelectric power plants in the country were damaged.” In addition, about 40 percent of the high-voltage network systems were destroyed to varying degrees.

“Therefore, the restrictions in the power supply are still significant in most regions,” he summed up. “Let’s face it, this winter we will constantly live in the conditions of limited electricity consumption,” he said, according to the state agency Unian.

Critical infrastructure has priority

Priorities would have to be set. Priority is given to critical infrastructure such as hospitals and water and heat supply, followed by the military-industrial complex.

Only in third place are critical supply objects such as bakeries or dairies. Supplying the civilian population with electricity is only in fourth place.

Volodymyr Kudryzkyj, head of the state electricity network operator Ukrenerho, had previously pointed out the problems. The electricity deficit can be compensated for in part with measures such as electricity imports, “but not completely”.

Cherson, Donetsk and Kharkiv particularly affected

The regions of Cherson, Donetsk and Kharkiv are particularly affected. According to the state energy supplier Ukrenergo, the energy infrastructure around Cherson in southern Ukraine in particular has been “virtually destroyed”.

“More than a thousand rockets and drones” have been fired by Russia since October 10, said Ukrenergo boss Volodymyr Kudrytskyi. “Works in Kharkiv and Donetsk are also complicated,” he added – the regions bordering Russia are still fiercely contested.

Russia attacks the power plants and distribution networks with artillery almost every day, Prime Minister Shmyhal said. On site, “the situation is further complicated by the weather conditions, which are slowing down the repair work,” he stressed.

Russia: Attacks on energy infrastructure

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his army will continue attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in retaliation for the Crimean bridge blast that Moscow blames on Kiev.

In recent weeks, Russia has repeatedly launched rocket attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. As a result, the power supply in large parts of the country collapsed. In the meantime, it has been possible to supply the population with electricity at least by the hour.