Russian strikes cripple energy supply in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts
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After the Russian attacks, the most difficult situation with the energy sector is in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts, YASNO energy company CEO Serhiy Kovalenko told Radio Liberty on May 10.
"We have two regions that suffer the most," he said.
“The first is Kharkiv. We have network limitations there. This means that the electricity that is available there cannot be supplied to other parts of Ukraine, so to speak, to the city itself because of network restrictions. And every hour there, about 200,000-250,000 people are without electricity.”
The local grid operator is trying to do this in a fairly balanced way, but it is impossible to supply 100% of the consumers every hour.
Restrictions have also been in place for industrial consumers in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast since March following massive attacks on power facilities.
"We have a different story in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast," said Kovalenko.
“One of the industrial regions has also been subject to industrial restrictions since the March attacks. There are also restrictions there. They apply primarily to industry. These are network restrictions.”
Despite the fact that April and May are the months when energy consumption is among the lowest, there is already a shortage during peak morning and evening consumption hours.
"Of course, for several hours a day, when there is sunshine and solar power plants are operating at full capacity, there may not be a deficit, but in the morning and evening peak hours we already have a deficit," YASNO head said.
"Two more things need to be understood," Kovalenko added.
"First, it is April and May," he said.
“These are the only two months of the whole year when consumption is as low as possible. That is, it is warm, we have long daylight hours, and we have not yet reached the heat wave when all the air conditioners are turned on. So we have to understand that even with low consumption, we already have a deficit.”
Russian attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector
In the spring of 2024, Russia began attacking Ukraine's largest and most powerful energy facilities. As a result, the power system suffered losses:
- The Dnipro HPP lost both power plants. The dam held, but the equipment was destroyed, and it may take years to restore the Dnipro HPP
- In Kharkiv, CHPP-5 was destroyed, and restoring it is like building a new one, which will also take several years
- The Zmiyiv TPP (part of Centrenergo) was destroyed and is also located in Kharkiv Oblast
- DTEK Group (beneficiary - Rinat Akhmetov) said it had lost 80% of its generation
- All power units at Burshtyn and Ladyzhyn TPPs were damaged
- A gas storage facility in western Ukraine was damaged
According to preliminary estimates, the Russian attacks on the Ukrainian power system caused at least 90-100 million euros in damage, taking into account only the company's high-voltage equipment, the head of Ukrenergo, Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, said on March 24.
Energy Minister German Halushchenko said on April 12 that amid Russia's mass attacks on Ukraine's energy system, it is necessary to prepare for any scenario in the spring and summer.
Germany could give Ukraine equipment from closed energy facilities, Halushchenko said on April 21.
Russian troops hit Ukraine's energy infrastructure during the attack in the early hours of April 27.
In particular, infrastructure facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv oblasts were attacked.
Russia attacked electricity generation and transmission facilities in six regions of Ukraine – Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhya, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Vinnytsia oblasts – on May 8.
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