Ukraine grapples with power interruptions as winter approaches

11/08/2022 / By Belle Carter

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently claimed that Russia already destroyed about 40 percent of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in 16 regions. As a result, the country is now grappling with power interruptions as winter approaches.

A barrage of Russian cruise missiles and drone strikes hit Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities on October 31. The most recent assault knocked out water and power supplies in apparent retaliation for what Moscow alleged was a Ukrainian attack on its Black Sea fleet. (Related: Much of Kiev without power and water following latest round of missile strikes from Russia.)

In a meeting with European Union Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, Zelensky said that the damaged infrastructure includes “thermal power plants, combined heat and power plants and hydroelectric power plants.” He also said during his recent nightly address that Russia’s targeting of energy infrastructure was a sign of “weakness” as Russian forces fail to make much ground on the frontline.

“The very fact that Russia is resorting to energy terrorism shows the weakness of our enemy,” he claimed. “They cannot beat Ukraine on the battlefield, so they try to break our people this way.”

Rolling blackouts started to increase as Kyiv scrambles to stabilize the power grid and repair the “assaulted” system before winter comes. The power rationing added anger and fear to the Ukrainians who have been suffering for nearly nine months of war.

“When you’re relying on electricity, the worst thing is that you can’t plan. Psychologically it’s very uncomfortable,” Yaroslav Vedmid, a 44-year-old business owner in Bilohorodka said, adding that blackouts are getting longer each day.

Energy companies have been publishing daily interruption schedules to at least allow the citizens to plan ahead.

“Unfortunately, the destruction and damage are serious,” Kyiv region Governor Oleksiy Kuleba said in a social media post. “It is necessary to prepare for emergency power outages for an indefinite period.”

In the nation’s capital city, residents are prepping for the cold weather – stocking up on heaters, blankets, warm clothing and power banks.

Energy security expert: Cities near the front lines will suffer the most

The Associated Press (AP) visited Vedmid in October in the middle of an unscheduled five-hour power outage. A scheduled blackout followed during dinner time.

Every time the power shuts off, the family loses internet service. Because the village also has a weak phone network, the household is often unable to communicate with others.

During the interview, Vedmid told the media outlet that what concerns him most are the months ahead when temperatures could drop to minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus four degrees Fahrenheit) because “it influences our comfort.”

The businessman already ordered a generator to be installed by December. But not all Ukrainians can afford to buy one or the fuel to run it as diesel has doubled in price since the start of the war, a local said.

“The main danger is repeated missile attacks,” said Gennadii Riabtsev, chief researcher on energy security at the National Institute for Strategic Studies. He added that residents of cities near the front lines, such as Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv, will suffer the most from the outages.

Meanwhile, residents near the front lines are getting ready if ever things get worse or worst. Mariia Chupinina, who fosters orphaned children, lives on the fifth floor of an apartment building and takes care of four babies who are less than 12 months old.

“When there’s no electricity, it’s impossible to heat the apartment and every time they leave, they have to walk down five flights of stairs in the dark,” she told AP during a phone call. “If you have not prepared, you don’t have time to fill the Thermos and there’s no warm water or formula.”

Moreover, the nation’s main energy company DTEK said it already ran out of equipment for repairs and the cost of the equipment runs into hundreds of millions of dollars.

Visit EnergySupply.news for more news related to the energy crisis in Ukraine brought about by the ongoing war.

Watch the below video that talks about the blackouts in regions where power stations were attacked by Moscow.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.