In cold weather, power outages are inevitable even if there is no new shelling. This was stated by the head of Zaporizhzhyaoblenergo, Andriy Stasevsky, reports [Kommersant].
According to him, the likelihood of such a scenario is high even if the announced plans to restore generation are implemented.
“I believe that blackouts are inevitable in cold weather, even if many plans to restore generation are implemented. Theoretically, the number of hours without power in winter is about the same as in the heat of summer,” said the head of the power company.
He noted that power outages are almost inevitable, even if there is no new Russian shelling of power plants and substations of distribution and trunk networks.
“Even without new shelling of power plants and distribution systems, the energy system will definitely have a deficit in the next two to three years, and there is nothing to cover it in full. So Ukrainians should prepare for life with blackouts, at least in cold and hot weather. Of course, no one has promised no more shelling. And it’s not a question of “if”, it’s a question of “when” and how seriously. Several types of weapons are flying to Zaporizhzhia. And now there are also unmanned aerial vehicles, which cannot be shot down,” said Andriy Stasevsky.
As a reminder, on 22 March 2024, Russia resumed its attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector, carrying out the most massive shelling in the entire period of the full-scale war. During the second wave on 29 March, Dniproges and other Ukrainian energy facilities were hit. Since then, Russia has been regularly shelling Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
For example, the Russians destroyed the Trypillia and Zmiiv thermal power plants, causing Centrenergo to lose 100% of its generation. Also, 5 of DTEK’s 6 thermal power plants were severely damaged.
After that, power outages started again in Ukraine, Ukrenergo introduced blackout schedules and the government raised electricity tariffs by 60% at once.
At the same time, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to build two new units at the Khmelnytsky NPP and has already received the approval of the relevant parliamentary committee. The Razumkov Centre criticised these plans.
Russia launched another massive attack on the Ukrainian energy sector on 26 August. This time, they attacked distribution and electricity supply systems, and also hit the Kyiv hydroelectric power station.
Some experts believe that the blackouts could last until spring. The National Security and Defence Council’s Disinformation Countermeasures Centre recently voiced a worst-case scenario that envisages blackouts of up to 20 hours a day.
Authors – Roman Shevchenko, Oksana Shcherbak