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Under conditions of a cold winter and attacks on nuclear power plants, Ukraine could face power outages of up to 20 hours per day.
This is reported by Politico, citing the opinions of energy experts.
Every winter during the war in Ukraine has been difficult, but the upcoming season follows months of Russian airstrikes on energy infrastructure.
Only in late August, Russia launched over 200 missiles and drones at energy facilities, concluding a campaign that reduced Ukraine’s electricity generation capacity by more than 9 GW, according to Hennadiy Ryabtsev, chief researcher at the National Institute for Strategic Studies of Ukraine and an energy market expert. This represents a loss of eight power plants and over 800 heating facilities.
“The most realistic scenario” the country will face this winter, according to Ryabtsev, includes restrictions on “electricity supply for industries and households for 8-14 hours a day.”
In conditions of severe cold and new strikes on the nuclear power supply system, Ukraine could experience power outages of up to 20 hours per day, says Oleksandr Kharchenko, head of the Energy Research Center and advisor to the Ukrainian government on energy issues.
This would mean a lack of heating in homes, halting critical war-related factories, and prompting Ukrainians to flee abroad in search of shelter.
“I am very worried,” said Viktoria Gryb, an independent Ukrainian MP who chairs the parliamentary subcommittee on energy security. “The situation is truly critical, and I hope that international partners will provide us assistance as soon as possible.”
This assessment is shared by Ukraine’s allies as Kyiv appeals for immediate aid.
“We expect a very harsh winter,” said a senior U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity for candid discussion. “People will die in their homes because Russia is destroying the energy infrastructure.”
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