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Russia has switched to targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in areas that lack air protection, but didn’t give up the idea of using expensive but precise ballistic missiles for such attacks.
“Had it not been for the warm weather, energy imports from the EU and an increase in renewable energy generation, Ukraine would have experienced widespread blackouts, as it did in 2022-23,” said Maxim Timchenko, chief executive of DTEK, Ukraine’s largest energy producer in a comment for FT.
Moreover, Ukrainian government says the damage that the aggressor has inflicted is already worse than the damage caused in the winter of 2022-23, in many cases it is irreparable or requires too much time.
According to Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal, Russia has destroyed 80% of thermal power plants in recent weeks.
The article also notes that the same number of missiles used in the winter attack in 2022-2023 are now concentrated on 5-6 energy facilities in one region to cut it off from the power supply. In addition to that, the missiles they use for this purpose are now ballistic missiles Russia is ready to spend more money on, knowing Ukraine lacks Patriots to protect these regions.
Besides calling on the West to provide Ukraine with Patriots immediately, experts agree that in the long-run Ukraine should also turn to renewable energy as it would be more difficult for Russia to disable wind and solar power stations scattered throughout the state.
Between March 22 and 29, Russia targeted seven thermal power stations, including TPP-5 in the Kharkiv region which is now completely shut down. The city is now supplied with the energy from other regions and continues to suffer regular attacks and, as a result, blackouts.
Read also: Drones attacked Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant — IAEA
