Ukraine scrambles to restore power after Russian attacks reduce generating capacity to zero, with widespread blackouts and nuclear safety concerns
KYIV: Ukraine is scrambling to restore electricity and heating after Russian attacks reduced the country’s power generation capacity to zero.
State power provider Centerenergo confirmed its generating capacity “is down to zero” following overnight attacks involving hundreds of drones and missiles.
“An unprecedented number of missiles and countless drones – several per minute – targeted the same thermal power plants that we had restored after the devastating attack of 2024,” Centerenergo stated.
Power cuts lasting 8 to 16 hours daily were implemented across most regions as repairs continued and energy sourcing was diverted.
Ukraine’s Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk described the situation as “one of the most difficult nights of the entire full-scale war.”
She noted that ballistic missiles, which are extremely difficult to shoot down, caused massive damage to energy facilities.
Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Poltava, Chernigiv and Sumy regions continue experiencing regular power cuts.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported Russian drones targeted two nuclear power substations serving the Khmelnytskyi and Rivne nuclear plants.
“Russia is deliberately endangering nuclear safety in Europe,” Sybiha wrote, calling for an urgent IAEA Board of Governors meeting.
Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted 406 of 458 drones and 9 of 45 missiles launched during the attack.
The overnight barrage marked the ninth massive attack on gas infrastructure since early October, according to Naftogaz.
Kyiv School of Economics estimated the attacks shut down half of Ukraine’s natural gas production.
Energy expert Oleksandr Kharchenko warned of potential “technological disaster” if Kyiv’s heating plants go offline during extreme cold.
Ukrainian cities, which rely heavily on central heating, are preparing contingency plans to prevent building freezes.
Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian oil depots and refineries in recent months, targeting Moscow’s energy exports.
Russia extended its petrol export ban until end-October to address fuel shortages following Ukrainian refinery attacks. – AFP
