Russia's Attempts to Disrupt Ukraine's Energy Grid this Winter: Ukrainians Prepared for the Worst
Despite the devastating attacks on Ukraine's power grid last year, Oleksandr Gindyuk remains determined to protect his family from potential electricity failures this winter Proactively, he has invested in air defenses, generators, and batteries
Oleksandr Gindyuk is determined to be prepared in case there is another electricity supply failure this winter. Last year, when Russia launched numerous airstrikes on Ukraine's power grid, causing extensive rolling blackouts, Gindyuk's wife had just given birth to their second daughter.
"It was a challenging time," Gindyuk, who resides with his family in the outskirts of Kyiv, shared with CNN. "Our household cannot function without electricity. Without it, we have no access to water, light, or heating."
He spent the summer getting ready for Russia to replicate its strategy, aiming to spread fear and make life unlivable by depriving Ukrainians of essential services like heat, water, and healthcare. "We are fully prepared - we have a diesel generator and a high-capacity 9 kWh battery. We are not afraid, we are prepared," Gindyuk shared with CNN.
As families like the Gindyuks brace themselves for the potential of another harsh winter, Ukraine has been working urgently to reconstruct and safeguard its vulnerable energy infrastructure.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, following their press-conference in Kyiv on May 9.
Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images
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Ukraine's power grid found relief during the summer as Russia directed its attacks towards military targets and ports located on the Black Sea and the Danube River. These attacks aimed to impede Ukraine's grain movement and disrupt a vital source of income.
With the days becoming shorter and temperatures dropping, Russia now has the chance to test Ukrainian resilience by inflicting severe blackouts. However, both defense and energy officials claim that Ukraine is now more equipped to handle such situations during this winter.
Last year, due to the limited presence of Ukrainian air defenses, Russia was able to easily target and damage the energy grid. However, this time, the deputy chief of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, Vadym Skibitsky, states that it will be more challenging for Russia to carry out similar attacks. He explains that the Russians may employ a combination of missile weapons and attack UAVs, making the attacks more sophisticated than before. As a result, achieving their desired outcome will be difficult for Russia, as Ukraine is also preparing and studying their tactics.
DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, has dedicated the last seven months to the restoration of infrastructure, increasing output, and strengthening defenses at its facilities throughout the country. "We have successfully restored what was possible, procured backup equipment, and implemented security measures around our power plants," commented DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko in an interview with CNN.
Destruction caused by a Russian attack is seen at one of DTEK's electricity facilities.
DTEK, a Ukrainian company, is responsible for producing approximately 25% of Ukraine's electricity and operating 40% of its grid network, making it a prime target for Russian attacks. According to the company, four DTEK employees have lost their lives while on duty, and the company's power stations have experienced nearly 300 attacks since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Timchenko, the company's representative, stated that despite the challenges, their determination helped them survive the previous winter, and this winter they are even stronger and more experienced.
According to DTEK, Ukraine's energy system was targeted in 1,200 attacks by Russia between October 2022 and April 2023, resulting in damage to every thermal power and hydroelectric plant in the country.
In a June damage assessment report, the United Nations Development Programme stated that Ukraine's power generation capacity had been severely diminished, now functioning at only half of its pre-invasion levels by Russia. A news release issued with the report noted that Ukraine's power system is currently operating in an emergency mode, impacting both power grids and generation.
The report also presented a plan for revitalizing the energy sector, with a focus on decentralization, renewable energy sources, and stronger collaboration with the European Union. Ukraine has been connected to the power grid of the EU since the full-scale invasion, enabling it to synchronize and trade electricity with the bloc. However, the significant wave of attacks on energy infrastructure in the past winter disrupted this equilibrium.
Air defenses call
The focus currently lies on safeguarding the present infrastructure rather than reconstructing.
Ukraine's national energy company, Ukrenergo, has constructed physical barriers around its high-voltage electricity transmission network. The aim, according to Ukrenergo Chairman Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, is to render Russian missile and drone attacks ineffective, forcing the enemy to abandon this strategy.
There has been a concerted effort to safeguard critical buildings against potential damage from falling debris by utilizing sandbags and metal cages. Additionally, protective structures are being built around vital energy equipment to counteract the threat of loitering munitions. However, it is essential to recognize that these measures alone cannot replace the need for additional air defense systems. This sentiment is echoed throughout various levels of government and within the energy industry.
Ukrenergo chairman Volodymyr Kudrytskyi shows some of the new equipment his company will use this winter.
Ukrenergo
Kudrytskyi emphasized that air defense is the crucial element for protecting energy infrastructure. Ukrenergo has managed to repair a portion of the damage caused last year and is prepared to transmit the higher electricity volumes required for the winter season. Kudrytskyi highlighted the extensive effort required to fully restore the high-voltage grids, as nearly half of them were disabled following the attacks last season, taking several months or even years to complete.
The company has also made preparations for equipment reserves, trained repair teams and dispatchers to handle the consequences of potential attacks, and established backup power supply chains for consumers.
Buying up generators, batteries
Oleksandr Prokhorenko, the CEO of an electrical engineering firm specializing in energy storage systems installation across Ukraine, has witnessed a substantial surge in demand as individuals proactively seek off-the-grid solutions to prepare for power outages.
Property management companies for high-rise apartments have invested in generators and rechargeable accumulators, also known as secondary batteries, to ensure uninterrupted water pumping and elevator operation. Likewise, businesses have upgraded to larger generators capable of sustaining extended periods of illumination.
Kateryna Serzhan's daughter, Varvara, with the family's heavy-duty rechargeable battery.
Hospitals have made preparations for power outages as well. As stated by the Ukrainian health ministry, all hospitals with in-patient facilities are equipped with generators to ensure the continuous operation of life-saving equipment. However, extended periods without electrical power might result in a reduction of care.
"People are still buying generators, portable power stations, and batteries for the winter," Prokhorenko informed CNN.
Kateryna Serzhan is one of those preparing for the upcoming months. Last winter, she and her two-year-old daughter chose to stay in the Spanish city of Valencia to avoid power outages, even though it meant being separated from her husband. However, this year she is committed to remaining in Ukraine.
Serzhan affirmed her awareness of the risks and, after purchasing a robust rechargeable battery, feels adequately equipped for any potential hardships. "In the event of a dark and frigid winter, we're fully prepared. The foremost priority is that we remain united as a family," she expressed to CNN. "I refuse to allow the Russians the chance to tear us apart once more."
