Dnipro HPP struggles to recover following catastrophic Russian attack
Five days after the massive Russian attack on the Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plant (DHPP), “debris is still being cleared and experts are assessing the condition of the equipment,” Deputy Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk told Radio Liberty on March 27.
"Teams are on the ground fixing what they can quickly and sourcing replacements for heavily damaged equipment," Hrynchuk detailed. She highlighted the energy sector's status as a prime target, emphasizing the need for robust preparedness and enhanced air defense to safeguard and rehabilitate energy infrastructures.
The attack on March 22 marked the most significant aggression against Ukraine's energy framework since the full-scale invasion began, with the DHPP experiencing unprecedented damage since February 2022. The assault was calculated, targeting essential structural components of the plant and inciting a fire, according to Hrynchuk,
Read also: Russian strikes may force rolling blackouts across Ukraine, expert says
Government sources note the facility was hit at least eight times, affecting key support structures and leading to a series of missile strikes on Zaporizhzhya, the city home to the dam.
It would "take years" to restore the critically damaged Dnipro HPP in Zaporizhzhya, Ukrhydroenergo CEO Ihor Syrota said on March 25.
The scale of the damage is still being unraveled, with significant sections of the plant's machinery room inaccessible due to debris from collapsed infrastructure. The priority remains to dismantle the upper sections to facilitate cleanup and recovery operations.
"It will take years, not days or months, to restore the plant, because more than six missiles hit the HPP-2 station, and the bridge and crane beams were damaged. So the damage is extensive," said Syrota.
The assault has significantly impaired Ukraine's power grid, with a 20% reduction in its regulation capability following the hits on the DHPP, as reported on March 23.
As of March 23, Ukraine has lost approximately 20% of its power grid's regulation capability due to the Russian strikes on the DHPP.
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