Ukraine has lost 70% of its energy generation because of Russian actions

More than 70% of Ukraine's energy generation facilities have been destroyed, damaged, or seized, the Razumkov Center's energy programs director, Volodymyr Omelchenko, said on national radio.

"Infrastructure worth billions of dollars was damaged - the Dnipro HPP suffered most of all,” he said.

“This is really a huge loss for Ukraine. It should be emphasized that the Dnipro HPP is a power plant that played a significant role in balancing our energy system. We already experience a shortage of maneuvering capabilities, so its loss is very noticeable."

Russia, in fact, violated the Geneva Convention, which prohibits attacking nuclear facilities and hydroelectric power plants.

Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland can help Ukraine, he added.

"We have no information whether there is any electricity shortage in the European Union; usually the electricity market in the EU is in surplus, especially in May," he said.

"I think this will be the case in the summer as well, since a lot of solar and wind power plants have been built in the European Union. So, I don't expect them to be unable to help us in the spring or summer – but some problems may arise in winter or autumn."

Omelchenko spoke about how Europe could help.

"Ukraine does not require huge power supplies," he said.

"Ukraine is going to conduct negotiations with the EU System Operators Organization (ENTSO-E) on increasing the limit on electricity imports - from 1.7 thousand MW to at least 2.5-3 thousand MW, and that will play a vital role for the country. It is physically tangible, but ENTSO-E should support it."

Less than 30% of Ukraine’s total energy generation capacity before Russia's full-scale invasion remains, Omelchenko noted.

"That's why today the energy system is on the verge of scheduled blackouts," he said.

"Already today (May 8) in the evening, they will be applied from 6 to 11 p.m. for industry and commercial subjects. Will they affect the population? This is not yet known. Everything will depend on the consumption level during this period."

A large number of small power plants are being imported from different countries, especially in Europe, which must be connected to the power grids as soon as possible.

Ukrainians will face a similar situation as in 2022-23, perhaps even tougher, he predicted.

"More than 70% of all Ukrainian generation has already been destroyed, damaged, or located in occupied territories," he said.

"It is impossible to restore it in such a short period - therefore, it is necessary to stimulate the population to save energy. This is not only about using LED lamps and smart sockets, demand management has to be applied.”

He had some advice about specific measures Ukrainians can take.

“Energy-consuming devices should be used less during the peak period," he said.

"One tip is who can buy accumulators to charge them at night, for example, and use during peak hours. This would help our energy system and the citizens themselves."

Russia began attacking Ukraine's largest and most powerful energy facilities in the spring of 2024. This caused significant losses to the energy system:

Read also: Assessing Ukrainian businesses’ generating potential amid Russian attacks

Both power stations of the Dnipro HPP were lost. While the dam survived, the equipment was destroyed, and it may take years to restore the facility.

The TPP-5 in Kharkiv was destroyed, requiring reconstruction equivalent to building a new plant, a task that requires several years.

Kharkiv Oblast's Zmiivska TPP (Centrenergo) was destroyed.

DTEK Group (owned by Rinat Akhmetov) reported an 80% loss in generation.

All units of the Burshtyn and Ladyzhyn TPPs were damaged.

A gas storage facility in western Ukraine also suffered damage.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine