Ukrainians may face 20 hour long power outages a day in winter
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In worst-case scenario, Ukrainians may spend up to 20 hours a day without electricity and heat next winter, Ukrainian electricity company DTEK reported on June 12.
DTEK noted that such long shutdowns are possible if Russia continues to attack Ukrainian power plants.
According to the BBC, part of the problem is that power plants are difficult and expensive to repair.
Maria Tsaturyan, communications director of the national energy company Ukrenergo, said that some power plants would take years to repair, while others may never be restored.
First Deputy Head of the Energy Ministry, Yuriy Vlasenko, said that a new procedure for applying blackout schedules would be launched in Ukraine on June 8 in a test mode, which would reduce the number of hours without electricity for population.
The Ministry of Energy also reported that a 1000 MW power unit at a nuclear power plant in Ukraine was put into operation ten days earlier than expected.
Deficit in the Ukrainian energy system
Russia has carried out five missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's power system since March 22. Due to the damage, Ukrainian power plants cannot produce as much electricity as before the attacks, Ukrenergo said.
Controlled emergency blackouts were introduced in all regions of Ukraine on May 14 due to a significant electricity shortage.
All major thermal and hydroelectric power plants in Ukraine were damaged by Russian strikes, Ukrenergo reported on May 20.
The company urged consumers to shift the use of powerful electrical appliances to daytime hours, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Russia's goal is a complete blackout in Ukraine, Energy Minister German Halushchenko said during a meeting with EU member state officials at the IAEA on June 6. The energy situation in Ukraine is currently worse than it has been over the past two years.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Russia has destroyed 50% of Ukraine's electricity generation capacity, 73% of large thermal power plants are out of operation due to severe damage and destruction.
According to Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, the situation is much worse than in 2022-2023.
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