Following several months of repeated Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure, Ukraine is now able to resume exporting electricity for the first time in six months.”
Starting from last October, Russia launched a sustained and calculated attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, resulting in power cuts and scheduled blackouts that left many towns and cities in darkness during the winter season. As a result, Ukraine was compelled to halt its electricity exports, but it can now resume selling its surplus power again.
Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko has issued an executive order allowing the exports, though local customers remain the top priority. He stated that the system had been generating extra capacity for nearly two months and that there were no limitations imposed on Ukrainians.
On Friday, Mr Halushchenko remarked that the most challenging winter period had passed.
Commencing the export of electricity is the subsequent step, which will enable us to draw in further financial resources for the essential reconstruction of the devastated and impaired energy infrastructure.
He further appreciated the “titanic work” of the engineers and international partners who contributed to the restoration of the system.
As per a report last month, residents throughout Ukraine acknowledged that power supplies were becoming more dependable.
“The city has undergone a transformation. With the restoration of street lights, walking on the city streets is no longer a frightening experience,” stated Inna Shtanko, a young mother from Dnipro.
Nevertheless, Ukrenergo, the operator of Ukraine’s electricity network, cautioned that the country cannot rely on Russian attacks ceasing. Ukrenergo stated on Saturday that since the start of the war, Russia has fired over 1,200 missiles and drones at its energy facilities.
The company referred to this attack as the most massive effort to destroy a European country’s energy system.
During the winter season, citizens in various Ukrainian cities had to use “resilience centres” to stay warm during power outages and frigid temperatures. These centres provided power, heat, as well as essential supplies like food and medicine.
Every one of Ukraine’s thermal and hydroelectric power plants has been impaired since Russia began targeting energy infrastructure.
Additionally, Kyiv has lost authority over Europe’s most extensive nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, which is now under Russian control. Despite these challenges, in June 2022, Ukraine expressed its intention to earn €1.5bn (£1.33bn) from electricity exports to the EU, its primary energy export market since the war’s inception, by the year-end.
As we stand amidst a light covering of freshly fallen winter snow, the sound of electricity crackles overhead through the wires, and Michael runs his gloved fingers over the damaged surface of a massive transformer.
He points to golf ball-sized holes where shrapnel from a Russian missile had penetrated the transformer’s thick walls, and the sharp metal fragments of the missile lay scattered on the ground nearby.
In the distance, other transformers, as large as bungalows, are being enveloped by protective cocoons of concrete and sandbags as a precautionary measure.