Russian strikes, cold weather trigger emergency power cuts amid shortages in Ukraine
Due to increased electricity shortages after Russian strikes and cold weather, Ukraine has implemented emergency outages for industrial and residential consumers across all regions.
Across all regions of Ukraine on 15 May, emergency power outages were implemented during the day due to an electricity shortage, with more controlled blackouts expected on 16 May, reported Ukraine’s electricity transmission system operator Ukrenergo.
Russian troops have repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure this spring. On May 8 alone, the Ministry of Energy reported attacks on electricity generation and transmission facilities across six oblasts: Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Vinnytsia. Following these numerous attacks, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko estimated the damage to the national energy system to exceed $1 billion.
From 6:40 to 9:00 and from 19:25 to 22:00 on 15 May, Ukrenergo’s Dispatch Center implemented controlled emergency outages for industrial and residential consumers across all regions of Ukraine, according to the company’s Facebook post. From 00:00 throughout 16 May, planned limitations will be in effect across Ukraine for residential and industrial consumers as hourly scheduled power outages, the company announced. Critical infrastructure has remained and will remain powered.
The reason cited for restrictions is increased electricity consumption during the cold weather, while Ukrainian power plant capacities are insufficient due to consequences of five Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy system since 22 March.
Earlier, in the evening of 14 May, emergency blackouts were also implemented nationwide.
Ukrenergo stated this measure would help make the outages more predictable for consumers and energy system operations safer. Consumption limits have been conveyed to regional energy companies, with restrictions evenly distributed.
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