Ukraine secures dozens of power substations, plans protection for 120 more by March
Ukraine’s State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development Chief Serhii Sukhomlyn (Photo: NV)
Ukraine’s State Agency for Restoration has completed protective measures at 46 Ukrenergo facilities across 22 substations, plans to finish similar protection at 120 more facilities by March, Interfax-Ukraine reported on Jan. 30.
The publication cited the agency’s head, Serhii Sukhomlyn's statements at the public reporting event for donors on the agency’s 2025 performance and its priorities for 2026.
“As of today, we have completed protection at 22 Ukrenergo substations — a total of 46 facilities," he said.
"The construction period took two years. One indicator is especially important for us: during strikes on these sites — and there were days with up to 12 direct Shahed UAVs hits — not a single transformer was destroyed.”
He added that the agency has also received a government directive to implement similar protective measures at facilities operated by electricity distribution companies and plans to complete work at 120 more sites.
“In October, when we saw that Russia was targeting smaller distribution infrastructure, a decision was made to introduce the same level of protection there," Sukhomlyn explained.
"Construction began in mid-November, and at some sites in December. Work is being carried out in at least two shifts. By March, we must complete all 120 facilities covered by the government directive.”
He noted that, for example, in Chernihiv Oblast air raid alerts last an average of 13.5 hours per day. Despite frequent strikes on infrastructure and a large amount of equipment destruction, there have been no casualties.
Sukhomlyn added that the agency received another government instruction a week ago to procure backup power generators that can be quickly connected to heating and water supply facilities.
“So far, the first nearly 12 MW have already been delivered to Kyiv,” he said.
Sukhomlyn added that Italy has transferred industrial boilers, possessing about 120 MW to frontline communities.
On Jan. 31, 2026, DTEK reported emergency power outages in Kyiv and several other oblasts.
In Kyiv and Kharkiv, metro systems were shut down due to a lack of voltage in the grid. The capital also experienced a citywide water outage. Ukrzaliznytsia later reported that rail operations had been stabilized, although trains were running with delays.
Power grid issues in Ukraine also caused voltage drops in Moldova, leading to emergency outages, including in Chisinau and other major cities.
Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal later said the mass outages were caused by a technical malfunction and the simultaneous shutdown of a 400 kV line between the Romanian and Moldovan energy systems. A 750 kV line connecting western and central Ukraine also faced outage.
At the same time, Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation said the emergency was not the result of a cyberattack.
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