Next heating season will be ‘worst in history,’ Naftogaz chief says
Around 40% of the power generation plants in Ukraine have been damaged by Russia attacks (Photo:REUTERS/Carlos Barri)
This winter will be “the worst in history” due to interruptions in the supply of electricity and heating, the head of Naftogaz of Ukraine, the country’s national state-owned oil and gas company, said in an interview with German newspaper Handelsblatt on Oct. 24.
Yuriy Vitrenko said that around 40% of the power generation plants in Ukraine have been damaged in Russian missile and suicide drone attacks. The attacks have also hit the country’s refineries particularly hard, Vitrenko said.
“Recently, Russia had repeatedly launched attacks on the energy infrastructure in Ukraine, which led to power outages in large parts of the country,” Vitrenko said.
“In the gas sector, Naftogaz has managed to maintain almost the pre-war level. But production keeps coming under fire. Numerous employees have already died – not only because they fought at the front, but also at their workplaces.”
The Russians have been actively shelling energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine during the last two months. Due to the shelling, planned power outages have been started in the country. Ukrainians were also urged to consume electricity more sparingly.
The heating season began in most regions in the last week of October.
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