Energy crisis looms as Russian drones disrupt Ukrainian power grid
Russia launched “several waves of Shahed-131/136 kamikaze drones from the south” targeting Ukraine's energy facilities, reported Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces on Telegram on April 12.
"The enemy aimed at the energy infrastructure across various Ukrainian regions, triggering a prolonged response from our air defense units in the south, which lasted about five hours," the report said.
Throughout the night, a total of seven drones were intercepted and neutralized, including four in the Dnipropetrovsk region and one each in the Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa regions.
In an unfortunate incident, debris from a downed drone ignited a fire at an energy site near Kryvyi Rih. Emergency services swiftly responded, and while the fire is under control, the full scale of the damage is currently under evaluation. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries.
On April 11, a Russian missile strike destroyed the most powerful power plant in Kyiv Oblast, the Trypillia Thermal Power Plant (TPP), resulting in a 100% loss of Centrenergo's generation. It is the largest supplier of electricity to Kyiv, Cherkasy and Zhytomyr oblasts. The enterprise spans an area of 281.3 hectares.
Ukraine’s energy system losses since mid-March 2024:
- The Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) lost both of its generating power units. The dam withstood the attack, but the equipment was destroyed, and it may take years to restore the plant
- The CHPP-5 in Kharkiv was destroyed and its restoration it is like building a new one, which will also take several years
- The Zmiyiv TPP (part of Centrenergo) was destroyed. It is also located in Kharkiv Oblast
- Energy giant DTEK Group (beneficiary - Rinat Akhmetov) said it had lost 80% of its generation
- All power units at the Burshtyn and Ladyzhyn TPPs were damaged
- A gas storage facility in western Ukraine was also damaged.
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