Ukraine tries to survive after Russian attacks on critical infrastructure / Article

In the 768 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Federation has damaged and destroyed 10 critical Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities. In 2022, thermal power plants were partially destroyed in Okhtyrka in the Sumy region, in Chernihiv in the Donetsk-Luhansk region, and in Kherson.

Thermal power plants (TPP) were completely destroyed in June 2023, when Russian forces blew up the Kahovka hydroelectric plant (HEP) in the Kherson region. On March 22, 2024, thermal power plants in Kharkiv and Zmiyiv in Kharkiv region were completely destroyed by various attacks. Damage was caused to the Burshtinsk and Ladizhinsk thermal power plants in eastern Ukraine.

The head of “NEK Ukrenergo” Vladimirs Kudrickis is convinced that Ukraine has faced a new format of war, when the rear is purposefully destroyed.

“This is a new format of war. Now it is not necessary to destroy all tanks, planes or enemy soldiers. You can destroy ten substations or power plants and the rear. But without the rear, the front will not be able to work.”

As a result of a missile strike on March 22, the Dniprovka HPP in Zaporizhzhya was badly damaged and is currently out of order. Out of 10 operating HPPs, four are located on the Dnieper River. If even one of them is destroyed, there is a risk of flooding the surrounding areas.

In the event that Russian troops destroy the Dnistrovka HPP, there is a risk of flooding Moldova and possibly even Romania.

The only way to defend critical infrastructure is air defense systems, which are sorely lacking in Ukraine. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has announced that all partners have been informed about this.

“We have given all the necessary signals to the partners: all the specific requests to the partners who have air defense systems and missiles. Everyone knows how important it is for us now to defend against these attacks.”

The damage caused by Russian troops to Ukrainian high-voltage equipment has reached 100 million euros. It will take several years to restore the energy facilities.

Meanwhile, energy expert Juris Ozoliņš believes that it is not a matter of ten critical infrastructure objects, but tens of tens, because continuous attacks and survival are taking place on the thousand-kilometer long front line.

Ozoliņš believes that it is easy to imagine if Riga had no central heating and electricity only for a few hours a day.

“Could there be a flood? Of course.

Ukraine has been trying to survive for two years. And it is very difficult to talk about energy independence, but one can admire the entrepreneurship and stubbornness of the Ukrainian people.

Currently, they have actively started preparations for the next winter season, pumping gas into underground storages and preparing coal stocks. So everything that happens at the front also happens in the energy systems. These are like two twins – the army and energy companies”.

Ozoliņš believes that the situation is dramatic and reminds once again that if we want to see the Ukrainians win, we must pay attention to the entire broad situation both on the front, in the economy and in aid to Ukraine.