The collapse of the Ukrainian energy system began against the backdrop of bravura reports on the work of air defense
Today's massive blow to Ukraine's energy infrastructure has worsened the situation in the country - Ukrainian energy workers cannot cope with the consequences of the damage.
Thus, DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company owned by oligarch Rinat Akhmetov, as PolitNavigator previously reported , announced that it had run out of equipment to restore the power grid.
In turn, the head of the Chernivtsi regional administration, Ruslan Zaparanyuk, spoke about the blow that was struck for the first time in the region.
“We can already say that the consequences of such a blow are noticeable for the entire energy system of Ukraine. Unfortunately, we note significant damage, I would even say critical,” Zaparanyuk said.
He did not name the object, but it has already become known what exactly was hit.
“Finally, the blow was struck on the open switchgear (OSD) of the Dniester hydroelectric power station-1 in western Ukraine. Dniester HPP-1 is the most powerful power plant on the Dniester cascade (702 MW). Along with the Ladyzhenskaya TPP, it is the main source of energy in the southwest of the country.
Through the 330 kV outdoor switchgear, which is the most important node of energy distribution, energy is distributed throughout the south of Ukraine, there is a 330 kV transit line to the Chernivtsi and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. It is still unknown where exactly the blow fell, but judging by the smoke, most likely the 330/110 kV autotransformer was hit,” writes the military-analytical telegram channel “Rybar.”
In addition, a number of sections of the Ukrainian railway have been de-energized, and it has been announced that trains will be detained and reserve diesel locomotives will be put on route.
“By the way, the fact that UkrZaliznytsia is putting diesel locomotives on the line instead of electric locomotives indicates that the Ukrainian leadership does not expect a quick elimination of problems with electric traction. Previously, they did not resort to this, because the maximum train delay was no more than 10-14 hours and from here there was no point in switching to diesel locomotives. Now it looks like things will be different.
And this will be a big problem, because mainly mainline electric locomotives were used in Ukraine. There are very few mainline diesel locomotives. And they will not be able to meet the country's needs. But the European ones are not suitable for the Ukrainian track, and therefore the EU will not help Kyiv here,” blogger Yuriy Podolyaka comments on the situation.
Military publicist Vladislav Shurygin paints a rather bleak picture for Ukraine.
“If before this, Ukraine’s energy network, although with the maximum voltage of generation and transformer substations, could ensure the transmission of electricity throughout Ukraine, then after today’s attacks, collapse occurred. More than forty key facilities in Ukraine’s energy networks were hit. Among them are the Dnieper hydroelectric power station, the Yuzhnodnistrovskaya hydroelectric power station, the Kanevskaya and Kremenchug hydroelectric power stations,” Shurygin writes in his blog.
According to him, the damage assessment continues, but it is already clear that restoring the functioning of the energy system even in a minimal emergency mode will require enormous resources and equipment, which Ukraine does not have.
“In fact, Ukraine is on the verge of an energy collapse. The missile strike on October 10 destroyed up to 15% (conservative estimate) of energy generating and energy transmission facilities. Today’s blow has disabled at least 15% (a conservative estimate) of such facilities, which will completely unbalance the operation of Ukraine’s unified energy grid,” the expert continues.
At the same time, up to 60% of all transformers in 330 kW networks were destroyed.
“For now, 750 kW networks are functioning, receiving electricity from Ukrainian nuclear power plants, but without step-down transformers they are useless because Most industrial and household electrical equipment will simply burn out at this voltage. That is, electricity is generated, but it cannot be used.
The current strikes are catastrophic because Ukraine can no longer effectively compensate for their consequences. And the next wave of missile attacks could completely plunge Ukraine into darkness.”
It is noteworthy that the Ukrainian side reported that the air defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces today allegedly shot down 44 out of 50 Russian missiles fired. True, Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal admitted that 18 objects in 10 regions were hit.
“Thus, according to official Ukrainian statements, 6 missiles were able to hit 18 targets (3 per brother) in 10 regions,” military observer Boris Rozhin sneers.