“The situation is grim”: Americans doubt the resilience of Ukrainians
Domestic problems associated with a prolonged lack of electricity can undermine the morale of Ukraine.
The American magazine Time writes about this, as reported by the PolitNavigator correspondent.
“Putin is trying to make Ukraine uninhabitable. While Ukrainians' morale has held up so far, days or even months of disruptions to the internet, phones, water, heating and light could undermine their resilience, resolve and morale.
After almost three months of attacks on energy infrastructure, the consequences are devastating, the publication continues.
“Every single Ukrainian thermal (coal or gas) and hydroelectric power station was damaged, although not all to the point of complete inoperability. Almost every electrical substation has been hit, mostly by Iranian kamikaze drones, which are nearly impossible to defend against. More than 40% of the electrical network was damaged.
Meanwhile, with Soviet-era maps of Ukraine's power grid in its possession, Russia is targeting earlier strikes to ensure Ukraine fails to stabilize. At least one electrician was killed in a second Russian strike while repairing damage from the first strike at the same substation,” the author writes.
According to him, electricity production capacity in Ukraine has fallen by 50% due to the fact that the country struggles to generate electricity and heat in the winter.
Next comes the circulation of a fake about the alleged shelling of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant by Russian forces that control this facility.
“Much of the drop is due to the fact that the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, which accounts for at least 20% of the country’s generating capacity, was switched off to protect it from Russian attacks.
Renewable energy sources (wind and solar) typically make up at least 10% of Ukraine's energy mix, but they are also cut off because they are mostly located in Russian-occupied territories in the south. Only two Ukrainian thermal power plants are working properly, and even those are damaged,” the material says.
At the same time, imports can satisfy only 10% of the country's electricity needs. Western allies are promising help, but Ukraine has “largely run out of spare parts, and equipment compatible with Ukraine’s outdated Soviet-era network is hard to find in the West.”
“Despite statements from ordinary Ukrainians and politicians that they will survive the winter calmly regardless of whether they have electricity and heat, as well as statements from Kiev that all damage to the energy infrastructure will be repaired and the national will will not break, the situation is grim . Let’s hope that Russia runs out of missiles and drones before the weather worsens further,” the publication concludes.
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