[1] During the first five-year plan, the Soviet government adopted a resolution to build a new power plant in the Donbas, in the south of Krasnoarmiiskyi (now Pokrovsk Raion).

[3] In 1933, "Donenergo" identified, and on 15 August 1934, "Golovenergo" of the USSR People's Commissariat for Heavy Industry approved, the site for future construction on the Vovcha River, 15 km from the village of Kurakhivka.

On 20 December 1937, the Government of the USSR passed a resolution to complete the construction of the first stage of the Kurakhivska GRES in the second half of 1939 and to commission two turbines with a capacity of about 50 thousand kW each.

When Nazi forces advanced toward Donetsk, a number of residents and plant workers organized defense efforts.

On October 20, 1941, Nazi forces captured Kurakhove, and many local residents who could not evacuate engaged in resistance efforts against occupation, including sabotage and support for partisan groups.

However, the retreating Nazis left the town in ruins, destroying much of its infrastructure, including the power plant.

[7] During the expansion of the Kurakhivska TPP territory, 18 nomadic burials of the 12th century were excavated in the ‘Great Grave’ mound in 1969, in which chainmail, a dagger, a saber, and a quiver with arrows were found.

It introduced several innovations, including the first hydrogen-cooled generators, powerful air circuit breakers, and other technical advancements.

[11] Since 2007, DTEK Corporation has been reconstructing existing power units in order to increase capacity and improve the reliability of equipment.

[15] On 17 October 2022, in the morning, the Russian forces launched a series of missile strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, including the Kurakhove TPP.

[16][17][18] In February 2023, the State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine prevented a terrorist plot by a collaborating ex-law enforcement officer from Donetsk Oblast, who planned to carry out sabotage at the plant by detonating explosive devices and ammunition with an accomplice.

[28] Due to the heavy shelling by Russian forces, the power plant was rendered entirely inoperable in March 2024,[29] as the railway bridge for coal transport was destroyed.

[28] After the evacuation, Russian forces continued shelling of the plant site during the Battle of Kurakhove in late November, damaging two cooling towers.