Ukrainian energy crisis
[2] As a result of the constant Russian attacks and takeovers of critical Ukrainian facilities, roughly half of all high-voltage substations sustained damage, along with extensive portions of the distribution network.
Even with many nuclear units returning to service combined with anticipated imports of 1.7 GW from the European Union, analysts predicted a potential supply shortfall of 6 GW— equivalent to Denmark's entire average peak demand.
This deficit threatened to extend the duration of rolling blackouts that had already become part of daily life in the summer, potentially disrupting essential services including centralized water supply.
[3] The August 26 Russian assault caused the energy crisis to reach an apex at the time, leaving about eight million Ukrainian households without power and triggering the first unscheduled blackout in Kyiv since November 2022.
[4] Following extensive Russian airstrikes on 17 November, several districts in Odesa Oblast, including Bolhrad and Podilsk, suffered from power outages in their critical infrastructure.
This, in addition to the dismissal of its CEO and subsequent resignation of two Supervisory Board members, made investments towards the ailing energy sector less attractive to potential investors and international allies.
[1] Electrical utilities further struggled with revenue losses from reduced economic activity caused by the war, while facing additional costs from infrastructure repairs and debris removal.
As a result, Ukrainian energy companies accumulated substantial debt, and government subsidies for heating costs placed severe strain on its fiscal resources.
[2] The energy crisis posed significant challenges to the Ukrainian education sector, as schools required substantial infrastructure upgrades to maintain operations during power outages.
Analysts stated that while Summer 2024's warm weather and extended daylight hours partially masked the full extent of its infrastructure damage, the approaching winter— with average temperatures ranging from -4.8°C to 2°C while reaching as low as -20°C between December and March— threatened to starkly expose the system's vulnerabilities.
Major metropolitan areas including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Zhytomyr developed emergency power systems for critical infrastructure, focusing on maintaining water supply, heating, and sanitation services.
The UN noted that residents of high-rise urban buildings, disabled individuals, elderly citizens, and the 3.6 million internally displaced people within Ukraine were especially vulnerable during extended power outages in sub-zero conditions.
UN officials urged that European nations and the United States continue their current humanitarian assistance to prevent the worsening of healthcare failure, civilian casualties, and psychological trauma caused by Russian destruction of energy infrastructure and its impacts.
