Massive electricity problems across Ukraine. Following recent Russian attacks on critical infrastructure, including power plants and thermal power stations, there have been dramatic power supply problems in many regions of the country for several days. Kyiv has been struggling with power cuts for nearly a week. In some districts of the capital, electricity appears for only a few hours a day. Businesses are also experiencing problems.
Kiev in the dark
Over the weekend, Moscow attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure facilities in five regions. Due to the damage and power shortages in Kyiv, for example, power now appears for only a few hours a day. Today, in the very center of the city, near Independence Square, electricity is only available for two hours during the day and for two hours at night, says Volodymyr Kudrytsky, president of Ukrenergo.
The energy deficit is so great that it is not just during the day, but even at night. This is also due to the high temperatures and the increased need to use air conditioning. We do not have enough electricity either from our own production or from foreign imports. The good news is that we are increasing our energy purchases from Europe. We are now buying twice as much of it as before, but unfortunately, even this is not enough to avoid electricity problems.
Electricity for Ukraine flows from Europe, but it is scarce
In order for the country and Kyiv itself to function, Ukraine takes emergency energy from other countries including, for example, Slovakia.
Faced with this situation, the Ukrainian government has decided to increase electricity charges for the country’s citizens and businesses. Since 1 June, electricity prices have doubled.