The prospect of Ukraine suffering severe power cuts this winter is looming over the whole country in the wake of a Russian campaign to target thermal and hydroelectric plants.

Russian air strikes have severely impacted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leading to the destruction or seizure of over half of Ukraine’s power generation capacity along with widespread blackouts and concerns about future energy supplies, Financial Times (FT) reported today.

Before the invasion, Ukraine boasted one of Europe’s largest domestic energy production capacities, generating around 55 gigawatts of electricity. However, this capacity has plummeted to below 20GW due to Russian attacks and occupation, with power plants being targeted directly.

The EU has expressed alarm over Russia’s destruction of 9.2GW of energy generation since March, prompting efforts to address Ukraine’s urgent energy needs. Recent attacks have focused on power plants and natural gas storage facilities critical for EU customers, raising fears about winter energy security.

The initial aerial bombardment campaign by Russia during the winter of 2022-23 primarily targeted Ukraine’s electrical distribution grid, which officials and experts noted could be repaired relatively easily.

However, the latest onslaught has shifted focus to thermal and hydroelectric power plants, posing significant challenges in terms of repair, reconstruction, or replacement, as stated by officials and experts.