Ukrainian energy workers carry out repairs even as Russia attacks power grid

Energy workers in war-torn Ukraine are carrying out repairs on the country’s electrical facilities despite Russia targeting the country’s power grid, according to a report by the Associated Press news agency on Friday. the night (November 29).

Since the war between Russia and Ukraine began in late February 2022, repeated Russian attacks on infrastructure have severely affected Ukraine’s energy sector, often leading to rolling blackouts across the country.

On Thursday, Russia launched another large-scale attack against Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities said nearly 200 drones and missiles targeted infrastructure, disrupting power supplies to more than a million people.

Thursday’s Russian attack damaged a DTEK power plant. DTEK operated about 20 percent of Ukraine’s electricity production before the full-scale invasion, but this figure has fallen to 12 percent since the war broke out.

Speaking to the Associated Press, Oleksandr, head of the production management department at a DTEK power plant, said: “This is our life now. Workers at a thermal power plant that supposedly produces electricity walk on frozen ground and use firewood to keep warm. “

Oleksandr said that since the plant was first attacked in November 2022, it has not been able to return to full capacity due to continued attacks that have left critical equipment in ruins.

He added that he expected repairs at the station to continue through the winter into next year, and potentially well beyond.

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“Western countries could also help us with equipment, but their power grids have different characteristics,” Oleksandr added.

Meanwhile, DTEK also claimed that its facilities have been attacked by Russia almost 200 times since 2022. Only half of DTEK’s generation capabilities have been restored from the first attacks on its plants in November 2022 until the latest large-scale attack. scale.

Earlier this week, the United States (US) and the European Commission announced a donation of $112 million in construction equipment and materials to help DTEK prepare for winter.

This comes months after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the G7 and other allied countries allocated more than $4 billion in energy assistance to Ukraine.

(With contributions from agencies)