In a recent resurgence of energy-related terror, Russia has resumed targeting crucial energy infrastructure in various Ukrainian cities. Among the areas under fire are the Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and Dnipro regions, as well as the Khmelnytskyi and Vinnytsia regions.
The assaults have been multi-faceted, employing tactics such as kamikaze drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. In Kharkiv, for instance, Russian forces aimed to cripple every major energy facility, leaving approximately 700,000 residents without electricity, as reported by Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, Chairman of the Board at Ukrenergo, in a statement to The Associated Press.
These attacks have taken a considerable financial toll on the Ukrainian energy system, with damages estimated at a substantial €100 million. Despite the efforts of energy workers to restore stability and power supplies, citizens are urged to use electricity judiciously and prepare for potential planned outages.
Additionally, the western regions of Ukraine have not been spared, with Naftogaz facilities suffering damage from the bombardments. However, Naftogaz officials have assured the public that the assault on the underground storage facility will not disrupt consumers’ gas supplies.
Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities appear to aim to weaken Ukraine’s defense-industrial capabilities. The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggests in its report that Russian forces are likely exploiting the shortage of Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile systems in a new effort to disrupt Ukraine’s energy grid.
According to Mykhailo Honchar, an expert in international energy and security relations, the aim of these Russian strikes is to push Ukraine’s energy system into a state of blackout.
“This is a continuation of systematic actions to dismantle the energy sector, which began in the fall of 2022. They targeted Zaporizhzhia and Kryvyi Rih, as these areas represent the heart of the Dnipro industrial region, home to key components of Ukraine’s defence-industrial complex. Disrupting their power supply means creating significant disruptions in the operations of these defence-industrial enterprises,” explains Honchar.
Despite the unsuccessful attempts to completely cripple Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, such attacks are expected to persist. Ukrainians have witnessed this firsthand – since last Friday, March 22, there hasn’t been a single day without Russian attacks on peaceful cities and their critical infrastructure.
“The absence of major strikes on the energy system during winter suggests that the Russians lack clearly defined objectives or any long-term plan. They seem to be acting reactively, responding to external stimuli rather than following a strategic approach to the war in Ukraine. The recent successful attacks by Ukraine on their oil refineries seem to have triggered this response, which appears almost like a hysterical reaction to the inflicted damage.
Nevertheless, the reliability of Ukraine’s unified energy system remains uncompromised. It will continue to function reliably and retain its capacity to recover after any damages,” explains Gennadiy Ryabtsev, an energy expert, to The Ukrainian Week.
According to Reuters, the recent strikes by Ukrainian drones have halted operations at seven Russian refineries, reducing their processing capacity by 4.6 million tons of oil, which accounts for 7% of the total volume. Vasily Maliuk, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), has stated that Russia primarily replenishes its military budget through the export of oil products. Hence, the SBU’s mission is to minimise these inflows.”
