Russia has carried out more than 350 attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure since September, damaging more than 800 pieces of equipment, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Friday, as Ukraine works to shore up its power system before the heating season.
Shmyhal spoke during a question-and-answer session with the government in parliament, saying the damaged equipment included facilities at substations and power generation sites. The strikes are increasing pressure on the country's power system as the heating season approaches, and Ukraine is stepping up efforts to protect energy facilities while expanding generation capacity.
Shmyhal said a second level of physical protection had been built for 235 transformers, and that only one piece of protected equipment had been hit by a ballistic missile over the past six months. "Without this protection, restoring energy facilities under the current intensity of Russian attacks would take months," Shmyhal said.
Alongside protecting existing infrastructure, Ukraine is working to expand its electricity generation capacity through smaller, decentralized power plants. On Oct. 29, the government approved the mechanism and terms for providing almost Hr 939 million ($20 million) in loan financing from the Finnish-Ukrainian Investment Fund to state-owned energy company Ukrnafta.
The funding will support four projects to install gas-engine power plants in the western Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv oblasts, adding around 60 megawatts of capacity to Ukraine's power system. It will cover the purchase of the power plants and related equipment, as well as installation, testing and commissioning.
The loans were raised for Ukraine's state budget under a framework agreement between the Ukrainian and Finnish governments signed in November 2024. The projects are part of broader efforts to develop distributed generation, spreading electricity production across multiple locations rather than relying solely on large power plants.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Ukraine is entering the heating season with its power system under sustained attack, raising the risk of widespread blackouts in winter conditions.
- The figures illustrate the scale of damage inflicted on energy infrastructure in a short period, and the cost of protecting it.
- Ukraine's twin strategy of physical protection and smaller, decentralized generation is the approach it is relying on to keep the grid operating.
Background
Ukraine's energy grid has been a repeated target of Russian missile and drone strikes throughout the war, and the country has faced rolling blackouts in previous winters. This year, the intensity of attacks since September has put renewed strain on the system. The Finnish-Ukrainian Investment Fund loans, arranged under a November 2024 framework agreement between the two governments, are part of international efforts to help Ukraine rebuild and expand its energy capacity.
What to Watch
- Whether the second level of physical protection on transformers continues to hold against ballistic missile strikes.
- Whether the four gas-engine power plants in Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv oblasts are installed and commissioned before peak winter demand.
- The intensity of Russian strikes on the grid as the heating season officially begins.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedRussia has damaged more than 800 Ukrainian energy assets since September, the minister says.Kyiv Independent: “Russia has damaged more than 800 Ukrainian energy assets since September.”
- SupportedSince September, Russia has carried out more than 350 attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, damaging more than 800 pieces of equipment, according to Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal.Kyiv Independent: “Russia has carried out more than 350 attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since September, damaging more than 800 pieces of equipment, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Friday.”
- SupportedKyiv is hardening the grid and expanding generation capacity as the heating season approaches.Kyiv Independent: “The strikes are increasing pressure on the country’s power system as the heating season approaches. Ukraine is stepping up efforts to protect energy facilities while expanding generation capacity”
- SupportedShmyhal spoke during a question-and-answer session with the government in parliament.Kyiv Independent: “Speaking during a question-and-answer session with the government in parliament, Shmyhal said”
- SupportedThe damaged equipment included facilities at substations and power generation sites.Kyiv Independent: “Shmyhal said the damaged equipment included facilities at substations and power generation sites.”
- SupportedThe strikes are increasing pressure on Ukraine’s power system as the heating season approaches.Kyiv Independent: “The strikes are increasing pressure on the country’s power system as the heating season approaches.”
- SupportedA second level of physical protection had been built for 235 transformers.Kyiv Independent: “He said a second level of physical protection had been built for 235 transformers.”
- SupportedOnly one piece of protected equipment had been hit by a ballistic missile over the past six months, according to Shmyhal.Kyiv Independent: “According to the minister, only one piece of protected equipment had been hit by a ballistic missile over the past six months.”
- SupportedShmyhal said, “Without this protection, restoring energy facilities under the current intensity of Russian attacks would take months.”Kyiv Independent: “"Without this protection, restoring energy facilities under the current intensity of Russian attacks would take months," Shmyhal said.”
- SupportedOn Oct. 29, the government approved the mechanism and terms for almost Hr 939 million ($20 million) in loan financing from the Finnish-Ukrainian Investment Fund to Ukrnafta.Kyiv Independent: “On Oct. 29, the government approved the mechanism and terms for providing almost Hr 939 million ($20 million) in loan financing from the Finnish-Ukrainian Investment Fund to state-owned energy company Ukrnafta.”
- SupportedThe funding will support four gas-engine power plant projects in Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv oblasts, adding around 60 megawatts to Ukraine’s power system.Kyiv Independent: “The funding will support four projects to install gas-engine power plants in the western Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv oblasts, adding around 60 megawatts of capacity to Ukraine’s power system”
- SupportedThe loans were raised for Ukraine’s state budget under a framework agreement between the Ukrainian and Finnish governments signed in November 2024.Kyiv Independent: “The loans were raised for Ukraine’s state budget under a framework agreement between the Ukrainian and Finnish governments signed in November 2024.”