Energy saving mode may last for years – Ukrainian PM

Ukrainians will have to live in a power-saving mode for years due to Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on June 4.

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"The consequences of Russian attacks on the energy sector are long-term. Therefore, saving will be a part of our everyday lives in the coming years. Our goal is to save at all levels: from large companies to individual houses and apartments," he said.

Today, the main priority is to strengthen the energy sector after the Russian terrorist attacks, the Prime Minister said.

"The situation is very difficult. More than 9 GW of generating capacity has been lost. The enemy continues to attack power facilities. Currently, Ukrenergo is again forced to implement scheduled power cuts for consumers. This gives us time to restore and strengthen the energy system," the Prime Minister said.

Since March 2024, Russia has carried out six massive attacks on Ukraine's energy system, disabling generation equivalent to the capacity of one and a half of Europe's largest nuclear power plants – Zaporizhzhia NPP.

On May 8, Ukrenergo began restricting power supplies to industry and businesses after Russia's fifth massive missile and drone attack.

On the night of June 1, Russia launched its sixth attack, with Russian missiles damaging five energy facilities in different regions of Ukraine.

The attack coincided with the scheduled maintenance of nuclear power units (as announced by Energoatom), resulting in a critical power shortage that forced Ukrenergo to implement emergency blackouts despite it being a weekend.

On June 3, 2024, the head of Ukrenergo warned that blackouts would become more frequent. This week the situation will worsen.

Read also: Share of thermal power plants in Ukraine's energy system drops to record low of 5%