Russian forces have struck Europe’s largest power substation for the first time, a move that will have repercussions for Ukraine’s energy system in the coming days.
Ukraine’s grid operator Ukrenergo detailed the impact of the year’s second large-scale attack on the country’s energy system, saying power plants as well as transmission and distribution substations were hit.
“As a result of missile strikes on key high-voltage substations that ensured power output from nuclear units, all nuclear power plants on government-controlled territory were forced to reduce generation,” Ukrenergo said.
Damage from the strikes has significantly widened the capacity deficit across Ukraine’s grid, the operator added. That has forced longer hourly rolling outages nationwide. Most regions are also under emergency power cuts that will be lifted once the system stabilizes.
Emergency repair crews have started restoration work at damaged facilities wherever safety allows, Ukrenergo said. “Energy workers are doing everything possible to bring equipment back online as quickly as they can and reconnect all customers left without power. Right now, priority is supplying critical infrastructure in regions where emergency outages are in place.”
Ukrenergo also urged consumers not to switch on high-power appliances immediately after electricity returns: avoid using several energy-intensive devices at the same time today and, where possible, postpone energy-heavy tasks until the grid stabilizes.
Energy analyst Stanislav Ignatyev said Russian forces targeted the “Western Ukrainian 750 kV” substation in Lviv region. He believes the country’s grid will feel the impact for the next several days.
He called the facility critical to the stable operation of Ukraine’s power system, speaking to the Kyiv24 TV channel.
“Public sources already indicate there were strikes and some damage at the ‘Western Ukrainian 750 kV’ substation. This is the largest electrical substation in Europe, and the enemy is trying to hit such large-scale sites,” Ignatyev said.
According to him, the substation manages the flow of electricity to Ukraine’s western regions from the Khmelnytskyi and Rivne nuclear power plants, as well as from the Burshtyn thermal power plant and, in part, the Dobrotvir thermal power plant. He added that it also handles imported electricity and emergency dispatch assistance from the EU.
“The situation is difficult. This won’t be an apocalypse, but the next four days, amid colder weather, will be quite challenging,” Ignatyev said, urging people to keep essential stocks of water and food.
