Russia has struck the power grid again: 5 regions are without power

31 March 12:13

Russian occupation forces continue to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities. As of the morning of March 31, power outages were again reported in several regions of Ukraine. This primarily concerns the eastern and central regions, which are regularly subjected to enemy shelling.

This was reported by the press service of NPC “Ukrenergo,” according to "Komersant Ukrainian"

Which regions are experiencing power outages on March 31

According to energy officials, due to Russian attacks, some consumers in the following regions were left without power:

Kharkiv
Donetsk
Dnipropetrovsk
Zaporizhzhia
Poltava.

The company notes that this refers to new damage caused by shelling, which has led to disruptions in the power grid.

Why there is no power

The power outages were caused by Russian strikes on power grid facilities. Such attacks have long remained one of the main threats to the stable operation of Ukraine’s energy sector.

After each strike or damage to the energy infrastructure, some communities may remain without power until emergency repair work is completed.

What energy workers are doing

Ukrenergo reported that repair crews are already working in areas where the security situation allows.

The main task for energy workers now is:

restore power to affected consumers as quickly as possible;
to repair damaged sections of the grid;
restore stable power to Ukrainian homes.

The company emphasizes that emergency repair work is proceeding at an accelerated pace.

Why has electricity consumption increased in Ukraine?

In addition to infrastructure damage, energy officials have noted another significant trend—a rise in electricity consumption.

As of 9:30 a.m. on March 31, consumption was 2.7% higher than at the same time the previous day.

Experts attribute this to weather conditions. Due to cloud cover and rain in many regions, the efficiency of residential solar power plants has dropped significantly.

In other words, households that typically meet part of their energy needs through self-generation began drawing more electricity from the grid.

Why this matters for the power grid

Rising consumption amid new damage to energy infrastructure creates an additional burden on the system.

The situation becomes particularly challenging in the evening hours, when Ukrainians are using household appliances en masse, and solar generation is no longer operational.

That is why even a small increase in demand can be significant for the power grid following another round of Russian attacks.

When to conserve electricity

Energy officials are urging citizens to use electricity sparingly, especially during peak hours— from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

During this time, Ukrainians are asked to:

not to turn on several high-power appliances at the same time;
if possible, to postpone laundry, ironing, and other energy-intensive tasks to daytime or nighttime hours;
reduce the load on the grid during the evening peak.

These simple actions help the system handle the load and reduce the risk of additional supply issues.

Is there a threat of new restrictions?

The Ukrenergo statement does not mention the introduction of rolling blackouts across the country, but the company explicitly states that the load on the system remains high.

Therefore, the situation will largely depend on: