SW: Russia wants to divide Ukraine’s energy system into “islands”
19 January 16:09
Russia is attempting to divide Ukraine’s energy system and create “energy islands” cut off from electricity production and supply.
This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Threat to nuclear power plants
Analysts drew attention to statements by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (GUR) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Russia is considering striking nuclear power plant substations.
“Russia seeks to disconnect nuclear power plants from Ukraine’s power grid, leaving Ukrainian civilians without electricity and heat,” the GUR warned.
The ISW pointed out that recent strikes have already threatened nuclear power plants under Ukrainian control. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reported that over the past week (since January 12), military activity has damaged a critical power substation for the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
In addition, IAEA teams recorded activity or air raid alerts at all five nuclear facilities in Ukraine.
In this context, analysts point out that Ukraine currently needs about 18 gigawatts of electricity to meet its domestic needs in winter, but according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine currently produces only 11 gigawatts.
“This figure is likely to decrease significantly if Russian strikes disconnect one or more Ukrainian nuclear power plants from the power grid,” the experts write.
Russia seeks to disrupt Ukraine’s power grid
Thus, the Institute for the Study of War continues to assess that Russia “is attempting to divide Ukraine’s energy system and create energy islands cut off from electricity generation, transmission, and distribution systems.”
“Russian forces are striking Ukraine’s power grid in an attempt to divide it into two parts along an east-west divide,” the report says.
Recent strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities
Russia is striking power substations and power lines in Ukraine on a daily basis.
On the night of January 19, the invaders attacked the energy infrastructure of the Chernihiv region: five key facilities were damaged, leaving tens of thousands of consumers without electricity.
In Odesa, a DTEK energy facility was also severely damaged after a nighttime attack by Russian drones. The company showed the extent of the damage.
Ukrenergo reported that over the past day, the enemy had attacked energy infrastructure in several regions of Ukraine at once.
As of the morning of January 19, consumers in the Chernihiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions remain without electricity.
