TPP-5 under fire: how Russia’s attack has exacerbated the energy situation in Kyiv
13 January 20:44
Russia launched a targeted missile strike on Kyiv Thermal Power Plant No. 5, one of the key facilities of the capital’s energy system. According to MP Oleksiy Kucherenko, five missiles hit the facility, causing serious damage and sharply complicating the situation with heat and electricity supply in the city.
This was announced by the first deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee on energy on the Apostrophe TV channel, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
A targeted strike and its consequences
According to Kucherenko, the attack was deliberate:
“They knew where to strike. And the damage is such that it is very difficult to restart the heat supply.”
TPP-5 provides heat to a significant part of Kyiv — the Pechersky and Holosiivsky districts, Lybidska and Teremky. Due to damage to equipment and the extensive pipeline system, it is extremely difficult to quickly restore the heat supply.
As of the evening of January 13, hundreds of buildings remain without heating. According to various estimates, this includes 500–800 apartment buildings in the central and southern districts of the capital.
“Manual control” instead of a system
After the attack, energy and utility services effectively switched to crisis response mode. Kucherenko acknowledged that the system is operating in “manual control” mode to avoid large-scale accidents.
The widespread use of electric heaters due to the lack of heat has led to an overload of both internal and city networks. As a result, emergency power cuts have begun, which dispatchers are forced to regulate literally at the microdistrict level.
“There is no light because there is no heat. Everyone is trying to keep warm — there is an overload and emergency power cuts are occurring,” the deputy explained.
Kyiv as a priority target
According to Kucherenko, the capital remains one of Russia’s main targets. Massive attacks on energy infrastructure are aimed not only at physical destruction but also at destabilizing life in the metropolis in winter.
The night attack on January 13 was a combined one: in addition to missiles, drones were used. In the Solomyanskyi district, a non-residential building was hit and debris fell near a residential building, causing fires.
Broader consequences for the power system
The strike on TPP-5 was part of a larger attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. As of the morning of January 13, significant power outages were recorded in Kyiv and seven other regions. In a number of regions, scheduled power cuts were canceled and emergency consumption restrictions were introduced.
In Kyiv, the situation became so dire that some large retail chains temporarily closed individual stores. Mayor Vitali Klitschko acknowledged the shortage of electricity even for critical infrastructure.
Utility and emergency services are working “house by house,” and authorities are reporting slow but positive progress in restoring heat. At the same time, the Ministry of Energy is not venturing to predict when power will be fully restored in the capital.
