Ukraine has created an energy reserve in case of attacks: a new strategy before winter
6 October 15:58
Ukraine is entering its fourth military winter with new energy capacity to help withstand possible attacks on critical infrastructure, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the country has launched a network of battery parks with a total capacity of 200 megawatts, which can power about 600,000 households for two hours.
The main goal of these systems is to provide time to restore power supply after the bombing and avoid massive blackouts.
How battery parks work
Six energy storage systems are already connected to the grid in Kyiv and Dnipropetrovska oblast. They allow us to maintain operations in case of failure of traditional sources, such as thermal power plants.
The program cost $140 million. It was an important step in the modernization and decentralization of the Ukrainian energy system, which has been under constant attack since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion.
To avoid risks, the specific locations of the batteries are not disclosed, and their protection is reinforced by air defense systems.
Why this is critical for Ukraine
During the war, all thermal power plants in the country were shelled, and some of them were lost forever. In addition, Ukraine does not control Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest in Europe.
Battery parks make it possible to balance the system when renewable sources such as the sun or wind do not produce enough electricity. Their modularity allows them to quickly replace damaged elements, which is especially important in a war zone.
What is the role of the West?
Ukraine continues to insist on additional air defense systems, including Patriot. US President Donald Trump has promised to increase supplies, and two more systems are expected from Germany by the end of the year.
At the same time, the WSJ notes that even the most advanced batteries or renewable sources will not replace the basic capacities of nuclear and coal generation. However, their introduction increases the system’s resilience and reduces the risk of mass blackouts.
It is worth reminding that in 2021, a similar battery park already existed in Enerhodar. But before the occupation of the region by Russian troops, its software was removed and the system became unusable.
In February 2025, Ukraine lost about 40% of its gas production capacity due to shelling.
As of September, underground gas storage facilities have accumulated more than 12 billion cubic meters of fuel, more than last year, but this may not be enough for the winter.
