Russia faces electricity shortage: Intelligence cites reasons

The intelligence service noted that one of the main reasons is an imbalance between growing consumption and infrastructure development.

In particular, the condition of Russia’s thermal power plants is very poor — most have been operating for over 30 years, and more than 70% of the equipment is worn out. As a result, power lines are overloaded, and accidents and breakdowns have become commonplace.

The worst problems are in Kamchatka and Krasnoyarsk Krais, Magadan and Sakhalin regions, Chukotka, and the North Caucasus — these regions are not connected to Russia’s unified power system.

The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (SZRU) pointed out that the situation has been worsened by Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine: Russia has lost access to modern equipment, software, and technologies, making it impossible to upgrade power grids or implement energy-efficient solutions.

Even despite attempts by Russian authorities to stabilize the system — for example, providing compensation or discounts to those who reduce consumption during peak hours or disconnecting non-priority consumers — the electricity shortage continues to grow.

"The growing electricity deficit indicates a systemic crisis in the russian energy sector. As long as the lion’s share of Russia’s budget goes to military spending, the economy and social sphere will not only suffer, they will systemically decline," the intelligence service stated.

Attacks on thermal power plants

On October 6, residents of Belgorod reported partial power outages.

Rumors circulated online that the local Luch thermal power plant had been struck.

Additionally, on the night of October 6, a thermal power plant in the Bryansk region caught fire. According to reports, it was also attacked.