Ukraine's energy backbone hit as Kyiv urgently seeks help from Poland after Russian attack
Illustrative photo: Ukraine urgently turned to Poland for help due to energy problems (GettyImages)
Russian forces carried out a massive attack on Ukraine's key energy infrastructure, targeting main substations, power lines, and thermal power plants. Ukraine has requested emergency assistance from Poland, according to Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal reported this.
The minister said that the Russian strikes were aimed at 750 kV and 330 kV substations and overhead lines, which are key elements of Ukraine’s power grid.
The enemy also attacked generation facilities, including the Burshtyn and Dobrotvir thermal power plants.
Due to damage to the infrastructure, Ukraine has applied 4.5–5 rounds of emergency blackout schedules, and in the eastern and northern regions, additional special schedules have been introduced.
For the safety of the energy system, nuclear power plant personnel temporarily unloaded the reactor units.
The Ukrenergo dispatcher has already activated a request for emergency assistance from Poland to stabilize the energy system.
Attack on the energy system on February 7
On the night of February 7, Russia carried out a massive attack on Ukraine’s energy system using attack drones and cruise missiles. Western regions were also under attack — strikes were reported in Volyn, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk regions, and near Rivne.
According to the Air Force and local authorities, missiles were recorded in the western part of the country in at least Khmelnytskyi, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv regions.
Preliminary reports indicate that the main targets of the enemy were thermal power plants. In particular, the Burshtyn TPP may have been hit, but official details about the consequences of the attack are still being clarified.
