Ukraine Forced To Restrict Electrical Power As Damage To Network Takes Toll

Ukrainian officials on October 19 told citizens to expect power outages and restrictions on electricity supply as the country copes with damage to its infrastructure caused by Russian air strikes.

Various regions of Ukraine may experience power outages to reduce the load on the electrical network on October 19 and 20, an adviser to the energy minister said.

The adviser, Oleksandr Kharchenko, said there will be outages, including some that are scheduled.

"Unfortunately, according to new data, about 40 percent of the total infrastructure is seriously damaged. Repair and connection work is ongoing, but outages are expected today and tomorrow," Kharchenko said on Ukrainian television.

He added that there will be outages that are "not only emergency, but also scheduled" and aimed at reducing the load on the power grid.

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the office of the president, said separately on Telegram that electrical restrictions will begin on October 20.

"From 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. it is necessary to minimize the use of electricity. This applies to residents of all regions of the country. If this is not done, you should prepare for temporary outages. Also, from tomorrow the use of street lighting will be limited in cities," Tymoshenko said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy earlier on October 19 discussed security at power supply facilities with senior officials following Russian air attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

The press service of the president’s office said Zelenskiy and other government officials held the meeting on October 19 to discuss measures to "eliminate the consequences in the event of a breakdown of the energy system of Ukraine."

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The ministers discussed various scenarios and ways to support the population "during possible threats of varying degrees of danger," according to the press service.

In addition, the meeting discussed security measures at critical facilities and the necessary steps to get through the heating season under constant Russian shelling of energy supply facilities.

Zelenskiy said on Telegram that the government is "working to create mobile power points for the critical infrastructure of cities, towns, and villages."

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, and Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskiy were among the government officials who met with representatives of the State Emergency Service and the heads of energy companies and executive authorities.

Russian troops have increased their shelling of energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine since October 10. Zelenskiy said on October 18 that since the new wave of attacks began, 30 percent of Ukrainian power plants have destroyed, causing massive power outages across the country.

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There were air alerts throughout Ukraine again on October 19, and the governors of two western regions said energy facilities in their regions had been hit.

The governor of Ivano-Frankivsk said a Russian missile strike hit a coal-fired power station in the city of Burshtyn.

"Our region experienced missile fire today. The Burshtyn thermal power station was hit, which caused a fire," Svitlana Onyshchuk, said in an online video statement.

No one was hurt in the strike, she said.

The power station supplies electricity to three western regions and to 5 million consumers.

Serhiy Borzov, governor of the Vinnytsya region in western Ukraine, said Russia had also carried out attacks on energy facilities in his region.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it launched new strikes against military and energy targets in Ukraine.

It added in its daily briefing on October 19 that "all designated targets were hit."

With reporting by Reuters