Ukraine is preparing for an extremely difficult period due to massive missile and drone attacks by Russia on its energy infrastructure and severe cold weather. According to official sources, the next three weeks may be a test for citizens, especially considering the weather forecasts and damage to the networks.
This is reported by Finway
Freezing Temperatures and Strain on the Energy System
It is forecasted that next week, temperatures in the northern and eastern regions of the country will drop below -20°C. In such conditions, the load on the energy system will significantly increase, which may lead to power and heating outages in many regions.
“The bad news is that the cold will indeed come, and it will be difficult. The good news is that we need to hold on for three weeks, and then it will get easier,” said Andriy Gerus, head of the parliamentary energy committee.
Consequences of Attacks and the State of Energy
Despite efforts for a peaceful resolution, Russia continues its massive strikes on energy facilities outside the combat zone. In January, two powerful missile and drone attacks on Kyiv resulted in power outages for about a million residents, and 6,000 apartment buildings were left without heating.
Currently, after several weeks of repair work, approximately 700 buildings in the capital still lack heating. According to Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, as of Wednesday, over 610,000 households in Kyiv remain without electricity.
At the same time, experts hope that the situation will improve with the onset of warmer weather and increased solar energy production due to the longer daylight hours.