Andrey Kaut13:42, 04.02.26

Large-scale enemy shelling led to a huge power shortage.

The reason for such strict restrictions is the enemy’s devastating attacks on key nodes of the main power grid / photo UNIAN

As a result of attacks by Russian occupiers, Kyiv residents will have up to six hours of electricity per day for another month. Stanislav Ignatiev, an energy expert at the Ukrainian Institute of the Future, told Telegraf .

“In February, the capital will have 4-6 hours of power per day. Substations are located – they’re feeding power to where it can be transmitted and distributed,” the expert says.

The reason for such severe restrictions is the devastating enemy strikes on key nodes of the main power grid, the Vinnytsia 550 and Kyivska 750 substations. These critical facilities ensure the transmission of electricity between regions and the stable operation of the Ukrainian power grid as a whole.

“Damage to substations of this class isn’t a localized accident, but a strategic blow to the entire power grid. The failure of 550 and 750 kV equipment leads to the loss of the ability to transmit electricity over significant distances, which automatically creates a shortage even in regions where generation has been maintained,” notes Ignatiev.

Due to the unique nature of the equipment used at damaged substations, their restoration could take months or even years, the specialist warns.

In Kyiv, CHPP-6 has been virtually destroyed, and CHPP-4 in Darnytsia has been out of service for an extended period. These facilities were key sources of electricity and heat for the left-bank part of the capital.

“The loss of the combined heat and power plant not only means a reduction in electricity generation but also poses serious risks to heat supply, especially during the autumn and winter. This has significantly worsened the energy shortage in Kyiv and forced energy companies to resort to more stringent shutdown schedules,” Ignatiev stated.

Ukraine’s power grid is currently experiencing an electricity shortage, which the expert calls “crazy.” It cannot be quickly compensated for by imports or reserves—it is systemic and affects the entire country.

(c)UNIAN 2026