In an extensive interview, Oleksandr Kharchenko, Director of the Energy Research Center, detailed the current situation in Ukraine’s energy sector. According to him, the conditions remain extremely difficult but are under control. Particularly hard-hit are Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Odesa, and front-line regions suffering constant Russian attacks. However, the power grid remains operational and manageable, allowing ongoing repairs and restoration.
Kharchenko explained how Russian attacks have shifted tactics: initially aiming for a national blackout, then targeting generation facilities and isolating regions, and now focusing on heavy strikes against the largest consumption zones and critical infrastructure. The most affected are Kyiv oblast, Odesa, Kryvyi Rih, and Dnipro.
One of the key problems is a lack of funding, making it harder to acquire essential equipment. While components for substations and transformers are still available on the global market, the main shortage is financial resources.
Kharchenko described the means of protecting substations and why underground facilities are prohibitively expensive and complex. He provided examples of the effectiveness of Ukrainian repairs, the role of local authorities, and the need to prepare energy reserves in advance.
He advised citizens not to overload networks when power returns, to never operate generators indoors, and for businesses to shift energy use to night hours. Kharchenko warned that emergency outages may continue for several years. Significant investment is required for long-term protection, decentralized generation and upgrading infrastructure. Solar panels and batteries for private homes are a useful investment, but the fairness of outages is dictated by technical constraints.
The interview also debunked myths around electricity import/export and allegations of malfeasance. Kharchenko emphasized the professionalism of energy workers and the crucial role of support for recovery. Russian attack tactics, protection strategies, the limits of importing electricity, whether to strike Russian power facilities, and the system’s balancing under attack were all discussed in detail.
