Emergency blackouts introduced in four Ukrainian regions after Russian attacks

As of October 20, Ukrainian power engineers have restored supply to more than 78,000 consumers affected after Russian attacks on critical infrastructure. At the same time, parts of Sumy, Chernihiv, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions remain without electricity due to repeated shelling.

This was reported by the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine. On October 19, drone attacks caused damage to the energy infrastructure in Sumy and Chernihiv regions.

To prevent overloading of the system, Ukrenergo was forced to introduce emergency blackouts. Some time later, at 12:55 in Chernihiv and at 20:47 in Sumy, power supply was restored to all consumers. Despite these efforts, the morning of October 20 brought new attacks, which resulted in another blackout in Sumy region.

Preparations for the heating season are underway amid serious damage to key energy infrastructure. The daily shelling causes significant damage, but the overall power system remains balanced, allowing the country to avoid massive long-term blackouts. In order to maintain the stability of the system, Ukrenergo urges consumers to use electricity sparingly, especially in the evening from 17:00 to 22:00, when the load is the highest.

Consequences of the shelling

The attacks on energy infrastructure on October 19-20 caused large-scale blackouts in several regions of Ukraine. In particular, consumers in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions were affected.

In Chernihiv region, the shelling damaged power lines, leaving about 350 customers without electricity. In Sumy region, substations and a significant number of household consumers lost power as a result of a drone attack. On the morning of October 20, blackouts were recorded again as a result of repeated strikes on power facilities.

Meanwhile, other regions of Ukraine also faced problems. In the Lviv region, 32 workers were evacuated due to a fire at a mine, but there were no injuries. In Donetsk region, a power outage caused a blackout at a mine, but all 20 employees were successfully evacuated.

Over the past 24 hours, power companies managed to restore electricity to 78,165 consumers who were left without power as a result of the shelling and technical disruptions. However, as of the morning of October 20, 563 settlements remain partially or completely without power due to active hostilities and damage to power facilities.

To stabilize the power system, electricity imports from Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary and Moldova are planned for October 20 in the total amount of 5,000 MWh with a capacity of 1,290 MW. These imports are an important component of covering the deficit in the power system and ensuring a stable supply of electricity.

On the morning of October 20, Russian troops hit power facilities in Sumy region again, leaving more than 100 settlements without electricity. According to Sumyoblenergo, more than 37,000 consumers in 104 settlements in the Romny region were cut off from electricity. Another 14,000 consumers in the border areas of the region remain without power too.

In its report on Ukraine, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts a significant electricity shortage of 3-4 GW in winter. This is due to the constant attacks that damage energy facilities.

The Ukrainian authorities have an ambitious plan to reduce the deficit by building additional generating capacity by 1 GW and increasing electricity imports from the European Union to 3 GW. This will partially cover the deficit, but the risks remain high due to enemy shelling.

As previously reported, Ukraine is expected to have power outages in winter due to a shortage. During this period, voltage surges are possible. Thus, to save your appliances, you need to install a voltage switch.

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