Energy rift: Will Russia succeed in cutting off left-bank Ukraine from power?
Russia’s new tactic is to destroy hydropower facilities and destabilize the energy balance between eastern and western regions.
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Is Russia really trying to cut off the Left Bank from power? / © TSN.ua
Russian forces have launched a second consecutive attack on Ukraine’s hydropower sector, targeting the Kremenchuk Hydroelectric Power Plant and other facilities.
This was stated by Serhii Nahorniak, chairperson of the Sub-committee on Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Energy, in a comment to Telegraf.
«Every percent is extremely important for the power system — even 5–8% makes a significant difference. Hydropower is the balancing force, and it’s crucial that it keeps working, ” Nahorniak stressed.
He acknowledged that a previous large-scale strike several weeks ago had also targeted hydropower facilities. That attack caused only minor damage, but the one on October 22 proved far more painful.
«Russia is hitting substations, dams, sluice gates. Energy specialists are now assessing the scale of the damage and what can be restored, ” Nahorniak said.
Is Russia really trying to cut off the Left Bank from power?
The MP said that almost all recent strikes have been recorded on the left bank of the Dnipro. In his view, Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian hydro plants are not aimed at specific cities but at undermining the overall stability of the national power grid.
However, he acknowledged that left-bank Ukraine currently suffers from an electricity generation deficit.
«The enemy understands this well and is targeting hydro and thermal power stations on the left bank. It’s difficult for us to balance and transmit electricity there during peak hours, ” he explained.
At the same time, Telegraf warned about a new Russian tactic — an attempt to unbalance Ukraine’s energy system between eastern and western regions.
Most of Ukraine’s thermal and hydropower plants are located on the left bank of the Dnipro. If they are destroyed, the east could face a critical shortage of electricity. Meanwhile, the right bank — home to the country’s nuclear power stations — could see a surplus that cannot be transmitted eastward due to limited grid capacity.