Ukrainian energy teams work all winter to restore bombed grid

Workers at Ukraine’s thermal power plants are desperately trying to repair infrastructure damaged by Russian airstrikes as winter sets in and temperatures plummet.

The head of a factory’s production department, who was not named for safety reasons, revealed how melted snow flowed through holes in the roof, onto ice-covered floors.

He said the air at his factory is thick with the smell of burning metal and scorched concrete — a reminder of Russian missile strikes that targeted the facility weeks earlier.

Oleksandr, who did not want to reveal his full name, said that “workers at a thermal power plant supposed to produce electricity walk on frozen ground and use firewood to keep warm.”

While most workers must take shelter during air strikes, some must remain on site in control rooms to ensure operations continue.

Dmytro, 41, a power unit operator at the plant, described the tense atmosphere: “You have to sit and wait while monitoring the trajectories of everything that was fired, but the power units continue to operate , so we can’t just leave, we stay in charge. bedroom.”

How did Russian missiles damage Ukraine’s power infrastructure?

Comments from staffers such as Dmytro and Oleksandr highlight the challenges facing energy sector workers as Ukraine’s power infrastructure continues to bear the brunt of Moscow’s relentless air campaign.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukraine’s energy grid has been repeatedly targeted, leaving millions without power and plunging much of the country into darkness.

A strike Thursday saw nearly 200 Russian drones and missiles fire on Ukrainian infrastructure, cutting power to more than a million people, according to Ukrainian officials.

Why is it difficult to repair Ukrainian power plants?

Energy company DTEK, which operated 20 Ukrainian power plants before the war, saw its capacity reduced to just 12 percent.

Nearly 90 percent of DTEK’s infrastructure was destroyed or severely damaged in the Russian attacks. In total, DTEK has reported nearly 200 attacks against its installations since 2022.

Some DTEK plants have not been able to return to full capacity since they were first commissioned in November 2022.

Repair efforts have been slow and complicated by the destruction of critical Soviet-era equipment that is now difficult to replace.

In response, since the Russian invasion began, the G7 and other Western countries have pledged more than $4 billion in energy aid to Ukraine.

What risks do Ukrainian power plant workers face?

Earlier this week, the United States and European Commission announced an additional $112 million to help DTEK prepare for winter.

However, Oleksandr said finding replacement parts was a constant struggle.

“Potentially, Western countries could help us with equipment,” he said, “but their power grids have different characteristics. It’s not as simple as sending what we need.”

As the war enters its third year, energy workers at DTEK factories have become essential to ensuring that electricity and heat continue to reach their communities throughout the harsh winter months, putting often their lives in danger.

This article contains additional reporting from the Associated Press