Information
Severe winter weather conditions in Ukraine have resulted in over 1,000 towns and villages experiencing power outages, according to Ukrenergo, the state-owned energy operator. These outages have impacted nine regions, prompting the utility to encourage residents to use electricity sparingly due to the grid’s weakened state following Russian strikes. Across numerous parts of the country, temperatures dropped significantly to approximately -15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit), leading to heightened electricity consumption, as highlighted by Ukrenergo. The grid operator noted on the Telegram messaging app, “The consumption level continues to grow due to the considerable drop in temperature across the country,” citing a 5.8% increase in morning electricity usage compared to the previous day. Ukrenergo attributed the power cuts in 1,025 settlements to adverse weather conditions, including strong winds and ice accumulation. Consequently, repair efforts faced delays due to the damage inflicted on distribution networks by the severe weather. Moreover, to meet the surging demand, Ukraine had to import electricity from neighbouring countries like Romania and Slovakia, as disclosed by Ukrenergo amidst the ongoing power supply challenges.
Source: Reuters, DW
Assessment
It appears likely that Russia timed its recent attacks against the Ukrainian power grid to align with a period of severe weather, thereby increasing its effect on the civilian population of Ukraine. Though this is certainly not the first time Russia has conducted strikes against civilian targets, the magnitude and nature of the recent strikes show that they believe their best hope of victory is to destroy the will of the Ukrainian population. Historically, however, this has been a flawed tactic as destroying civilian homes and infrastructure has shown only to build the resolve of the people against the attackers.
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