Major Ukrainian utility DTEK Energy reported on Monday 17 November that its energy infrastructure had come under a widespread targeted attack from shelling by Russian forces, causing severe damage. The attack has been interpreted in some quarters part of a renewed campaign to destroy Ukraine’s power grid.
DTEK says that its thermal power plants have sustained significant damage. It is currently assessing the extent of the damage and collecting information about casualties. As soon as sites are made safe, DTEK says, its employees will assess the damage and immediately begin work to restore functionality. Sunday’s attacks are the eighth wave of strikes against DTEK’s generation facilities this year and the tenth against the wider energy system. Russia had launched its most recent major attack on 26th August: DTEK Energy says that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, over two years ago, its thermal power plants have been shelled over 190 times.
Sunday’s report from DTEK was corroborated on 17 November by International Atomic Energy Agency director general Rafael Grossi in his Update 260 on the situation in Ukraine. The Agency has staff permanently in place to monitor safety issues, in particular as they relate to the country’s nuclear power plants.
That day Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants reduced electricity production as a precautionary measure following widespread military activities across the country that reportedly targeted its energy infrastructure, putting nuclear safety and security under further pressure.
Although the NPPs – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – were not directly impacted and did not shut down, several electrical substations on which they depend suffered further damage during the strikes, Mr Grossi said, citing information from Ukraine’s national regulator. The main power lines from four of the substations were disconnected.
The IAEA teams based at the NPPs heard air defence activities and sought shelter during the air raid alarms. At the Khmelnytskyy NPP, the IAEA team heard a loud explosion. At the Rivne NPP, two 330 kV power lines were unavailable, the team there reported.
Of the nine currently operational reactors at the three NPPs, six reduced output during the morning of the 17th, ranging from just over 40 % of maximum capacity to above 90 %. At the time of writing, 19 November, only two were operating at 100 % capacity, with one in shutdown for maintenance. All NPPs continued to receive off-site power.
“The country’s energy infrastructure is extremely vulnerable, directly impacting nuclear safety and security,” director general Grossi said. “We are still assessing the full extent of the damage.”
