In winter, Ukraine will have no electricity for 4 to 18 hours daily – UN report

According to experts interviewed by the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), power outages will last from 4 to 18 hours daily in winter. This is stated in the relevant report of the UN observers.

“This winter will be very difficult. People are likely to face regular power outages across the country. Any new attacks that lead to longer blackouts could have catastrophic consequences,” said Danielle Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.

Bell said that the consequences of the Russian missile attacks will be long-lasting and require a comprehensive approach.

“National and international partners must join forces to restore critical infrastructure and hold those responsible for the damage caused to it accountable,” she said.

The report, which is based on field visits and interviews with technical experts, energy company representatives, local residents, and officials, describes the far-reaching consequences of the Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities.

The HRMMU emphasizes that winter’s low temperatures may make the consequences of the energy system’s destruction even more severe than in summer. According to experts interviewed by the HRMMU, due to the shortage of generation in winter, power outages will last from 4 to 18 hours daily.

As of June, 73% of the country’s thermal power plants were out of service. Attacks primarily targeted power transmission facilities during the winter of 2022-2023, but since March 2024, the focus has shifted to generation facilities.

According to one of the major energy companies cited in the report, the attacks in 2024 damaged three times as many power units as in the winter of 2022-2023.

At the same time, the European Union believes that Ukraine will face a difficult winter with its energy system damaged by shelling, but the situation will not be catastrophic.