What happened to Ukraine's energy grid in November?

By 19 November, nearly half of the country's power grid was out of commission, and 10 million Ukrainians were without electricity, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. By mid-December, Russia had fired more than 1,000 missiles and drones at Ukraine's energy grid.

Is Russia destroying Ukraine's energy infrastructure?

Russia has stepped up its bombardment of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Here is a detailed and interactive map of the country’s power stations. Ukraine’s power supplies are being targeted by the Russian army, leaving much of the country with no heating throughout a cold winter. (Photo by Ed Ram/Getty Images)

How many power plants have been destroyed in Ukraine?

The extent of the destruction is enormous. “One year after the start of the war in February 2022, 76 percent of thermal power plants had been destroyed; now the figure is 95 percent,” says Ukrainian scientist Iryna Doronina. “And all the large hydroelectric power plants have also failed.”

How many nuclear power plants does Ukraine have?

Ukraine operates four nuclear power plants with 15 reactors located in Volhynia and South Ukraine. The total installed nuclear power capacity is over 13 GWe, ranking 7th in the world in 2020. Energoatom, a Ukrainian state enterprise, operates all four active nuclear power stations in Ukraine.

How much power did Ukraine have before 2022?

With 59 gigawatts of installed capacity, Ukraine was one of Europe’s biggest electricity producers before 2022. The country itself required 22 gigawatts. “That means Ukraine had considerable capacity reserves, which have helped it to survive during the war,” Doronina states. Nuclear power plays a significant role.

Why is electricity important in Ukraine?

Electricity is an important part of energy in Ukraine. Most electricity generation is nuclear, and the system is inflexible.