Rain and cold hamper power restoration in Ukrainian homes

The race to restore electricity to homes in Ukraine is being hampered by “strong winds, rain and sub-zero temperatures”, national power supply company Ukrenergo warned on Friday.

“The pace of restoration [para consumidores domésticos] was delayed by difficult weather conditions: due to strong winds, rain and sub-zero temperatures at night, ice and gusts of wind in the distribution networks, which increase the damage caused by Russian missiles,” he said, adding that the repair crews were “working day and night to repair the damage”.

“More than 70% of the country’s consumption needs” have already been met, says the statement, and energy has been restored to “critical infrastructure facilities in all regions: boilers, gas distribution stations, water utilities, sewage treatment”.

However, the statement said that there is still an electricity deficit in the system, which would lead to consumers losing access to electricity at times during “planned and emergency consumption restriction times”.

“We ask Ukrainians to remember that if there is no light in the house, it means that repairmen are working at that very moment,” Ukrenergo said.

Infrastructure under attack

Russia’s attack on infrastructure on Wednesday resulted in the temporary closure of most of Ukraine’s power plants and left most people without electricity. The Ukrainian military said 70 Russian missiles were launched on Wednesday afternoon and 51 shot down, along with five strike drones.

Russia has turned its attention to the destruction of Ukraine’s power infrastructure ahead of the bitter winter, and successive waves of attacks have left much of the country facing ongoing blackouts.