Repairs to Darnytsia combined heat and power plant in Kyiv will take considerable time, Ukraine’s energy minister says

- 3 February, 21:35
Firefighters stand amid what remains of a building

Repairs to the Darnytsia combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Kyiv, which suffered severe damage in Russia's recent attack, will take considerable time.

Source: Ukraine's Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal

Quote: "We held a meeting of the [Emergency Response] Staff. We analysed the impact of one of the biggest missile strikes on Ukraine's energy system and outlined the action that needs to be taken to restore people's electricity and heating."

Details: Shmyhal said Russian forces have damaged generation facilities and transmission and distribution networks in the city of Kyiv and in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Odesa, Vinnytsia and other oblasts.

"The Darnytsia CHP plant, whose sole purpose is to provide heating for residents, has suffered severe damage," Shmyhal said, describing the attack as a war crime by Russia.

Quote: "We have outlined a plan for the repair work. Let's be frank, it is going to take considerable time. The Ministry of Energy, the Ministry for the Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, the city [authorities], utilities and private companies are providing all possible assistance with equipment and workers."

More details: Shmyhal also instructed officials to identify municipal, private and state-owned premises in the affected areas where residents who have been left without heating could stay temporarily.

He said the critical situation had prompted a discussion at the meeting on urgent measures to stabilise the system. Repair teams and equipment are being redeployed, and from tomorrow, 4 February, Ukrtransgaz, Ukraine's gas storage operator, will join efforts to repair key heat pipelines.

Quote: "We are also working on options to connect backup heat supplies for buildings in areas with prolonged outages."

More details: Shmyhal added that the situation in the energy system remains difficult, with emergency power cut schedules in place. Additional generators are being installed at critical locations.

Background:

  • On the night of 2-3 February, Russia carried out its heaviest attack on Ukraine's energy sector since the start of the year.
  • The attack was launched on eight of Ukraine's oblasts.
  • A Russian strike severely damaged an infrastructure facility that supplies heat to over 1,100 buildings in Kyiv's Darnytskyi and Dniprovskyi districts.
  • Much of the Darnytskyi and Dniprovskyi districts has been left without heating due to the large-scale overnight Russian attack on the capital's energy infrastructure.

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