Due to Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy system, the coming winter could be Ukraine's biggest test on the European continent since World War II. This was stated by European Commissioner for Energy Catherine Simson in a column for the Financial Times, UNN reports.
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Simson reminded that Ukraine lost 9 GW of electricity production due to Russian shelling. This is half of the capacity Ukraine needs in winter.
To put it in perspective, this figure is equivalent to the peak electricity consumption in Portugal, a country with a population of over 10 million.
The European official emphasized that already in the summer, in some cities, Ukrainians have access to electricity for several hours a day, which significantly disrupts their daily lives.
However, she emphasized that the warm weather hides the worst-case scenarios. According to Kadri Simson, in winter , no electricity means no access to basic services: water pumps and sewerage networks will not work, and heating will be cut off.
У Міненерго розповіли, що буде зі світлом взимку18.06.24, 22:38
In freezing winter temperatures, some places in Ukraine may simply become uninhabitable. Elderly people, children and vulnerable groups will be most affected
She also said that in some places there may be accidents on power lines, as consumption will increase critically due to the large number of refugees and displaced persons.
The risk of a humanitarian catastrophe is high
Recall
Yasno CEO Serhiy Kovalenko said that in winter it is quite realistic that consumers will have electricity for 5-6 hours a day. However, he acknowledged that the scenario could improve if more generation is restored in Ukraine.