**Ukraine’s Energy System Resilient Amid Ongoing War**
Since 2022, Ukraine has been working to strengthen its energy security. In that year, the country cut ties with Russian and Belarusian energy systems and joined the European grid. This move helped Ukraine become less dependent on Russian energy.
**Russia Targets Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure**
Despite this effort, Russia has continued to attack Ukraine’s energy facilities. Over 1,000 missiles have been launched at Ukraine’s power plants since 2022. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest, was also occupied by Russian forces. This plant is a key part of Ukraine’s energy system.
**Severe Attacks on Energy Infrastructure**
One particularly severe attack occurred in August 2024 when Russia launched 236 missiles and drones at Ukraine’s energy facilities. This led to power outages affecting around 4 million people across 12 regions. The Ukrainian Ministry of Energy stated that, in 2024 alone, over 9 GW of capacity was destroyed or damaged – equivalent to the peak consumption of countries like the Netherlands or Finland.
**Ukraine’s Energy System Shows Resilience**
Despite these attacks, Ukraine’s energy system has continued to function. The ministry emphasized that the country’s energy workers have tirelessly restored power to homes and communities. Ukrainian authorities highlighted that the country’s energy system has shown independence from Russia and resilience for 1,000 days.
**International Support for Ukraine’s Energy System**
In April 2022, Ukraine created an Energy Support Fund to consolidate support from international partners. The fund has accumulated over €700 million to aid Ukrainian workers in maintaining stable power supplies during Russia’s armed aggression. To date, Ukraine has received over 19,000 tons of humanitarian aid from 36 countries to stabilize its energy system.
**Recent Attack on Power Generation and Transmission Facilities**
On November 17, Russian forces again attacked power generation and transmission facilities across Ukraine. The country’s air defenses tracked 210 aerial targets – 120 missiles and 90 drones. As a result, energy shutdowns were introduced across Ukraine, including its capital, Kyiv.