Strikes caused significant damage to power grids: Ukraine has updated its requests for equipment and air defense systems
Russian strikes caused significant damage to Ukrainian power grids and electricity transmission facilities. Due to the destruction of high-voltage infrastructure, the power system temporarily lost part of its ability to supply consumers with electricity. Ukraine has updated the list of needed energy equipment and air defense systems and is preparing to discuss additional assistance with international partners.
This was reported by President Volodymyr Zelensky on October 9 following a conference call with military and government officials. Additional details on the state of the power system were provided by First Deputy Minister of Energy Artem Nekrasov.
According to Zelensky, numerous damages to power grids and electricity transmission facilities were recorded as a result of recent Russian attacks. Repair crews are working around the clock to restore the damaged infrastructure.
The meeting also updated Ukraine's needs for energy equipment and additional air defense packages.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the President's Office team, is preparing relevant appeals to international partners. Zelensky said he will personally discuss these issues with foreign leaders.
The exact volumes of needed equipment, the number of additional air defense systems, and the list of countries to be approached were not specified by the president.
The power system lost part of its ability to transmit electricity
First Deputy Minister of Energy Artem Nekrasov explained that in recent weeks Russia has intensified attacks not only on electricity generation facilities but also on high-voltage networks that ensure its transmission between regions.
As a result of damage to this infrastructure, the power system temporarily lost part of its transmission capacity. This limits the ability to supply electricity to consumers even when generating capacities are available.
High-voltage networks play a key role in the operation of the unified power system. They allow the transmission of large volumes of electricity between regions, including from areas with surplus production to territories with higher demand.
When such networks are damaged, the possibilities for redistributing electricity are reduced. To prevent equipment overloading, dispatchers are forced to limit consumption.
The Ministry of Energy emphasizes that Russian shelling also complicates repair work. Energy workers begin restoring equipment immediately after the security situation allows.
A separate problem remains the danger to energy sector workers. According to the ministry, on October 8, as a result of a Russian strike on an energy facility in Sumy region, one energy worker was killed and three others were wounded.
Power outages continue due to network damages
As of the morning of October 9, some consumers in Kyiv, as well as in Kyiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv regions remained without electricity due to Russian attacks.
According to the Ministry of Energy, equipment damage and voltage drops in the high-voltage network led to the need for emergency outages in certain districts of Kyiv and Kyiv region.
In other regions, hourly outage schedules for the population and capacity restrictions for industry and business continue to apply.
As previously reported by Kurs Ukrainy, on October 9, Ukrenergo increased the maximum volume of hourly outages from two to 2.5 stages. The restrictions were introduced due to the consequences of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.
At the same time, the Ministry of Energy explains that even after individual repairs are completed, returning to the normal mode of electricity supply may take time. Electricity is being restored to consumers gradually to avoid new network overloads.
Ukraine strengthens protection of energy facilities before winter
In parallel with emergency repairs, work on the physical protection of energy infrastructure continues.
According to the Ministry of Energy, engineering protection work is being carried out at 170 Ukrenergo facilities. At nearly 120 facilities, the relevant measures have already been completed.
In addition, during 2026, equipment worth over 39 million euros was purchased for Ukrenergo through the Energy Support Fund, including power transformers and batteries. From the Ministry of Energy humanitarian hubs, the company also received almost 520 tons of equipment and materials.
Despite the assistance already received, the scale of new damages is forcing Ukraine to reassess the needs for equipment and additional protection of the power system.
At the same time, exact timelines for the complete restoration of damaged high-voltage networks are not yet specified. They will depend on the nature of the destruction, the availability of necessary equipment, and the security situation.
Based on materials from: Volodymyr Zelensky, Ministry of Energy of Ukraine
