Ukraine is struggling to keep the lights on under Russian attacks, says energy boss

Ukraine’s largest private energy supplier is in permanent crisis mode due to Russian attacks on the electricity grid, Ukraine’s CEO has told the BBC.

Most of Ukraine is suffering extended power outages as temperatures drop and Maxim Timchenko, whose company DTEK provides power to 5.6 million Ukrainians, says the intensity of the strikes is so frequent “we simply don’t have time to recover”.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Russia knew the winter cold could become one of its most dangerous weapons.

“Every night, Ukrainian parents keep their children in cellars and shelters hoping that our air defenses will hold,” he told the Dutch parliament.

As the fourth anniversary of Russia’s large-scale invasion approaches, Maxim Timchenko says Russia has repeatedly attacked DTEK’s energy network with “waves of drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles” and that his company has found it difficult to deal with it.

Tens of thousands of people in the southern city of Odessa have been without electricity for three days this week due to a coordinated Russian attack.

“Life has been difficult, but people are very supportive of each other,” says Yana, who is among the lucky ones who still have power. She has invited friends to her home to charge their phones.

Power cuts have also cut off heat and water supplies, and Yana says those still connected to the grid have offered strangers the chance to wash or shower.

Electricity is rationed throughout Ukraine, with electricity supplies left on for a few hours every day.

Many Ukrainians rely on power banks and generators as backup, and the sound of generators in the capital is now more constant than air raid warnings.

Tetiana, a resident of Kiev, says the first thing she does in the morning is to check her phone to see what the daily schedule is for when the power will be turned on. Like many, she has invested in power banks to make life more bearable:

“You should keep in mind that when you leave the house, you should leave the power banks on so that you have them charged when you get home.”

About 50% of Ukraine’s energy is currently supplied by three major nuclear power plants in central and western Ukraine. But the network that transmits that power is seriously damaged.

DTEK operates approximately five power stations, most of which run on coal.

One was recently targeted by five ballistic missiles and Mr Timchenko said some of their power plants and substations were attacked “every three or four days”.

“I can’t remember a single day when I didn’t receive reports of some damage to our grid.”

Finding spare parts to repair damaged equipment has become a major challenge.

Previously, the energy supplier could source equipment in Ukraine, but now it has to scour the rest of Europe for replacement parts.

This year, DTEK has had to spend $166 million (£123 million) on repairing its damaged thermal and coal-fired power stations.

“We will not give up,” emphasizes Maxim Timchenko: “We have a responsibility to millions of mothers to have strength and warmth.”

DTEK’s origins lie in the Donbas in eastern Ukraine, where fighting is heaviest and where power supplies are most disrupted.

Eight of its engineers died in the line of duty.

“Every day they risk their lives to maintain power in this area,” Timchenko said.

Additional reporting by Anastasia Levchenko and Kyla Herrmannsen.