Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure

Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022 have taken the form of systematic strikes targeting key resources and installations. Over more than two years of conflict, it has become evident that Russia's long-term strategy involves not only seizing or maintaining territorial control but also gradually destabilizing Ukraine's economy by destroying critical infrastructure. Russian airstrikes and missile attacks on power plants, transmission networks, and fuel storage facilities have been particularly severe and deliberate. According to numerous analyses, these attacks aim to hinder the functioning of the Ukrainian state and weaken societal morale. As of July 2024, it is clear that these operations have evolved over time, increasingly encompassing the entire territory of Ukraine. Their political and economic significance remains crucial for both Kyiv and Ukraine's European partners supporting the state.

The first phase

In the initial phase of the invasion, during the spring of 2022, Ukraine, still reeling from earlier aggressive actions by Russia in 2014, such as the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of conflict in Donbas, sought to rapidly adapt to wartime realities. During this period, the primary challenge was maintaining stable electricity and heat supplies to major cities. Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Dnipro, as primary targets of Russian attacks, worked to protect key energy hubs by decentralizing infrastructure and expanding layers of air defense systems. Even at that stage, efforts were made to explore alternative energy sources, marking a step toward the decentralization of the energy system. However, this transformation required time, substantial financial resources, and, above all, bold investment decisions made under conditions of constant threat.

Beginning in the fall of 2022, Russian operations increasingly involved large-scale nighttime airstrikes on energy infrastructure, particularly during periods of low temperatures. According to experts, the goal was to trigger nationwide disruptions in electricity and heat supply. However, Ukrainian authorities, supported by Western partners, systematically enhanced their air defense capabilities. Specialized training programs were organized for air defense system operators, and progressively more advanced defense systems were acquired. Although it was not yet possible to completely prevent the attacks, their effectiveness began to decline gradually. Numerous analyses indicate that the Russian side aimed primarily to destroy large coal-fired power plants and damage key transmission hubs to create widespread destabilization across the country.

As the war progressed, Ukraine continued to face financial and logistical constraints. The issue of access to energy resources was also of significant importance. In 2023, the import of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory was significantly reduced, and the authorities in Kyiv increasingly raised the issue of completely ceasing the transit of this resource to European countries. On the one hand, such a move could, in the future, increase pressure on the Kremlin. On the other hand, it would place a significant burden on Ukraine's finances due to the loss of transit fees. The issue of fossil fuels and the refinery sector was particularly challenging and became a focus of Russian intelligence operations. Missile strikes targeted both large processing facilities and fuel depots.

40% losses

During the 2023/2024 winter season, ensuring the continuity of electricity and heat supply became a critical challenge for Ukrainian authorities and society, particularly in the face of intensified attacks on energy networks. According to information from Ukraine's Ministry of Energy, damage to infrastructure in some regions exceeded 40% of its original state. Many households and industrial facilities operated intermittently under conditions of energy outages, significantly affecting production capacities and normal functioning during the harsh winter weather. At the same time, some experts predicted a potential new wave of migration driven by weather conditions and unstable utility supplies.

Read more: