Power grids in small towns often depend on a single electrical substation
Due to cold weather and Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, some small Ukrainian cities face the risk of being without electricity for up to three days. This was stated by Oleksandr Kharchenko, Director of the Energy Industry Research Center. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine (Марія Кучерявець), according to the portal PromPolitInform.
According to the expert, rising power demand during cold periods, combined with hostile shelling, creates additional risks. While large metropolitan areas implement rotating power cut schedules, smaller localities may face significantly more complex and unpredictable scenarios.
Dependence on critical nodes
A major issue for small cities is the distribution system architecture, which often relies on a single substation. If Russian missiles or drones destroy such an asset, energy workers face lengthy repair efforts.
Recovery involves not only diagnosing the damage but also complex logistics, such as delivering and installing new equipment to replace what was lost. This process cannot be completed instantaneously, leading to prolonged power outages for residents.
The case of Konotop
As an example, the expert pointed to the situation in Konotop, Sumy region, where residents were left without power for five days following targeted strikes on three key substations. Meanwhile, more developed energy systems in large cities like Dnipro allow for faster mitigation of power supply interruptions, even when critical infrastructure is damaged.
Illustrative photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Public domain
Read also: Government Must Address Multi-Billion Debt Crisis in Balancing Electricity Market
