Key facts
- Ukraine's energy grid is facing increased pressure due to an incoming heatwave.
- Temperatures are expected to reach 35C-38C in Ukraine.
- Russian attacks since February 2022 have severely damaged the energy network.
- Grid operators in at least five regions will implement temporary energy usage restrictions.
- The energy grid is already operating at its limit due to ongoing repairs and wartime conditions.
Ukraine's energy infrastructure, already severely damaged by over four years of Russian drone and missile attacks, is bracing for an intense heatwave expected to bring temperatures of up to 38C.
Grid operators in at least five regions, including Ivano-Frankivsk and Zaporizhzhia, have announced temporary restrictions on energy usage for Tuesday. The State Hydrometeorological Centre warned of "intense heat" across the country.
Sergii Kovalenko, CEO of the Yasno energy company, stated that the grid is already operating at its limit due to wartime conditions and the ongoing peak season for repairs. He cautioned that the power system would be under significant strain in the coming days.
The heatwave has also impacted western Europe, leading to record temperatures, straining hospitals and transport networks, and contributing to over 1,300 excess deaths since June 21, according to the UN health agency. Scientists from the World Weather Attribution group have linked the severity of the current heatwave to climate change, noting that such extreme temperatures would have been "virtually impossible" this early in the summer without it. All-time temperature records have been broken in several European countries.