Ukraine reports more Russian nighttime attacks on power infrastructure

Ukrainian electricity transmission system operator Ukrenergo said March 31 that Russian attacks hit power facilities in the South of the country overnight, in the latest blow to the country's network.

Attacks on Ukrainian power infrastructure have increased since Ukraine launched a campaign targeting refineries in Western Russia in mid-January.

"Due to damage to equipment, the power industry was forced to apply emergency shutdowns in the city of Odesa and nearby areas. As consumption increases, their volume may increase," Ukrenergo said.

Supply restrictions continue in the Kharkiv region and Kryvyi Rih, the company said. Kryvyi Rih is home to a major steel production plant, which has previously experienced disruptions since Russia invaded Ukraine.

Ukrenergo said March 29 that emergency shutdowns were introduced in the Sumy, Poltava and Donetsk regions after heavy nighttime bombardment.

Some attacks are hitting infrastructure that was targeted last winter and had been repaired.

Returning some of this capacity could take up to a year, and is only worthwhile if air defense systems are improved, Executive Director of Ukrainian power provider DTEK Dmytro Sakharuk told S&P Global Commodity Insights March 28.

The latest attacks add to unprecedented infrastructure destruction in both countries since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.