Summer in Ukraine expected to proceed with no blackout risks – energy expert

Ukraine is poised to get through the summer in a controlled manner, without widespread power outages, according to Oleksandr Kharchenko, director of the Energy Industry Research Center. Speaking at Media Center Ukraine, Kharchenko said the power grid should remain stable, thanks partly to lessons learned last year.

Several factors are contributing to the improved outlook. Ukraine has strengthened the protection of critical energy infrastructure, repaired many damaged facilities, and significantly increased the number of solar energy installations. Still, Kharchenko cautioned that a full recovery of the sector will take time.

“It will take 5 to 7 years to reach a point where only natural disasters could trigger a blackout,” he said. “Unfortunately, until then, interruptions in grid supply remain quite likely. The electricity grid itself is still fairly fragile.”

Kharchenko added that intensive efforts are ongoing to prepare power generation facilities and high-voltage networks for potential future attacks.

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