Odesa region is the most vulnerable region for attacks on power facilities, — IES expert

The aftermath of the shelling in Odesa on 19 December. Photo: Odesa Oblast State Emergency Service

Odesa region remains one of the regions with the most difficult situation with energy supply and protection. The Russian army is trying to disable power supply facilities in the region by creating local blackout zones. And this scenario could be repeated in other parts of Ukraine.

This was reported by Yurii Korolchuk, co-founder of the Institute for Energy Strategies, on the air of «Day.LIVE».

According to him, energy supply in Odesa region is the most vulnerable for several reasons. Firstly, there is a significant increase in the number of attacks by Russian troops on the energy infrastructure of the city and the region. Substations and distribution hubs are being targeted, which makes it difficult to restore electricity supply even temporarily.

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The second key problem is the shortage of own generation. There are virtually no powerful power generation facilities in the region, so the region depends on supplies from other regions, such as Mykolaiv, which recently experienced a blackout. As a result, any damage to the grid leads to long and uneven blackouts, with power coming on for only a few hours and going off without a clear schedule.

«Odesa region is weak in terms of its own electricity generation. There is virtually no significant production here, and any systemic strikes on substations immediately have a lasting effect. Even with schedules in place, the electricity supply can be very uneven,» explained Yurii Korolchuk.

An additional factor in the region's vulnerability is the port infrastructure, which needs uninterrupted power supply. Exports and the operation of critical facilities depend on its operation, which puts an additional burden on the Odesa region's power system and increases its sensitivity to attacks.

The expert warns that a similar situation could theoretically arise in other «weak» regions, such as Kyiv or Kharkiv regions. Even with decentralised generation sources, the condition of substations and grids plays a key role.

As a reminder, today, 22 December, Russia again attacked Odesa's energy sector, leaving part of the city without electricity.