Ukraine turns to Poland for emergency electricity support After overnight Russian attack

Ukraine has requested emergency electricity assistance from Poland following a large-scale Russian attack on the country’s energy infrastructure overnight on February 7.

Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the strike damaged key elements of the power system, including substations and high-voltage overhead transmission lines rated at 750 kV and 330 kV.

He added that the Burshtyn and Dobrotvir thermal power plants were also hit, while nuclear power plant units were temporarily taken off load by operating staff as a precaution.

“Ukrenergo’s dispatch centre has activated a request for emergency assistance from Poland,” Shmyhal wrote on X.

As a result of the damage, emergency power outage schedules involving 4.5 to 5 stages are currently in effect nationwide. In eastern and northern regions, special emergency blackout schedules have been introduced.

Shmyhal also noted that the scale of the aerial assault prompted Poland to take precautionary measures, including suspending operations at airports in Rzeszów and Lublin and scrambling military aircraft.

By Tamilla Hasanova