For months, Ukraine has been grappling with relentless Russian missile and drone assaults targeting its electricity grid. These attacks have resulted in the destruction of power plants and critical substations, leaving the country vulnerable. Adding to the challenges is an unexpected adversary – a scorching heat wave.
Most regions in Ukraine are currently enduring an intense summer heatwave, with temperatures soaring to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius). This extreme weather is further burdening the already weakened grid, as households ramp up air-conditioning usage and food-related establishments increase electricity consumption to preserve perishable goods.
Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s national electricity operator, issued a statement on Monday highlighting that the current electricity demand significantly surpasses the country’s available generating capacity.
To prevent a complete grid failure, authorities have implemented widespread rotating power outages throughout Ukraine. In Kyiv, the capital city, most structures are facing power cuts lasting a minimum of 10 hours daily, including extended periods during daylight hours.
Valerii Kalinichenko, a waiter at Shibuya Sushi Kiosk, a Japanese eatery in central Kyiv, mentioned that the restaurant’s management had invested in a 15-kilowatt gas generator to ensure power supply and prevent food spoilage. “We are prepared for power interruptions,” he remarked.
The incessant hum of generators set up by cafes and dining establishments has become a common backdrop in the streets of Kyiv since the onset of the heatwave.
As the city grapples with power cuts, residents are resorting to walking their pets at night using glow sticks as makeshift collars in the darkness. In the daytime, many seek relief by gathering along the banks of the Dnipro River, which winds its way through Kyiv, in a bid to cool off from the sweltering temperatures.
