Ukraine warned of possible blackouts for 12-16 hours a day

Light blackouts in Ukraine in winter may last up to 12-16 hours depending on the weather, the director of the Ukrainian Energy Research Center, Oleksandr Kharchenko, told the Obozrevatel publication on 2 December.

"Ukrainians will face frequent blackouts in winter. <...> In case of restoration of power grids, short-term blackouts are possible - 2-4 hours per day, but if the weather worsens <...> periods without electricity may increase to 12-16 hours per day," UNIAN quoted his forecast.

According to Kharchenko, the Ukrainian energy system is now in a difficult situation and it will take at least 3-4 weeks to stabilize its work.

Earlier, on November 30, Ukraine requested electricity imports from five countries because of its shortage. The Ukrainian Energy Ministry urged consumers to use the resource rationally and economically.

Before that, on November 24, The Times newspaper warned that Ukraine was facing "deadly frosts" due to the insecurity of the energy system. It was noted that foreign engineers advised Kiev to build structures to protect this infrastructure, but the Ukrainian government did not follow the recommendation.

Ukrainian energy holding company DTEK reported in the middle of the same month that thermal power plants in several regions of Ukraine were seriously damaged. At the same time, the country's Energy Minister German Galushchenko announced the introduction of emergency power cuts.