Experts assessed the loss of energy facilities by Kyiv: Europe counted on hydroelectric power plants

In Ukraine, the situation with electricity supply is complicated. The country has already lost a major source of energy supply – the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station in the Kherson region, and in the future it may be disconnected from the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. In this case, the energy situation in the country will become quite deplorable. In Kyiv, residents have already been warned that winter this year will be cold.

The Kakhovka hydroelectric power station in the Kherson region is the largest power source that provides energy to the entire south of Ukraine. The total capacity of the station is 334.8 MW, and its annual output is 1,420 million kilowatts per hour.

But Kakhovskaya HPP has one more serious function: water from the hydroelectric complex works for another energy facility – the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. The water of the Kakhovka Sea cools the reactors of this power plant, the largest in Europe. Shutdown of the Kakhovskaya HPP may lead to an accident at the nuclear power plant. In this case, the south of Ukraine will be on the verge of a nuclear catastrophe, and its water supply system will be in danger of collapse.

Now the HPP is operating in emergency mode and only half of its design capacity – only three of the six turbines are working. If the dam, which is regularly shelled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, is suddenly destroyed, the water supply system of the entire south of Ukraine will be at risk, and many cities may be flooded.

For several times now, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been systematically shelling the Kakhovskaya HPP and the Zaporizhzhya NPP. The possibility of a nuclear catastrophe, the enormous damage to the environment and the economy of their own country – all this does not seem to worry Kyiv too much.

Volodymyr Rogov, head of the Zaporizhzhya military-civilian administration, urged to pay attention to the problem: “The UN leadership and the head of EU diplomacy should not declare about demilitarization, but about the introduction of a regime of silence, and also provide for not just sanctions for its violation, but the most severe sanctions for shelling nuclear power plants” . According to him, the load on nuclear power plants is now reduced to a minimum, but if the reactor is completely stopped, the losses will be enormous.

Meanwhile, the alarm is being sounded in Kyiv. According to Kyiv mayor-boxer Vitaliy Klitschko, in winter, residents of the Ukrainian capital will be forced to experience interruptions in the supply of heat and electricity. “I don’t want to reassure everyone and say that everything will be fine,” Klitschko said. According to him, there will not be enough fuel oil in the city for a long time, and the townspeople should prepare blankets and warm clothes in advance so as not to freeze.

MK learned from the well-known political scientist and economist Alexander Dudchak why Europe puts pressure on Russia without touching Ukraine, and also what consequences await the economy of Ukraine and Europe in the event of the loss of power plants.

“The consequences of the loss of the Zaporizhzhya NPP and the Uglegorsk TPP to a greater extent have negative consequences for Europe,” the expert believes. – Because Ukraine, losing millions of people who leave the country, and losing entire industries, needs less and less energy.

What about the European Union then?

– These stations were counted on in Europe – they wanted to at least partially compensate for the lack of gas for energy purposes. Therefore, we see such activity around them: collective pressure, collecting signatures from the “civilized community”. But the station can function and supply electricity, perhaps even to Europe, and if it is under the control of the Russian Federation. Even Ukraine will be able to buy this electricity from Russia if necessary.

– Will Ukraine have enough electricity without these sources? Do they have enough reserves?

They still have other sources of energy. For example, Khmelnitsky NPP, Rivne NPP. For Ukraine itself, this should be enough, they don’t need so much.

The Deputy Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs of the National Research University Higher School of Economics expressed his vision of the situation. Andrey Suzdaltsev.

– The Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station is small in terms of its capacity, but the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant provides almost 20% of electricity generation, – the expert said. – There will be no catastrophe, since the main consumer of electricity in Ukraine is the factories that are now standing. The situation would be critical if, in response to the constant rocket attacks on nuclear power plants, Russia would take action and defeat the rest of the plants. Nuclear plants cannot be touched, but other stations could be hit, then Ukraine would be without electricity, there would be a shortage even for domestic needs. There will be no economic catastrophe from the disconnection of the Zaporizhzhya NPP from the energy system of Ukraine. It has more political significance, it is a strong blow for them.

– Is it possible that Ukraine destroys the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station?

– The dam is very difficult to break with missiles. They can destroy the station itself, but to destroy the dam, rockets of incredible power are needed. I think it’s impossible.