Kyiv's Energy Vulnerability: Expert Explains Why the Capital Is Exposed

Kyiv is particularly vulnerable to Russian energy attacks due to a complete lack of internal electricity generation, making it fully dependent on external high-voltage power supplies, according to energy expert Oleksandr Kharchenko. The city's thermal power plants can only produce heat after sustaining significant damage to their electrical components, leaving no alternative to the national grid. Kyiv also has a limited number of critical substations, each covering 12 to 25 hectares with many unprotected small elements like relays and switches. Repair efforts are constantly blocked by drone threats that force crews to halt work during alerts, significantly delaying restoration. These factors combine to make the capital more exposed than other regions.