The fight with darkness continues: within 1,000 days, DTEK Donetsk Grids restored operation of almost 11,000 power facilities

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, enemy actions in the Donetsk region caused damage to 10,900 power facilities of DTEK Donetsk Grids. This includes complete destruction, when lines or substations had to be built a new, and partial damage, when company’s equipment suffered from fragments of air bombs, missiles, drones, MLRS, artillery or shockwave. Energy workers managed to restore the lion’s share of power facilities, except for the ones located in the area of hostilities or in the already occupied territory.  

“Over the course of 1,000 days of the full-scale war, we have repaired 27,000 km of power lines and restored power to more than 9 million customers. And we will keep restoring it as long as it will be possible at all. As we understand that electricity is a basis for normal life and tenacity for further resistance. Although restoring power in the Donetsk region becomes increasingly difficult and dangerous, and there are places where it is currently impossible, we will continue fighting for power supply of our customers. Just like we have been doing for 10 years, since russia first invaded our country,” – noted the energy company. 

During the time of restorations after enemy attacks, energy workers learned to determine the proximity of the cannonade by sound, watch their steps due to possible mine danger, passed basic life support courses. And they learned to timely hide from shelling, as much as it is possible, as a lot of lines pass through the open field and often close to the area of hostilities. Regardless of the situation development in the Donetsk region over these thousand days, energy workers have been maintaining stability of the region’s energy system, repairing damaged facilities, replacing destroyed ones, promptly remaking power supply schemes in accordance with the situation.  

Restoring power supply in the de-occupied territories is a special challenge. Energy workers were the first ones after the military to go to the de-occupied settlements. The works were extremely difficult both due to large-scale mining of the territories, and due to close proximity to the frontline, where the enemy was able to actively shell towns and villages. Electricity has been restored to homes of more than 15,000 families in more than 20 settlements. This was critical for restoration of normal life of the de-occupied communities. 

DTEK Donetsk Grids specialists are doing everything possible to maintain the energy system of the region as much as it is possible in the conditions of constant hostilities in the region. They commence works immediately after obtaining permission and access to the site of damage from the AFU and SES. However, their work still remains dangerous: since the beginning of 2024 alone, the crews came under fire more than 40 times during performance of restoration activities. 6 energy workers were wounded. Over a thousand days of the full-scale invasion, a total of 17 energy workers of DTEK Donetsk Grids were wounded during performance of restoration activities. 

* considering that some customers had electricity restored to them on dozens of occasions