Severe weather conditions have resulted in power outages affecting over 160 settlements across six regions in Ukraine. As of the morning of May 21, reports from the Ministry of Energy and Ukrenergo indicate that areas such as Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Sumy are experiencing disruptions due to drone attacks on energy infrastructure and artillery shelling in frontline regions.
Efforts to restore power are underway where safety conditions permit, according to energy officials. The adverse weather has included heavy rain and thunderstorms, contributing to the outages.
In addition to the outages, data from Ukrenergo shows a trend of decreasing electricity consumption. As of 09:30 on May 21, consumption levels were 2.9% lower compared to the same time the previous day, attributed to clear weather in most regions, except for the western areas. This has facilitated the effective operation of residential solar power systems, thereby reducing reliance on the national grid.
On May 20, the daily peak consumption was recorded in the evening, showing a 2.5% increase from the peak on May 19. This rise is linked to warmer temperatures in some regions, leading to increased use of air conditioning units by consumers.
Energy officials are urging residents to use electricity judiciously, particularly advising against the simultaneous use of multiple high-power appliances during peak evening hours from 18:00 to 22:00.
Severe weather has led to widespread power outages in Ukraine, affecting over 160 settlements. Restoration efforts are ongoing, while electricity consumption trends show a decrease due to improved weather conditions in most regions.