In Konotop, Sumy Oblast, restoration work following Russian strikes on energy infrastructure took five days. As First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal stated on October 30 during the Government Question Hour in the Verkhovna Rada, the attacks damaged three key substations supplying electricity to the city. According to him, Ukrenergo and the regional energy company carried out repairs continuously, but restoring power to all consumers and switching the grid to a permanent supply scheme took several days.
Three substations and five attempts
According to the minister, power engineers attempted to resume electricity supply five times, but each attempt was accompanied by repeated hits on the facilities, short circuits, and new grid problems. This, he said, complicated the work and extended restoration timelines. Power supply disruptions in Konotop began on the night of October 24 following strikes on energy infrastructure; as a result, several energy facilities were damaged, some of which reportedly suffered complete destruction.
Gradual grid re-energization
Over the course of five days, electricity was returned to residents gradually. Every day, according to Shmyhal, 5,000 to 8,000 subscribers were connected to the grid, while about 10,000 to 18,000 remained without power. On the fourth day, electricity supply was restored to all subscribers, but on the fifth day, all consumers were technologically disconnected for a few hours to switch the grid to a permanent supply scheme. Ukrenergo reported on October 29 that power supply had been restored to all consumers in the city; at the same time, electricity began to be supplied on a rotational basis, with power engineers determining the order and sequence of supply.
Gas was not cut off, water became a problem
The Minister of Energy emphasized that gas supply in Konotop was not interrupted, and all consumers received gas. Problems arose with water supply: the local water utility lacked backup power from diesel generators, leading to water supply interruptions. Shmyhal noted that each time electricity supply was restored, power engineers prioritized connecting the water utility to provide the city with water.
City on backup sources
Konotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin reported that the city urgently needed at least 40 tons of diesel fuel to keep generators and invincibility centers running. Sumyoblenergo told RBC-Ukraine that restoration work was carried out continuously, while educational institutions continued to operate: kindergartens remained open, children were provided with hot meals, and schools were on break according to the approved schedule, which coincided with the outage period. On October 28, Prime Minister of Ukraine Serhiy Koretsky responded to the situation in Konotop, instructing the Ministry of Energy together with Ukrenergo to urgently address the situation and provide the city with a supply of diesel fuel for alternative power sources.
