Ukraine's Dnipro hydroplant restoration to take years following Russian missile attack

In an interview with Espresso, Ihor Syrota, the General Director of PrAT “Ukrhydroenergo,” stated that the Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Station (Dnipro HPS), which was recently attacked by Russian forces, cannot be quickly restored. The extent of the damage will only be fully assessed once the debris in the machine hall is cleared.

“Unfortunately, repairing the damage to the Dnipro HPS is not a quick process. Currently, we are trying to dismantle the remains of the ceiling and walls of the machine hall, which are broken and tilted. We cannot dismantle the machine hall until we remove the overlap, which is over 35 meters high so that we can then clear the debris in the machine hall,” Syrota explained.

A superficial inspection gives an understanding that it will take years to restore the station to its original design state, Syrota added. The damage is substantial, with over six missiles hitting the station itself and damage to the road surface and crane beams where the crane lifts the gates to allow water to pass through.

“I think within a week, we will be able to clear all this debris, and then we can discuss the consequences in more detail. But there are many hits to the units themselves, equipment is burned, so there is a lot of work to be done,” Syrota stated.

He further explained that some units must be manufactured from scratch, which could take 18 to 24 months, not including the time required for dismantling and installation. The machine hall will also need to be completely rebuilt.

On 22 March 2024, the Russian missiles attacked the largest hydroelectric power plant in Ukraine, the Dnipro HPS. As a result of the shelling, one person was killed, and oil products were spilled into the river. The power plant was critically damaged, but fortunately, the dam remained stable.

Read also:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

Ukraine’s Dnipro hydroplant restoration to take years following Russian missile attack