Warming weather reduces Ukraine's energy deficit, minister says

KYIV, Feb 12 (Reuters) - ‌Warming weather ​in ​Ukraine after record-breaking frosts has significantly reduced an electricity shortage caused by ‌Russian attacks on the Ukrainian power grid, ⁠Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal was quoted as saying ‌on Thursday.

Shmyhal told parliament's ‌energy committee that the current power deficit totalled 4.3 to 4.5 gigawatts, compared with ​up to 6 gigawatts during the colder spell, Interfax Ukraine news agency reported.

"As of ⁠today, February 12, the forecast maximum consumption is 16.4 gigawatts - ​that is what the economy would like to consume. Unfortunately, we can only ​provide 12.3 gigawatts," he ‌said.

Shmyhal said that Ukraine imports almost 2 gigawatts, that 7.5 gigawatts ⁠are produced by three Ukrainian nuclear plants and 0.85 gigawatts are received from thermal plants.

Russia attacked Ukraine's ⁠power system again last week, striking both thermal power ​plants and key electrical substations, forcing nuclear plants to cut power production.

Attacks on power stations, the energy transmission ‌system and the gas sector are important elements of the full-scale ‌invasion of Ukraine launched by Russia in ⁠February 2022. Moscow says ‌it is seeking ​to undermine Ukraine's ability to fight.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, Editing by Timothy ‌Heritage)

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