Ukraine pleads for help to fix energy grid hit by Russian bomb raids

There were power cuts lasting 48 hours or more across the country last week after a fresh wave of Russian missile attacks, the latest step in a wave of bombings targeting power plants and substations which route energy around the network.

The warning came as ministers from Nato member countries met for a two-day meeting in Bucharest, Romania, where it is likely the 30-nation alliance will make fresh pledges of non-lethal support to Ukraine including fuel, generators, medical supplies and winter equipment, on top of new military support.

Energy Community takes and interprets equipment requests from Ukrenergo, and tries to match them with companies with spare parts around Europe, including the UK.

It wants to widen the net beyond grid owners and power companies to construction firms and others who may have stocks of kit they are not necessarily aware of. Countries, led by G7 nations, are joining the effort in parallel.