This winter, there is a high probability of continued Russian missile attacks on critical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine. Energy experts are ready for the worst scenarios, but they are preparing "several surprises" for the enemy.
Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, chairman of the board of NEC "Ukrenergo", reports this.
According to him, President Volodymyr Zelenskyі gave clear instructions regarding the preparation of the state for the new heating season. And "Ukrenergo" consistently moves according to this plan.
"The priority is the restoration of power plants and the high-voltage network. All available capacity must be in operation. Our substations will be ready for peak loads in winter," Kudrytskyi wrote.
He noted that work is currently underway to increase electricity imports from the EU.
"We will ensure the technical possibility of a sufficient volume of electricity imports from the EU. Our union with the European energy system provides such an opportunity, and we are working on increasing the volume of imports," said the head of Ukrenergo.
Kudrytskyi emphasized that it is impossible to defend against Russian strikes 100%, but energy companies are preparing "several surprises" for the enemy.
"Our main tool is unity and cooperation, we work on preparing for winter 24/7. As the head of one of the main infrastructure companies in the country, I have to be realistic: there are very different scenarios for passing the heating season," he added.
However, Kudrytsky noted that the past heating season was completed thanks to the efforts of the Armed Forces, energy workers, the state leadership and consumers.
"Experience has been worked out, we are ready for worst-case scenarios," the head of Ukrenergo stressed.
Attacks by the Russian Federation on energy facilities of Ukraine
From October 2022 until almost March 2023, Russian troops massively bombarded the energy system of Ukraine, trying to plunge the country into a blackout.
As a result of numerous Russian attacks, some energy facilities in Ukraine were badly damaged. Therefore, in the fall and winter, there were blackouts in the state, and citizens were urged to save electricity and not overload the system.
According to Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, chairman of the board of NEC "Ukrenergo", Ukrainians should not get rid of generators, as it is not yet known whether there will be blackouts this winter.
Recently, the speaker of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Yuriy Ignat explained what the Russian Federation can bet on in case of mass attacks in winter.
