To minimize demand on the country’s power network, the CEO of Ukraine’s largest private energy company recommends that citizens leave the country.
Maxim Timchenko, chief executive officer of DTEK, told, “If they can find a place to remain for the next three or four months, it will be very beneficial to the system.”
Nearly half of Ukraine’s energy system has been damaged by Russian assaults.
As temperatures drop for winter, millions of people are without power.
Blackouts – both scheduled and unscheduled – have become widespread in many sections of Ukraine, as Russia aims regular waves of missile attacks against parts of the energy infrastructure.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggested earlier this week that the strikes were a “result” of Ukraine’s failure to negotiate with Russia.
Several Western politicians have said that striking civilian infrastructure is a war crime.
Mr. Timchenko, whose company provides more than a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity, asserts that the system’s dependability decreases with each Russian attack and that cutting electricity use is the key to keeping it operational.
The government has asked individuals to restrict their usage of household equipment like stoves and washing machines.
Mr. Timchenko emphasized that because the damaged energy system is unable to produce enough electricity to fulfill present needs, any means of lowering usage – including leaving the country – should be viewed as aiding Ukraine in its struggle against Russia.
“If you consume less, then hospitals with injured soldiers will have guaranteed power supply. This is how it may be explained that by consuming less or leaving, individuals also benefit others.”
After a series of losses on the battlefield, including a strong Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region and territorial advances in the south of the country, which eventually led to the recovery of the city of Kherson, Russia upped its attacks against infrastructure.
With temperatures now below freezing in certain regions of Ukraine, it is feared that millions of people may be without power and heat during the winter.
In the past, blackouts have mostly been limited to a few hours, but additional Russian strikes could result in extended power outages. Repairing the deteriorating infrastructure is also getting increasingly challenging.
“Unfortunately we have run out of equipment and spare parts… That’s why we call to our partners, government authorities, corporations, and equipment suppliers to help us with the quick delivery of available equipment,” Mr. Timchenko added.
Historical ties between Russia and Ukraine, especially the development of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, are also proving problematic.
“They were colleagues, now they are adversaries,” Mr. Timchenko added. They educate Russian military units with this information, create very specific targets, and are familiar with significant portions of our electrical grid and power stations.
Despite the hurdles, Ukrainian engineers continue to link cities and villages to the grid in some of the most hazardous regions of the country, risking their lives.
The Ukrainian defense ministry declared early Saturday morning that the train station in Kherson was the first structure in the city to have electricity.
