The occupiers will not stop attacking the energy sector of Ukraine – Halushchenko

The occupiers will not stop attacking the energy sector of Ukraine – Halushchenko

At a meeting of the G7+ Coordination Group, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that the Russians will not stop attacking the energy sector, so Ukraine needs help in recovery.

On March 28, the Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Halushchenko took part in the next high-level meeting of the G7+ Coordination Group on assistance to the energy sector of Ukraine.

The head of the Ministry of Energy informed the meeting participants about the consequences of the Russian attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure on March 22, 2024, which became the most massive since the start of a full-scale war.

“Thermal and hydro generation suffered destruction. A significant part of the capacity will be required for a long time to restore. Key substations were also damaged,” the minister noted.

Herman Halushchenko emphasized that a list of urgent needs is now being prepared to restore the capacity of public and private sector energy companies affected by the attack. This list will be transferred to partners for processing.

“We understand that the Russians will not stop and will continue to attack. Taking this into account, we need to make repairs. But, in addition to restoration, we must think about how we can quickly increase generation capacity. The fastest way out is shunting capacity, which is especially important for regions such as Kharkov and Odesa,” the head of the Ministry of Energy emphasized.

Herman Halushchenko thanked international partners for their assistance to the Ukrainian energy sector, thanks to which it was possible to carry out a large-scale repair campaign last year and ensure the stable passage of the current heating season.

But now we face new challenges. Therefore, it is important to continue our cooperation in order to be ready for the next winter,” the minister noted.

To enhance the security of energy facilities, Herman Halushchenko drew attention to the importance of increasing the capacity of Ukrainian air defense and improving the physical protection of energy infrastructure. Separately, Herman Halushchenko focused on the need to increase the possibility of importing electricity to Ukraine to ensure the stability of the energy system.

The meeting participants confirmed their readiness to continue to help the Ukrainian energy sector. US Deputy Secretary of State Geoffrey Pyatt assured that the relevant work continues at the G7+ level and the US itself, and the Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic for the restoration and strengthening of Ukraine’s resilience, Davide La Cecilia, emphasized that after the massive attacks, support for Ukrainian energy should increase. This is exactly what Italy, which chairs the G7, is currently doing.