Winter will not be easy: Shmyhal explains Ukraine's preparations

Ukraine's upcoming winter will be challenging as Russia intensifies its attacks on the nation's energy infrastructure, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal warned. He emphasized that the functioning of the energy system is critical not only for electricity but also for heating, water supply, logistics, the economy, and the overall life of the country.

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Ukraine's energy system is now operating under conditions that have never existed before – there is a war, and energy facilities are attacked daily by ballistic missiles.

Shmyhal described the current operating conditions for Ukraine's energy system as unprecedented, with facilities facing daily attacks from ballistic missiles amid an ongoing war. To counter these threats, Ukraine is developing a new operational model for its energy system. This includes creating new shelters of varying levels and capacities for energy facilities, along with engineering and technical defenses designed to maintain operations even after ballistic missile strikes.

These protective measures allow for significantly faster repairs of damaged energy facilities. While repairs previously could take months, some facilities can now be restored in approximately a week. Shmyhal highlighted that this effort is bolstered by consistent support from international partners.

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This year, we have sent almost 6,000 tons of energy equipment from distribution centers to our regions and communities. This includes generators, transformers, combined heat and power plants, and modular boiler houses.

"This year, we have sent almost 6,000 tons of energy equipment from distribution centers to our regions and communities. This includes generators, transformers, combined heat and power plants, and modular boiler houses," Shmyhal stated. He expressed gratitude to partners for their assistance, which he noted translates into "very specific things."

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This translates into very specific things.