Ukraine is preparing for “Russian plans to destroy its energy infrastructure” this winter, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said today at a time when Moscow continues to attack the country's electricity grid, AFP reported, BTA reported.
Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been severely damaged by Russian bombing, which regularly causes blackouts and raises fears of a harsh winter for Ukrainians after more than two and a half years of Russian invasion.
„The Russians have their own terrorist plans to destroy our energy infrastructure,” Shmigal said at a press conference in Kyiv. “We are preparing for this and we know how to survive this winter”, he said, adding that protecting the energy sector is a “priority” for the government.
In Schmigal's words, “85 percent of the main (electrical) installations that need protection are already protected” through two levels of protection consisting of “sandbags” and “reinforced concrete structures” capable of withstanding drone strikes.
The Ukrainian Prime Minister also indicated that “more than 80 percent of schools and 100 percent of hospitals are equipped with generators”. However, he stated that Ukraine “urgently needs another 1,800 high-capacity generators”. In June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky estimated that half of Ukraine's energy capacity had been destroyed by the Russian strike campaign.
Kiev has consistently called on its Western allies to help it rebuild its electricity grid, a project that requires major investment, as well as provide it with more air defense systems to counter Russian strikes. Kyiv wants more than 150 countries to participate in the second peace summit in Ukraine, Shmigal also said, quoted by Reuters. He added that he hopes the meeting will take place by the end of this year.