Ukrainian electrical infrastructures, hit since last October by Russian missiles, are breathing again. After months of repairs, Ukraine is once again in a position to export electricity, its Energy Minister Herman Haluschenko said on Friday. This will allow it to receive significant income thanks to the shipment of energy to Moldova and the European Union.
On October 8, an explosion occurred at the iconic Kerch Bridge, built in 2018 by order of Russian President Vladimir Putin to link the annexed Crimean peninsula with mainland Russia. Moscow considered what had happened a terrorist attack, and in retaliation two days later launched a massive missile attack against the neighboring country’s electricity grid. Since then, these types of attacks have been occurring periodically to, according to the most warmongering and aggressive voices in Moscow, leave Ukraine in the dark.
The attacks against the network were especially intense during the months of October and November, and they reached cities far away from the battle front.
In fact, since then the constant has been power cuts throughout the country and the run-run of generators. In many cities, some citizens have used specially equipped centers in autumn and winter to stay warm during power outages and low temperatures. In addition to electricity and heating, these facilities provided basic supplies such as food and medicine.
As a consequence of the attacks, Ukraine had to stop exporting electricity to Moldova and the EU, its main buyer. In June 2022, it expected to achieve €1.5bn from its electricity exports to the EU by the end of that year.
In this regard, and although it is in the midst of an armed conflict that is living its fourteenth month, Ukraine is recovering normality after the repair work of attacked power plants and substations have been successful.
“We have achieved this with the titanic effort of our engineers and with the help of our international partners,†Haluschenko added in a statement posted on his ministry’s website. “The hardest part of winter is over.”
The minister pointed out that the electrical system has been operating normally for almost two months. “The next step is to resume electricity exports, which will allow us to receive additional financial resources for the necessary reconstruction of the damaged electrical infrastructure,†he added.
Ukraine currently has secured internal supply and has a surplus. But the future is not written. This Saturday the operator of the Ukrainian electricity network, Ukrenergo, warned that Ukraine cannot count on Russia not carrying out this type of attack again.
According to the operator, during the conflict Russia has launched more than 1,200 missiles and drones against energy facilities in Ukraine.
Haluschenko announced on Friday that he had signed an executive order allowing the restart of exports. These “will continue as long as Ukrainian consumers receive electricity, and can be suspended if the situation changes,†he explained.
