President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared a state of emergency in the energy sector, with particular attention on Kyiv, which is reeling from Russian attacks that have left residents without power, heating, or water in subzero temperatures.
Zelensky said a task force will be set up in Kyiv to coordinate the response around the clock, adding that newly appointed Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal leading efforts to support citizens and communities under the emergency measures.
“The consequences of Russian strikes and worsening weather conditions are severe,” Zelensky wrote on his Telegram channel.
A spokesperson for Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, said that the seriousness of the situation in Kyiv and across Ukraine requires unprecedented coordination between authorities and energy providers.
They are trading strikes. Ukraine prefers burning down Russian oil refineries, since those give the Russian army its fuel and also give Russia income.
In winter, Russia prefers hammering Ukraine’s heating and electrical infrastructure.
District heating and electrical grids are difficult to defend if one attacks them with hundreds of drones. So, unfortunately, they will get damaged and there will be blackouts to fix stuff.
Ukraine cannot effectively defend their electrical grid, just like Russia cannot defend its refineries and pipelines.
As drone production becomes more efficient, swarms grow bigger and drones become cheaper, the list of things which cannot be defended will likely only grow.
The only countries which need not worry about their grid, are warm countries with lots of wind and solar power. But even that must be backed up by lots of small battery banks and small power stations. Big ones are just very expensive targets, unless you build them underground.
P.S. As for what they are doing (aside from improving air defense) - Ukraine is attempting to buy several really small (around 60 MW) co-generation power stations for installation in / near Kyiv. They hope to get them by March. Because small installatioons are less attractive targets, and if one is destroyed, you still have several working.