Ukraine’s Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal says the country’s power sector is facing a situation unprecedented worldwide, adding that some cities and regions failed to prepare for it.
“As a result of strikes, there isn’t a single power plant in Ukraine that hasn’t been hit during the war. Thousands of megawatts of generation have been knocked out. No one in the world has ever faced such a challenge,” Shmyhal told lawmakers in the Verkhovna Rada on January 16.
Despite the damage, he said, Ukraine’s energy system remains intact and regional power distributors (Oblenergo) still control it, though they’ve been forced to impose significant restrictions. Shmyhal also criticized local leaders, saying some regions were not prepared for a harsh winter.
“The most difficult situation right now is in Kyiv and the region. It’s also tough in Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions, and in all frontline communities. Nationwide, restrictions are in place for households, as well as for industry and businesses. The situation is very difficult. In some cities and regions, preparations were failed,” he said.
Shmyhal noted that in his two days in the job he has seen “many things plainly stalling” and pledged to “restore order” and speed up processes. He said Ukrainians will feel the improvements once the situation stabilizes.
Earlier, Shmyhal warned of an emergency regime amid mass strikes on energy infrastructure. He said curfew rules are changing to allow people to move freely at night to reach “Points of Invincibility.”
Because of the strikes’ impact on the power system, the Cabinet has also extended winter school holidays until February 1, and spring break may be canceled. As an alternative, the government is proposing a shift to remote learning.
