Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal held the first meeting to prepare for the upcoming heating season. The head of the government named several challenges the government of Ukraine is facing:
- Scales of destruction. More than 800 heat supply facilities have been destroyed or damaged. Ukraine has lost up to eight GW of power generation. The state currently needs about $1B for restoration of this capacity. However, if Russian air strikes continue, this amount will increase.
- The need to increase assistance from Ukraine’s partners is necessary to redouble efforts to attract resources.
- Enterprises that supply energy and heat are in poor financial condition. According to Shmyhal, large debt burdens are restraining the reconstruction and modernization of energy facilities.
Meanwhile, State Company Ukrhydroenergo stated that in the last attack on May 8, hydropower facilities suffered significant damage, and two stations were taken out of operation.
State company Ukrenergo clarified that the loss of electricity generation due to this attack is significant, such that electricity imports from Europe cannot cover the deficit.
In general, more than 70% of all energy generation in Ukraine has been destroyed, damaged, or is currently occupied.