Ukraine is not only restoring parts of its energy system damaged by Russian attacks but is also building a new, more resilient, decentralized, and environmentally friendly model based on the principle of energy cells. This was stated by First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal during an online address at the “Architecture of Security” forum.
According to Shmyhal, the war has demonstrated that the concentration of energy assets also means a concentration of risks.
“Our task is to build a system that is harder to destroy and easier to restore. For Ukraine, this means four levels of energy resilience: the state, regions, communities, and businesses. Each level has its own responsibility and its own tools for ensuring energy security,” Shmyhal said.
The minister stressed that protection must be integrated into the system itself and its management mechanisms. This includes physical protection of facilities, air defense systems, cybersecurity, backup capacity, modular equipment, and rapid repair capabilities.
At the same time, one of the key indicators of the future system’s effectiveness, according to the Energy Minister, should be the speed of recovery. That is why Ukraine is preparing reserves of critical energy infrastructure components ahead of the next heating season.
Shmyhal also said that Ukraine aims to become a regional energy hub at the intersection of European energy corridors and contribute to strengthening Europe’s energy security.
“Russia tried to turn energy into a tool of our exhaustion. We must turn it into a tool of our resilience,” Shmyhal concluded.
