Ukraine is struggling to keep fire under Russian aggression, energy boss says

Ukraine’s largest private energy supplier is in a permanent state of crisis due to the Russian attack on its power grid, its chief executive has told the BBC.

Much of Ukraine is experiencing prolonged power outages as temperatures drop, and Maksim Timchenko, whose DTEK company supplies electricity to 5.6 million Ukrainians, said the intensity of the strikes was so frequent that “there is no time to recover.”

Russian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Russia knows that winter cold can be one of its most dangerous weapons.

“Ukrainian parents are locking their children in basements and shelters every night, hoping our air defenses will come through,” he told the Dutch parliament.

As the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches, Maxim Timchenko said Russia has repeatedly targeted DTEK’s energy grid with “waves of drones, cruise and ballistic missiles” and that his company is finding it difficult to cope.

Tens of thousands of people in the southern city of Odessa were without electricity for three days this week due to coordinated Russian attacks.

“Life has been difficult, but people are very supportive of each other,” says Yana. Yana is lucky to still have power. She invited her friends over to her house to charge their phones.

The power outage also cut off heat and water supplies, and Yana said people still connected to the grid were giving strangers a chance to wash or shower.

Power is rationed across Ukraine and remains on for several hours each day.

Many Ukrainians rely on power banks and generators, and the sound of generators in the capital is now more constant than an air raid warning.

Tetiana, who lives in Kiev, says the first thing she does in the morning is check her phone to see the daily schedule to power on. Like many people, she invested in a power bank to make life more bearable.

“You should remember to leave your power bank on when you leave the house so you can charge it when you get back.”

About 50% of Ukraine’s energy is currently supplied by three large nuclear power plants in central and western Ukraine. But the network delivering that power has been seriously damaged.

DTEK operates about five power plants, most of which are coal-fired.

One site was recently targeted by five ballistic missiles, and Mr. Timchenko said some of the power plants and substations were attacked “every three or four days.”

“I can’t remember a single day when we didn’t get a report that our power grid was damaged.”

Finding spare parts to repair damaged equipment has become a major challenge.

The energy supplier used to be able to source equipment within Ukraine, but now has to scour Europe for replacement parts.

This year DTEK had to spend $166 million (£123 million) repairing damaged thermal power plants and coal facilities.

“We will not give up,” insists Maxim Timchenko. “We have a responsibility to give strength and warmth to millions of mothers.”

DTEK’s origins were in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, where fighting was most intense and power supply disruptions were most severe.

Eight of the engineers died in the line of duty.

“They risk their lives every day to maintain power in this region,” Timchenko said.

Additional reporting by Anastasia Levchenko and Kyla Herrmannsen.