In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Maxim Timchenko acknowledged the relative stability of Ukraine's energy grid over the past winter, stating, "We exited out of winter in a quite healthy position." However, the situation took a turn as Russia adopted new tactics, exploiting Ukraine's shortage of air-defense systems and interceptors.
Despite the Ukrainian military's efforts to intercept many of the drones and missiles targeting power plants, even a single projectile hitting its mark can have catastrophic consequences. Timchenko revealed that some sites have suffered repeat attacks, with one thermal-power plant in western Ukraine taking three weeks to restore operations, only to be attacked again within two weeks, rendering it beyond repair.
Undeterred, DTEK and other energy companies are rallying in search of solutions. Timchenko emphasized the urgency of addressing the need for spare parts and equipment, estimating the cost of restoring the energy system at a staggering $50 billion. In a remarkable display of international cooperation, DTEK has been working with countries across Europe, visiting decommissioned power plants to scavenge for usable parts, with at least 10 countries opening their doors.
Despite the ongoing war, DTEK has launched a new wind farm, which offers better protection against attacks due to the distributed and flexible nature of wind power generation. Timchenko stated, "Even today, we have to think about the future." However, Timchenko acknowledged the challenges of rapidly introducing large amounts of new output capacity.
