Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, is preparing for the winter season and potential further Russian attacks but requires additional air defense systems to ensure the safe operation of critical infrastructure, DTEK CEO Maksym Timchenko told Reuters.
“We need more Patriots, more IRIS-T systems. We cannot protect ourselves against ballistic missiles if we don’t have air defense systems,” Timchenko said.
“I know our president and our government have been doing everything they can to bring the message that we need this equipment to protect our energy system,” Timchenko added.
Per Timchenko, all 13 of DTEK’s power stations supplying over seven million Ukrainian households have come under Russian fire amid sustained attacks on Ukraine’s grid. Around 50% of DTEK’s 2.3 gigawatt capacity has been damaged, destroyed, or occupied, causing blackouts.
Since April, DTEK has restored eight of 13 power units, with two under repair, Timchenko said.
During last year’s fall-winter seasons, Russian forces launched over 1,200 missiles and kamikaze drones to degrade Ukraine’s critical civilian infrastructure, particularly the energy system, according to Ukraine’s state-owned electricity transmission system operator Ukrenergo.
As per Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, CEO of Ukrenergo, Russia struck about 70 major energy facilities across Ukraine during those attacks.
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