Zelensky warns of ‘hardest winter’ for Ukraine

“Due to the war with Russia Now, this is really going to be the hardest winter since Ukraine’s independence.” Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address on the evening of June 7.

Zelensky said he had asked government officials and representatives of Ukraine’s state energy company to set up a “command station” to be ready to cope with the soaring heating needs of the people in winter.

“The most important issues are purchasing enough gas for heating, coal storage and power generation,” Zelensky said. “At this time, we will stop selling gas and coal abroad. All domestic gas and coal production will serve the needs of the Ukrainian people.”

Mr. Zelensky also thinks that connecting Ukraine With Europe’s unified energy network, it will help the country export electricity, increase foreign exchange earnings, as well as help neighboring countries reduce Russian energy consumption. Ukraine is planning to repair power generation and heating plants damaged or destroyed in the fighting with Russia.

Ukraine has for years implemented the European Union’s (EU) Third Energy Package, which gives up state ownership of energy giants such as Naftogaz and Ukrenergo. Ukraine also stopped importing gas from Russia, buying instead from Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.

The special military operation launched by Russia on February 24 is assessed to have had a heavy impact on Ukraine’s electricity industry, with a supply structure of 52% from nuclear power, 28% of coal power, and 10% of energy. renewable and 8% natural gas.

Some Ukrainian coal-fired power plants in the separatist-held area of ​​Lugansk province are disconnected from the national grid, while most of Ukraine’s wind and solar power plants are idle. Russian forces are in control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Ukraine’s largest facility, and keep operations there to a minimum.

Nguyen Tien (Follow CNN)