Ukraine's biggest energy provider is living in permanent crisis mode because of Russian attacks on the grid, its chief executive has told the BBC.
Most of Ukraine is suffering from lengthy power cuts as temperatures drop, and Maxim Timchenko, whose company DTEK provides power for 5.6 million Ukrainians, says the intensity of strikes has been so frequent we just don't have time to recover.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia understands the dangers posed by winter weather as one of its most insidious weapons.
Every night Ukrainian parents hold their children in basements and shelters hoping our air defence will hold, he remarked to the Dutch parliament.
As Russia's assault on DTEK's energy infrastructure escalates, Timchenko shared that the company is facing challenges coping with the extent of the damage inflicted by drone, cruise, and ballistic missiles. Currently, many residents, including those in Odesa, go days without electricity due to coordinated attacks.
In an effort to adapt, many families are relying on generators and power banks, as they navigate daily schedules for limited power availability. With only 50% of energy furnished by central and western nuclear plants, the energy grid remains critically damaged.
Moreover, the energy provider faces significant hurdles, struggling to repair facilities and source parts within Europe, following severe damage to thermal power plants and coal facilities.
We will not give up, insists Timchenko, emphasizing their responsibility to provide power and heat to millions during these trying times as the situation remains increasingly dangerous for those working on the ground.
