During his working visit to Zaporizhzhia region, Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko held a meeting on the progress of restoration and protection of critical infrastructure at energy facilities in the region and the heating season 2023-2024. The meeting was attended by representatives of the regional military administration, Zaporizhzhia City Council, the State Inspectorate for Energy Supervision, energy companies, the State Emergency Service, the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection, and the Security Service of Ukraine.

The Minister of Energy stressed that the security situation in the frontline region remained difficult. However, providing consumers with stable and reliable electricity supply is a key task.

"Unfortunately, the weather conditions, in addition to the war, are adding to the challenges we face. The efficiency and speed of restoration are crucial. The second important objective is to protect both trunk and local lines and the generation facilities in Zaporizhzhia region," the Minister said.

German Galushchenko noted that the enemy daily launches localised attacks on energy facilities in the frontline areas, and there are still threats of massive attacks on the energy infrastructure in general.

"But the energy sector has proven its resilience even during the war and in the cold. Despite the predictions of various pseudo-experts and messages spread by kremlin propaganda, we are working stably and providing Ukrainians with light and heat," he stressed.

The head of Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration Yurii Malashko informed the participants of the meeting about the actions taken by the regional authorities to strengthen the protection of power facilities: "One of the priorities of the regional military administration is to set up the first level of protection for energy facilities, and we are providing anti-drone protection." At the same time, the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration noted that some of the region's power facilities had been damaged by the hostilities, and 63 settlements near the contact line were currently without power.

According to Ruslan Slobodian, head of the State Service for Energy Supervision, substations that supply critical infrastructure have been identified in the region and need to be fortified. One of the most problematic issues is the lack of specialised equipment: more than 30 units of equipment have been damaged as a result of the hostilities. In particular, there is a need for aerial platforms, cranes and bulldozers. Ruslan Slobodian noted that this issue was being worked out at the level of the Ministry of Energy and asked the regional authorities to provide assistance to the power engineers.

The participants of the meeting discussed the needs of the region in power equipment and special machinery. German Galushchenko urged representatives of energy companies to apply to the Humanitarian Energy Hub with relevant requests. The hub is coordinated by the Ministry of Energy and distributes equipment provided by international partners, among other things, to companies according to their needs.