Energy network in the Kremlin's sights: Zelenskyj: Attack as expensive as "2.3 million Russian pensions"

The Russian attacks on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure put President Zelenskyj under pressure: Shortly before the onset of winter he had to organize quick help to rebuild the destroyed power plants – and turned to the EU. But their help is far from enough.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is hoping for help from the EU to restore Ukraine’s energy grid, which has been badly damaged by Russian attacks, before the start of winter. Forty percent of the energy system is “severely damaged,” said the head of state at a meeting with EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson in Kyiv. “We will do everything we can to provide people with electricity and heat this winter,” he promised in his daily video speech in the evening.

“The position of the terrorists is absolutely transparent, and this challenge should be seen as a challenge for all of Europe,” Zelenskyy said. Moscow will propaganda present the difficulties of the winter as alleged proof of the failure of a united Europe. “That’s why we have to show the terrorists together that ‘failure’ is a word about them and not about Europe,” said the President.

Russia will do everything “to destroy the normality of life” and does not take into account the costs of this “energy terror”. Zelenskyy calculated that the latest rocket and drone attack on Monday “cost the equivalent of 2.3 million average Russian pensions”. “And that’s just for one attack.”

Zelenskyy suggested that the EU Commission should play a coordinating role in restoring his country’s energy infrastructure. He recalled the Ukraine contact group, the so-called Ramstein format, in which the supporter countries coordinate their arms assistance. According to media reports, there should also be a “Ramstein” for business and energy. “I am sure that we will restore everything,” said Zelenskyj.

According to the Brussels authority, the Commission and the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy, among others, will launch a campaign in the coming days to mobilize further support from the private sector. The EU, the EU states and private companies have already supplied emergency energy equipment worth several million euros. “In view of the escalating attacks by Russia”, however, support must be increased. The EU is providing 13 million euros for the repair of laboratories at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.