First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal took part in the 6th Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen.

“Today, we spoke about resilience. Resilience is always built by people. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has been attacking Ukraine’s energy system every day with guided aerial bombs, drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. Yet the system is still alive and operational. This is thanks to our people who report for duty every day and continue doing their job,” Denys Shmyhal emphasized.

The Minister of Energy shared the story of Liudmyla Kozak, who worked at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant during the occupation in 2022: “A shift that normally lasts 12 hours stretched to more than 600 hours that time. She was afraid, but she continued doing her job to protect Ukraine from disaster. Because she could not do otherwise.”

“These are the people who, in the twenty-degree frost last winter, restored heat to Kyiv’s apartment buildings. The miners who repeatedly return to the surface after Russia’s attacks cause mines to lose power. The engineers and technicians who search for and find solutions every day that exist neither in textbooks nor in established protocols,” Denys Shmyhal emphasized.

Ukrainian specialists have developed unique protective structures for energy facilities of different levels and capacities. Ukrainian energy workers and engineers have created innovative engineering and technical protection systems that help safeguard energy facilities even following ballistic missile strikes. Damage can now be repaired within weeks rather than months.

All of this is also made possible through the continued support of Ukraine’s international partners, the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Energy added. Almost 6,000 tonnes of energy equipment have been delivered this year from the Ministry of Energy’s distribution hubs to regions and communities. This includes generators, transformers, cogeneration units and modular boiler plants.

“We thank our partners for their assistance and support, which is translated into tangible results. Ukrainian light will prevail over Russian darkness,” Denys Shmyhal emphasized.