During a working visit to Vienna, Ukraine’s Minister of Energy, German Galushchenko, met with the newly appointed EU Energy Commissioner, Dan Jørgensen.
The Minister briefed the Commissioner on the ongoing russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which have intensified in recent times, as well as the measures being taken by Ukraine to protect the energy sector and maintain system stability.
"In the past three months, missiles and drones fly dangerously close to nuclear power plants, creating a real threat of strikes on nuclear facilities. Over 120 cases have been recorded where missiles or drones flew over or near nuclear stations. Previously, the primary threat came from drones, but now russia is using significantly more expensive missiles. This demonstrates their readiness to achieve their goals at any cost," stated German Galushchenko.
Special attention was given to nuclear safety issues. Galushchenko highlighted the risks posed by russian shelling of substations critical to the stable operation of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. In this context, he emphasized the importance of coordinated actions between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Union to ensure the operation of monitoring missions at these substations.
The parties also discussed international assistance mechanisms for Ukraine’s energy sector, particularly the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, which has proven to be an effective tool for attracting donor aid.
Additionally, they addressed key issues related to Ukraine’s continued integration into the European energy market, energy market reforms, and updates to Ukrainian energy legislation.
