Ukraine has gained unique experience in countering energy terrorism and is now transforming this experience into practical solutions. First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal emphasized this during the Baku Energy Forum.
Denys Shmyhal thanked Azerbaijan for its contribution to strengthening Ukraine’s energy resilience.
“During the most challenging period of last winter, our Azerbaijani friends provided generators, transformers, cable products, and other critically important equipment. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Azerbaijan has announced eleven energy support packages for Ukraine,” the Minister stated.
He stressed that after more than three years of continuous attacks on energy infrastructure, Ukraine has developed unique approaches to ensuring energy system resilience that may be valuable for international partners.
“First and foremost, we need to think not only in terms of protecting facilities, but also in terms of protecting functions,” Denys Shmyhal noted.
Among the other key approaches highlighted were:
- protection embedded within the energy system itself;
- distributed energy resources as one of the key responses to modern energy security challenges;
- speed of recovery as a critical factor in preserving the most valuable resource — time;
- diversification of energy sources and energy supply routes.
“Ukraine and Azerbaijan can do much for Europe, particularly by expanding access to non-Russian gas and oil supplies,” Denys Shmyhal stressed.
The Minister also noted that Ukraine is prepared to share its practical experience with international partners.
“Ukraine has acquired this unique expertise at a very high cost. We are ready to share it for the sake of our common security and a better future for our peoples,” he emphasized.
During his working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal also paid tribute to the memory of Azerbaijan’s national leader Heydar Aliyev and academician Zarifa Aliyeva. At the Alley of Martyrs, he laid flowers at the graves of fighters for Azerbaijan’s independence and national heroes who lost their lives during the tragic events of Black January in 1990 and the Karabakh wars. Among them was Ukrainian pilot Viktor Seryogin, who delivered medical supplies and food to blockaded Azerbaijani villages and evacuated civilians.
“Ukrainians know what it means to experience the pain of war every day and to lose the best people who fight for their land and freedom. We thank Azerbaijan for its longstanding solidarity and support. Together, we honour the memory of our heroes,” Denys Shmyhal wrote on his Telegram channel.
