By: Lydia Roeder
Since October 2022, Russia has carried out over 1,350 missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure[i], disrupting the lives of over 12 million households nationwide every hour.[ii] Through these constant attacks, Ukraine has suffered over a 40 percent decrease in power generation capacity and remains unable to provide electricity to 30 percent of its population.[iii] As the winter season continues, many worry about Ukraine’s survival chances as millions face losing access to critical necessities such as electricity, heat, and water.[iv]
Despite ongoing support for Ukraine, there has been a growing debate amongst Europeans on whether to prioritize their own winter emergencies or continue to pour endless aid into Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Many citizens are concerned about Europe’s capacity to produce electricity as nations such as France and Germany brace for sky-high gas and energy market prices.[v] Meanwhile, in countries like the Czech Republic, there have already been reports of protests by at least 70,000 citizens demanding their government abandon its anti-Russian posture as inflation hits 10 percent.[vi]However, it is critical for the international community, specifically the United States and the European Union (EU), to remain steadfast in providing the funds and resources necessary to prevent what the Kyiv Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, calls, “the worst winter since World War II.”[vii] This support could just be democracy’s saving grace in winning the war.
So far, the United States remains the most responsive nation to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Since Russia began targeting energy infrastructure in early October, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced two major aid packages for Ukraine. The first included a $55 million investment towards Ukraine’s heating infrastructure through its Energy Security Project.[viii] Specifically, this assistance will aid in “repairs and maintenance of pipes and other equipment necessary to deliver heating to homes, hospitals, schools, and businesses across Ukraine.”[ix]This investment is expected to help up to 7 million Ukrainians across the nation.[x] The second package, which was announced on January 18, 2023, included an additional $125 million to support Ukraine’s energy and electricity grids.[xi]According to the statement given by Administrator Samantha Power, this supplementary funding will be used to obtain critical industrial equipment – e.g., high voltage autotransformers, gas turbines, backup power for heating and water services, and repair equipment for distribution substation – to maintain heating and water supplies across Kyiv.[xii] In addition to helping repair necessary heating and water equipment, the agency has also delivered 1,548 generators to 22 regions across the nation to support key buildings such as hospitals, schools, centers, and shelters.[xiii]
Meanwhile, the European Commission has teamed up with the EU Energy Community Secretariat to create the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, where countries and companies can provide donations to help Ukraine secure the equipment, tools, generators, and fuel needed to repair energy infrastructure and keep citizens connected to the grid throughout winter.[xiv] So far, the fund has raised over $166 million and has delivered more than 1,000 tons of additional parts and specialized equipment to Ukraine.[xv] In addition to these shipments, the European Union President, Ursula von der Leyen, recently announced that they will provide “40 new large generators from the RescEU reserve to provide uninterrupted power to 30 hospitals across the country, 100 small-medium power generators from France, 19 generators from Slovakia, 23 generators from Germany, and 4 emergency power systems from Poland, and 252 transformers from Lithuania” through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.[xvi] The European Union has also committed to providing 800 power generators, mobilizing funds to purchase up to 30 million energy-saving lightbulbs, and establishing a new RescEU energy hub in Poland to store and transport third-party donations to Ukraine.[xvii] Countries, including Germany[xviii], France[xix], and Spain[xx], have also sent hundreds of generators and millions in financial aid to Ukraine to supplement these efforts. Although this assistance has been impactful, it is not enough.
In order to make real and lasting changes to Ukraine’s damaged energy infrastructure, it will need more autotransformers, as these are key to keeping the nation’s electrical grid running. However, in a statement given by Olena Zerkal, an adviser to Ukraine’s Energy Ministry, Ukraine has already done everything it can to increase its stock of autotransformers. “We try to collect everything worldwide that they have now and order more.”[xxi] Therefore, it is up to Western nations to take the initiative and figure out the logistics of how Ukraine can increase its supply of autotransformers. That said, this will not be an easy feat as autotransformers are high-tech and expensive machinery that is difficult to replace. To make matters worse, each autotransformer weighs over 500 pounds, rendering them vulnerable to Russian airstrikes while en route to Ukraine.[xxii]
In addition to autotransformers, Ukraine will also need the West to help provide voltage and current transformers, surge arresters, disconnectors, circuit breakers, and protection systems to keep its grid powered.[xxiii] However, unlike autotransformers, which require specific parts, these other pieces of equipment do not need to be in perfect condition and anything salvageable will suffice.[xxiv] Even though the European Union and the United States have already sent some of these parts, more are required as Russia continues to strike Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Delivering the necessary equipment will come at a cost for the West. According to Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, European governments have become more cautious in their support for Ukraine due to the risk of social unrest from citizens.[xxv] In particular, many EU citizens have begun to voice concerns over the effectiveness of the economic and energy sanctions on Russia, the longevity of the war, and the increasing cost of living. These apprehensions are the most apparent in countries such as Germany, where 47 percent of citizens believe that Germany’s support to Ukraine has caused more harm than good; in France, where unconditional support for sanctions against Russia has dropped from 46 percent in March to just 40 percent by September; and in Hungary and Austria where government leaders are calling for a referendum to end current and future sanctions.[xxvi] In order to counter this rising trend, the European Union must promote unity and define the use of sanctions and aid as a necessary security measure to counter Russian aggression rather than as a means to support Ukrainian victory.
Time is of the essence for Ukraine. As weather conditions worsen, more Ukrainians will be left in the dark and cold without any means of survival. Therefore, it is pertinent that the international community comes together and quickly resolves Ukraine’s energy infrastructure dilemma. Specifically, the United States and the European Union should prioritize providing autotransformers to Ukraine over other technological needs, as it remains a top demand in Ukraine’s ever-growing list of needs. Continuing this support for Ukraine will not be easy for Western nations as disdain amongst citizens continues to grow, but it is a necessary risk as the fate of the current world order rests in Ukraine’s hands.
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Adler, Nils. “’Heroes to All of Us’: Ukraine’s Energy Repair Crews.” Al Jazeera. February 23, 2023. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/2/23/heroes-to-all-of-us-ukraines- energy-repair-crews.
“Foreign Affairs Sends New Electrical Equipment to Ukraine to Alleviate Power Outages.” La Moncloa. December 13, 2022. https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/gobierno/news/paginas/2022/20221213_aid-to- ukraine.aspx.
“France Sends Generators to Ukraine, Calls Russia’s Strikes ‘War Crimes’.” Euromaidan Press. November 25, 2022. https://euromaidanpress.com/2022/11/25/france-sends-generators- to-ukraine-calls-russias-strikes-war-crimes/.
Horowitz, Julia. “European Power Prices Shatter Records as Energy Crisis Intensifies.” CNN Business. August 29, 2022. https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/29/energy/europe-power- prices/index.html.
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Mackintosh, Eliza, Kesaieva, Yulia. “Insider Putin’s Plot to Break Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure.” CNN. February 24, 2023. https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2023/02/europe/putin-ukraine-energy-infrastructure- attack/index.html.
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Popowski, Maciej. “Standing with the Ukrainian People: EU Delivers Further Energy Support for the Winter.” European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. December 13, 2022. https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/news- stories/news/standing-ukrainian-people-eu-delivers-further-energy-support-winter-2022- 12-13_en.
Sabadus, Aura. “Ukraine Needs Urgent Help to Counter Putin’s Energy Infrastructure Attacks.” Atlantic Council.November 14, 2022. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/ukraine-needs-urgent-help-to- counter-putins-energy-infrastructure-attacks/.
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[i] Eliza Mackintosh and Yulia Kesaieva, “Insider Putin’s Plot to Break Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure,” CNN, February 24, 2023, https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2023/02/europe/putin-ukraine-energy-infrastructure-attack/index.html.
[ii] Nils Adler, “’Heroes to All of Us’: Ukraine’s Energy Repair Crews,” Al Jazeera, February 23, 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/2/23/heroes-to-all-of-us-ukraines-energy-repair-crews.
[iii] Suriya Evans-Pritchard Jayanti, “Ukraine Struggles to Repair Power Grid as Russian Airstrikes Continue,” Atlantic Council, January 13, 2023, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/ukraine-struggles-to-repair-power-grid-as-russian-airstrikes-continue/.
[iv] Ibid.
[v] Julia Horowitz, “European Power Prices Shatter Records as Energy Crisis Intensifies,” CNN Business, August 29, 2022, https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/29/energy/europe-power-prices/index.html.
[vi] “It’s Going to Hurt’: US Fears Europe’s Anti-Russia Resolve Will Waver Over Soaring Energy Prices,” Sputnik, September 9, 2022, https://sputniknews.com/20220912/its-going-to-hurt-us-fears-europes-anti-russia-resolve-will-waver-over-soaring-energy-prices-1100696093.html.
[vii] “Ukraine Updates: ‘Worst Winter Since WWII,’ Kyiv Major Says,” Deutsche Welle, November 23, 2022, https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-updates-worst-winter-since-wwii-says-kyiv-mayor/a-63856110.
[viii] Office of Press Relations, “USAID Announces Additional $125 Million in Urgent Energy Support for Ukraine,” USAID, January 18, 2023, https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/jan-18-2023-usaid-announces-additional-125-million-urgent-energy-support-ukraine.
[ix] Ibid.
[x] Ibid.
[xi] Ibid
[xii] Ibid.
[xiii] Ibid.
[xiv] Eliza Mackintosh and Yulia Kesaieva, “Insider Putin’s Plot to Break Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure.”
[xv] Ibid.
[xvi] Maciej Popowski, “Standing with the Ukrainian People: EU Delivers Further Energy Support for the Winter,” European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, December 13, 2022, https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/news-stories/news/standing-ukrainian-people-eu-delivers-further-energy-support-winter-2022-12-13_en.
[xvii] Ibid.
[xviii] “Ticker: Solidarity with Ukraine,” Deutschland.de, February 28, 2023, https://www.deutschland.de/en/news/ticker-solidarity-with-ukraine.
[xix] “France Sends Generators to Ukraine, Calls Russia’s Strikes ‘War Crimes’,” Euromaidan Press, November 25, 2022, https://euromaidanpress.com/2022/11/25/france-sends-generators-to-ukraine-calls-russias-strikes-war-crimes/.
[xx] “Foreign Affairs Sends New Electrical Equipment to Ukraine to Alleviate Power Outages,” La Moncloa, December 13, 2022, https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/gobierno/news/paginas/2022/20221213_aid-to-ukraine.aspx.
[xxi] David L. Stern, Emily Rauhala, and Michael Birnbaum, “Ukrainian Energy Systems on Brink of Collapse After Weeks of Russian Bombing,” The Washington Post, November 23, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/11/23/ukraine-infrastructure-damage-electricity-water-russia/.
[xxii] Ibid.
[xxiii] Aura Sabadus, “Ukraine Needs Urgent Help to Counter Putin’s Energy Infrastructure Attacks,” Atlantic Council, November 14, 2022, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/ukraine-needs-urgent-help-to-counter-putins-energy-infrastructure-attacks/.
[xxiv] Ibid.
[xxv] Eszter Zalan, “Will Europeans’ Support for Ukraine Survive the Winter?” EU Observer, October 27, 2022, https://euobserver.com/ukraine/156349.
[xxvi] Ibid.
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