Can blackouts contribute to problems with gas: expert’s assessment
Volodymyr Omelchenko, Director of Energy Programmes at the Razumkov Centre, assessed whether Ukraine may face problems not only with electricity but also with gas as a result of Russian missile strikes.
On November 17, Russian aggressors carried out a massive shelling of the gas production infrastructure of Ukrgazvydobuvannya JSC in the Ukrainian East, which was confirmed by Naftogaz.
Prior to that, the Russian Federation shelled energy facilities, resulting in power outages in many regions.
– The situation is complicated. These are systemic attacks on energy infrastructure, the largest attacks in the history of mankind. Power lines are damaged, even those that connect the energy system with Rivne and Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plants,” Omelchenko said.
In his opinion, it is very dangerous and can even lead to an accident of European level.
As for the gas infrastructure, Kharkiv and Poltava regions are home to the largest fields in Ukraine, attacks on which could cause serious energy problems in winter.
– Therefore, the role of our Western partners is important here. It is necessary to increase the supply of equipment to Ukraine, – the expert said.
He stressed that there was a need to increase supplies and weapons to protect Ukraine.
– There is a direct dependence – the greater the success of the Ukrainian military at the front, the more Russia destroys civilian infrastructure, destroying, in fact, the viability of the population, – he concluded.
