Why Ukraine’s President’s Office is sounding alarms about nuclear energy strikes

What the President’s Office and the Verkhovna Rada used to call a “Russian psychological operation” is now being framed as “a threat to our energy system.”

It turns out that the Kremlin is gearing up to target critical nuclear power infrastructure — specifically the open switchgear of nuclear plants and transmission substations essential for keeping the nuclear network running. Both of Ukraine’s key communicators with the West — Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak — recently put out this warning.

Wow.

To me, this sounds like a confession of failure and looks like treason. The real question is, what have the Ministry of Energy and Energoatom been doing for the past two years? Why aren’t these substations properly secured? Has any equipment been ordered to repair or replace in case of an attack? And why, after all this, are the ministry leaders and Energoatom management still in their seats?

Is it because they’re untouchable or just convenient?

Were they so busy tearing down Kudrytskyi, the head of Ukrenergo, that they didn’t notice the glaring gaps in Energoatom’s security? No, of course not. It’s just easier to shift attention to Ukrenergo’s readiness so they can distract everyone from Energoatom’s total inaction.

And now, instead of taking responsibility, they’re scaring their Western partners. Now they’re priming the public for a catastrophic winter or some “peace plan.” Is this finally them admitting they have no idea how to manage the situation?

I’m eager to see how this unfolds. I expect a wave of so-called “bold personnel changes.”

Perhaps the Energy Minister Halushchenko will be punished by being sent off as ambassador to Argentina. And Energoatom’s head, Kotin, could be shipped off as ambassador to Kazakhstan. That’s assuming the warnings are true. If not, then Yermak and Sybiha should face consequences themselves — for pushing a “Russian PSYOP.”

We’ll soon see what the President’s Office decides. One thing’s for sure — it won’t solve our energy crisis.

Source

About the author. Lana Zerkal, Ukrainian diplomat, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for European Integration.

The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.