Ukraine needs energy 'Ramstein', special official, more solar and wind power plants: former energy minister explains top priorities

He expressed this opinion on Espreso TV.

"We need a position at the level of Deputy Prime Minister with the authority to give the command to 'make a conference call', to give the command to 'develop schedules', to set consumption limits for cities and regions. This is a very big organisational job, but it requires some kind of structure and authority," Plachkov added, which is why the Energy Minister cannot give orders to the heads of localities, as they are not subordinate to him.

In the current situation, he said, it is necessary to provide social infrastructure with diesel generators, including hospitals, kindergartens and schools, to ensure uninterrupted power supply. At the same time, it is necessary to accumulate this resource.

The former minister believes that this can be done in three ways. The first is solar panels, which will help supply both private households and industrial enterprises. For this purpose, it would even be worthwhile to provide loans.

"Secondly, there are wind power plants, which DTEK has been building during the war, even 100 kilometres from the frontline. Thirdly, there are diesel generator power plants, combined cycle power plants - small, mobile ones. But once again, we need funds. We receive assistance from European countries, but this is not enough. Firstly, we need to create an energy Rammstein and make the most of the equipment that is currently available at closed power plants in Poland, Romania, Germany, and the Baltic States," he concluded.

Russia's bombardment of Ukraine's energy plants

On March 22, the Russian occupation army attacked the largest hydroelectric power plant in Ukraine, DniproHES. A person was killed in the attack. Oil products also got into the river.

On March 25, Ukrhydroenergo said that it would take years to restore DniproHES.

On the night of April 11, Russia again launched a massive air attack on Ukrainian territory. A total of 82 missiles and drones were launched. Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed 18 missiles and 39 attack drones.

As a result of the massive Russian attack, the Trypillia thermal power plant in Kyiv region was completely destroyed. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the TPP would not have been destroyed by the Russian forces if the country had modern Patriot air defence systems.

Yasno CEO Serhiy Kovalenko urged Ukrainians to save electricity in the evening throughout 2024.