Ukraine stabilizes power system with capacity deficit at about 20%: Premier

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine’s premier announced on Sunday that the country's power system has been stabilized, with the capacity deficit remaining at the level of about 20%.

“As of the end of the week, we managed to stabilize the power system. The capacity deficit remains at the level of about 20%. More than 1,000 specialists work daily to repair networks,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Facebook account.

Shmyhal said that €372 million ($387.4 million) have been allocated by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Netherlands to Ukrenergo electricity transmission system operator for the repair of damage caused by Russian attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure.

He also noted that Ukraine has decided to ban the export of firewood, due to its use as the main source of heating in regions near the frontline with Russia. “This will contribute to its accumulation,” he added.

“Unable to win on the battlefield, Russian terrorists are trying to destroy the Ukrainian energy system in order to break our resistance,” he said.

Separately, Shmyhal listed financial developments involving Ukraine in the past week, the most notable of which include an additional $4.5 billion by the US to finance the country’s budget, the transfer of €2.5 billion ($2.6 billion) from the EU to the country’s accounts, and the European Parliament’s vote to allocate €18 billion ($18.7 billion) in aid to Ukraine in 2023.

The prime minister also reiterated President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal to strengthen the humanitarian component of Ukrainian grain exports by initiating the Grain from Ukraine program.