German minister: Europe should learn from Ukraine's experience of blackouts

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul believes Europe should closely study Ukraine's experience of energy resilience.

Source: Wadephul during the international conference Energy Security – Lessons from Ukraine, as reported by Ukrinform and European Pravda

Details: Wadephul said that attacks on the energy sector are not merely strikes on infrastructure, but attacks on a state's ability to function.

"Today is about listening to Ukraine's political and economic decision-makers, communities, civil society and experts. To learn from their experience. Their flexibility. Their perseverance. And their innovativeness. Because Ukraine has accumulated hard-earned expertise that the European Union urgently needs to bolster its own resilience and energy security," he said.

Wadephul stated that Russia has turned energy infrastructure into one of the key instruments of pressure in its war against Ukraine.

Meanwhile, he added that Ukrainian society has managed to adapt to constant attacks on the energy system.

"For more than four years now, entire cities have adapted to scheduled rolling blackouts; hospitals have installed backup systems powered by solar panels and batteries; railway networks have adapted their operations to the unstable power supply," he noted.

Wadephul emphasised that Ukraine's experience proves resilience is impossible without constant adaptation, adding that threats to energy security now extend beyond Ukraine.

"Across Europe, we are – already today – witnessing an increase in hybrid attacks against critical infrastructure: we are seeing cyberattacks against utilities; we are seeing unidentified drones over energy facilities; and we are seeing damage to undersea cables, pipelines and communication networks," he said.

Wadephul added that critical infrastructure has become a "a frontline of geopolitical confrontation", meaning Europe needs a new understanding of energy security as a comprehensive security issue.

Background:

• Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister, said in April that Ukraine's partners had announced additional contributions of around €100 million to the Energy Support Fund.
• Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the first tranche of the €90 billion package would be directed "towards domestic production for defence" as well as the energy sector.

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