A conflict arose between the Kyiv City State Administration and MPs over the protection of the capital’s energy sector: details, accusations and answers
10 October 20:45
The Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) has reacted sharply to the information about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to attacks by strike UAVs, which was spread in the media after the attack by the Russian Armed Forces on the night of October 10. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the KCSA website.
Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration Petro Panteleev called on media representatives and officials “not to spread false information,” especially those related to the operation of energy facilities.
Such information is a political manipulation and does not correspond to reality. According to the requirements of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Kyiv’s CHP plants have the necessary first-stage protection. Security requirements do not allow us to share more detailed information about this protection in the public domain. And those who consider themselves experts on the topic and take responsibility for commenting on it cannot but be aware of such requirements,” he said.
He also emphasized that the dissemination of data on the places of destruction and the state of protection of critical infrastructure facilities is classified as restricted information by the order of the Ministry of Energy No. 92 of 15.03.2023. Therefore , “such comments create a number of additional risks for the energy sector and facilitate the enemy’s actions.”
Mr. Panteleev added that the power company has already restored electricity to 270,000 consumers. The power supply is being restored and should be returned to other consumers as soon as possible. So far, water supply is limited in 4 districts – Holosiivskyi, Pecherskyi, Solomianskyi and Shevchenkivskyi. To provide water to the citizens until the situation with water supply is stabilized, 84 pump rooms are connected to generators.
Protecting critical infrastructure in the capital: why the conflict arose
On the morning of October 10, politicians and experts began to make statements in the information space about the vulnerability of Kyiv’s critical energy infrastructure to enemy missile and drone strikes.
MP Oleksiy Kucherenko wrote on his Facebook page that block transformers at one of Kyiv’s thermal power plants were damaged. This happened because they were not protected from UAV strikes.
Many Kyiv residents are without water and electricity. Problems with transportation. Kyiv’s CHP plants are the property of the city, which means they are the full responsibility of the Kyiv City Council and the Kyiv City State Administration,” the MP said.
By the way, Kucherenko has already responded to the statement of the Kyiv City State Administration, which we wrote about above. On his Facebook page, he wrote the following:
“First, I would like to note that there are no “first stage” shelters. There are three levels of shelters, and the first level is the simplest and most ineffective, unfortunately. Secondly, I see no reason why Ukrenergo protects its transformers with second-level shelters, while the municipal KTE does not. It is inappropriate and even cynical to hide behind the recommendations of the General Staff. The Kyiv City Council and its executive body, the Kyiv City State Administration, are responsible for the life support of Kyiv residents, not the General Staff,” Kucherenko wrote.
He added that the parliamentary provisional investigatory commission will thoroughly investigate the situation in the near future within its competence. A corresponding letter has already been sent.
MP Iryna Gerashchenko also expressed surprise at the level of protection of the capital’s CHP plants.
“Tonight’s difficult night has shown how urgent the issue of the resilience of the Ukrainian energy system is. The enemy targeted civilian neighborhoods and energy facilities in Kyiv and other cities. The Russians have no secrets about our energy system. They are targeting thermal power plants, compressor, transformer, and distribution stations. It is still unclear what two-level defense Chernyshov, Kubrakov, and Nayem were talking about,” she wrote.
Read also: Russian Federation has struck a massive blow to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure: what is known
Kyiv without electricity and water: what is known about the drone attack and the government’s response
Late in the evening of October 9, Russian troops began attacking Kyiv’s energy infrastructure using UAVs. In particular, the capital’s thermal power plants came under attack.
At the beginning of October 10, when CHP-6 was hit, not only electricity but also water was cut off in some regions of the city. In the morning, the left bank of the capital experienced a blackout. Moreover, as MP Iryna Gerashchenko wrote on her Telegram channel, even her house in Pechersk lost power.
In addition to Kyiv, the energy infrastructure of Zaporizhzhia, Cherkasy, Poltava, Dnipro, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions was affected.
Volodymyr Omelchenko, Director of Energy Programs at the Razumkov Center, confirmed that this was the most massive Russian attack on our energy infrastructure since April-March 2024. It was a systemic strike – they attacked thermal power plants, hydroelectric power plants, and transmission operator systems.
Russia’s attack on the Ukrainian energy sector even changed the agenda of the Government’s Question Time on October 10. The Minister of Economy answered questions from MPs, and the head of the Ministry of Energy met in a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the Verkhovna Rada and factions. She said that the Russians had intensified their attacks on the Ukrainian energy system and how the government plans to counteract the blackouts.
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