Ukraine isn’t worrying about keeping the lights on after it unplugged its power grid from Russia.
Partnering with Moldova and the European Union, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Wednesday his country synchronized its power grid with the Continental European Grid. Zelensky touted the partnership as Ukraine joining the “energy EU.”
“The enemy expected that the Ukrainian power system would collapse, that we would not be able to cope,” Zelensky said. “But the Ukrainian energy system has worked stably and steadily throughout the 21 days of the war, as recognized by Europeans. And starting from today we are no longer alone. As of today, Ukrainian electricity flows to Europe and European electricity flows to Ukraine.”
?? has become a member of ?? Energy Union. The unification of ?? & ?? energy systems has been completed. Now ?? electricity flows in ?? & vice versa. Grateful to ?? members, personally to @vonderleyen, @KadriSimson & everyone, thanks to whom we now have a single energy system!
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 16, 2022
Ukraine has been lobbying to join the EU for years, and its efforts have increased in recent weeks as it continues to repel Russian forces from conquering key areas throughout the country. Though the EU has said Ukraine’s application will not be fast-tracked, a statement from the commissioner for energy on Wednesday noted that the grid integration was part of welcoming Ukraine into Europe.
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“This will help Ukraine to keep their electricity system stable, homes warm, and lights on during these dark times,” Kadri Simson said. “It is also a historic milestone for the EU-Ukraine relationship — in this area, Ukraine is now part of Europe.”
Simson said the project of synchronizing the grids normally takes a year, but the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity finished in just two weeks.
Energy concerns have complicated Ukraine’s resistance, including keeping power running to its nuclear energy sites.
After Russia seized control of Chernobyl earlier this month, fighting caused a power outage at the facility. Electricity at the site was keeping water flowing around the dormant nuclear reactors, preventing a possibly catastrophic meltdown. Other pressing concerns included providing heat and light for the more than 200 workers staffing the facility.
Battles for control over who is providing solutions to the power outages raged in news releases, with Belarus and Ukraine each claiming that it had successfully brought the plant back online.
The International Atomic Energy Association said Ukraine claimed its specialists had restored one of the two power lines to the plant on March 13. However, Ukraine’s transmission system operator, Ukrenergo, said that “occupying forces” damaged the lines again on Monday.
Belarus claimed on Wednesday that it is supplying power to the plant, saying supply at the plant is “completely restored.”
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Besides establishing a reliable source of electricity, the EU appears prepared to also ensure Ukraine does not suffer outages of gas — a key export of Russia.
“The EU will continue to support Ukraine in the energy sector, by ensuring the reverse flows of gas to the country and the delivery of energy supplies that are badly needed,” Simson said. “We are also looking forward to the time when we can continue our excellent cooperation on the green transition and market reforms.”
