U.S. prepared Ukraine’s energy grid ahead of full-scale invasion
Russian attack targeted energy sites in central Ukraine on Aug. 19 (Photo: social media video obtained by REUTERS)
The United States began preparing Ukraine for a potential Russian energy strikes even before the full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, CNN wrote, citing former national security official Brett McGurk, on Sept. 2.
Brett McGurk is a CNN global affairs analyst who served in national security under Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
McGurk said these efforts were coordinated by Amos Hochstein, the State Department’s Special Presidential Coordinator for Global Infrastructure and Energy Security under the Biden administration. Hochstein worked closely with European allies, some of whom were initially skeptical about the likelihood of a large-scale war.
Key preparations included:
-
Disconnecting Ukraine’s power grid from Russia and synchronizing it with the European network — a critical operation completed just hours before the invasion
-
Increasing energy supplies ahead of each winter season
-
Deploying mobile generators and backup power systems to support critical infrastructure — including water systems and heating
-
Distributing thermal kits and local heating units to vulnerable regions
-
Facilitating resource deliveries from Europe and energy-rich Middle Eastern countries.
McGurk said these proactive steps helped strengthen Ukraine’s energy resilience and better prepare the country for Russia’s campaign of attacks on civilian infrastructure during the cold months.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
