Ukraine’s energy system still dates back to the Soviet era and is highly centralized. This very structure makes it extremely vulnerable in Russia’s war of aggression, as the Kyivpost analyzes in an opinion piece. Russia has repeatedly attacked power plants and substations, leaving large parts of the country without electricity for extended periods.
Community models as a blueprint
In the European Union, decentralized energy projects have long been commonplace. Citizens, municipalities and local businesses form cooperatives, build solar plants or wind turbines, and supply themselves with electricity. These models demonstrate how energy production and management can work at the local level.
For Ukraine, this means it must remove legal hurdles and enable citizen cooperatives. Access to the power grid must be simplified so that small producers can feed in their electricity. In addition, state funding programs and pilot projects are needed to facilitate the transition.
Resilience through local control
True resilience does not come from modern technology alone, but from local control. When communities decide for themselves where and how they produce electricity, they become active producers and co-owners of a stronger, more democratic energy system. This not only protects against attacks but also strengthens the local economy and independence from central suppliers.
The Kyivpost therefore calls on Ukraine to set the course now to move from the outdated Soviet structure to a decentralized, citizen-oriented energy model. Only in this way can energy supply be secured in the long term while strengthening democracy in the country.
Source: www.kyivpost.com
