Estonia has committed to providing Ukraine with long term financial assistance as the country prepares for another winter of Russian attacks against its energy grid. Prime Minister Mihal has called for urgent European support to bridge the growing gap between Ukraine’s supply and demand.
According to UkrInform, the Estonian Prime Minister Kristein Mhal said that Europe must help Ukraine with energy exports and goods, as well as financial support, to get it through the winter, amid Russian strikes against power infrastructure.
The International Energy Agency had warned earlier that the winter ahead would be Ukraine’s toughest test since the start of Russia’s war. This is because many power plants were destroyed or damaged by missile attacks.
In 2022 and 20, about half of Ukraine’s generating capacity had been occupied, destroyed or damaged by Russian forces. About half of major power substations were damaged by drones and missiles.
There is a large gap between the available supply and peak demand, given that Ukraine has lost more than two-thirds its electricity production capacity.
From March to August, Russian troops launched nine waves, massive, complex and coordinated attacks, on energy facilities in 20 regions of Ukraine, including Kyiv. This resulted in power outages lasting between 4 and 18 hours per day.
“The winter that is coming in Ukraine will be harsh.” Everyone knows that Russia is deliberately and systematically bombing different energy and thermal infrastructures. Europe can help Ukraine by providing energy exports, goods and financial support in the winter.
The official assured that Estonia will continue to support Ukraine in its defensive battle against Russia.
Mihal reminded that Estonia had committed to providing Ukraine support amounting 0.25% of their GDP over the next years.
Colonel Ants Kiviselg of the Estonian Defense Forces Intelligence Center said earlier that Ukrainian strikes against artillery ammunition storage depots will worsen the shortages of Russian munitions.
Recent Ukrainian Armed Forces have struck a central artillery and missile depot in the settlement Karachev, Bryansk Oblast. Several sources claim that the depot contained ammunition from North Korea. This is the fourth artillery munitions depot to be destroyed by drone attacks.
Read More @ euromaidanpress.com