Climate Action Network Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia with the support of CAN International, and CAN Europe organized a press briefing on March 2nd. Speakers from Ukrainian NGOs explained the current situation in Ukraine and how it affects the energy security of other countries.
CAN EECCA coordinator Olha Boiko stated: “This is war. Not a “Ukraine crisis”. This is the Russian war against Ukraine. The cities are being destroyed, not only strategic objects. Dialogues don’t work in these conditions. Ukrainian society had to mobilize and has shown incredible strength by joining local territorial defense, helping with accommodation and transport, medicine and food. People in small villages block Russian tanks while being unarmed.
We had to leave our home and family in Kyiv” – said Boiko.
Ukrainian climate activist Svitlana Romanko urged the world and EU leaders to end the fossil fuel addiction that feeds Putin’s war machine.
“Climate action in Ukraine nowadays is about divestment, boycott, non-proliferation of Russian fossil fuels that weaponized the war. We have launched ‘Stand With Ukraine’ letter To the European Nation States, the US, Canada, China, India, Japan, South Korea and all other importers of Russian oil and gas. Apparently, we are witnessing a huge shift, a social change towards clean energy transition and ending fossil fuels is underway. All fossil fuels everywhere are next to become socially unacceptable energy sources and stranded assets in the world of peace that we want” – said Romanko.
Kostiantyn Krynytsky, Head of an Energy Department at NGO Ecoaction based in Ukraine explained possible energy crises, and also made a statement on Ukraine’s energy transition to the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity. He estimated the time of the transition of the Ukraine energy system to the ENTSO-E as several weeks.
“On the evening of 23th of February our energy system disconnected from Russia and Belarus. It was planned. It was a part of trial test before Ukraine synchronization to connect the European power system ENTSO-E. It was scheduled to be done next year in 2023. The original plan was to work in isolation for 72 hours, test the system and then reconnect. Clearly Russia had other plans and on 26th of February our Ministry of Energy confirmed that Ukraine won’t connect back. Currently our system is operating in isolated mode, you can call it an “Island” — said Krynytsky.
Another speaker of the press briefing, Olexiy Pasiuk, the Deputy Director of Ecoaction, talked about Chernobyl and the nuclear security of the country.
“The Russian military is advancing to the south of Ukraine in the direction of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Zaporizhya NPP consists of 6 power units with a total capacity of 6 gigawatts. It is important to understand that there is a decision of the International Atomic Energy Agency from 2009, which states that nuclear facilities should not be subjected to military attacks and used as a target. During the current war, Russia is already violating this decision.” — said Pasiuk.
According to the speaker, the danger of a rocket falling on or near one of 5 nuclear power plants is very real and would mean serious contamination for Ukraine and neighboring countries.
For more information please contact:
Baktygul Chynybaeva, Communication Manager of CAN EECCA
b.chynybaeva@gmail.com
+996550532555