NYT: Political Differences in Ukraine Complicate Energy System Preparation for Winter.

Political disputes in Ukraine are slowing down preparations for a possible energy crisis this winter, reports the New York Times.

The newspaper spoke with the former head of "Ukrenergo", Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, who was dismissed in September. According to him, he supported the construction of numerous small private power plants across the country to reduce the system's vulnerability to Russian attacks.

Instead, the Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, according to Kudrytskyi, advocates for greater centralization of state companies, including the construction of new nuclear power units. Halushchenko denied these accusations, stating that planned repairs at power plants were completed on Time and Ukraine's power grid is ready for winter "with the highest possible level".

The NYT notes that U.S. and EU ambassadors in Ukraine expressed concern to Halushchenko about the slow development of decentralized generating capacities. The newspaper also links Kudrytskyi's dismissal with the resignations of Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov and head of the Restoration Agency Mustafa Nayyem, which drew criticism from Western observers.

Ukrainian authorities reject allegations of political motives in these personnel decisions. Officials assert that the energy system is prepared for winter in the best possible way, taking into account the large-scale destruction from Russian strikes.

International organizations, including the UN human rights mission in Ukraine and the International Energy Agency, warn of potential serious power outages in winter. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that the energy system situation is stable and balanced.

Divergence of Expert Opinions

Western experts disagree in their assessments of the situation. Some believe that energy problems may affect the morale of Ukrainians, while others are more optimistic about avoiding a critical scenario. Experts agree that the priority should be strengthening air defense systems to protect energy infrastructure from Russian attacks.