Amidst a full-scale war, Ukraine's energy sector is experiencing not just restoration, but in fact a complete rebuild from scratch, according to top management of major energy companies. DTEK Strategy Director Ivan Helyukh stated this in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, emphasizing that since the beginning of the invasion, the country has simultaneously repaired equipment destroyed by Russian strikes and erected new capacities. According to him, this double burden makes the Ukrainian experience "unique for Europe".
The enemy's goal remains unchanged, but attack tactics are evolving
DTEK notes that despite changes in the tactics of Russian strikes on infrastructure, the enemy's strategic goal remains unchanged — the destruction of the Ukrainian energy system. That is why, as Helyukh emphasizes, energy companies are forced to constantly adapt: restore damaged facilities to meet current consumer needs and simultaneously build new capacities "for the future". According to the DTEK strategist, "some things work out better, some less so", but the overall vector — the creation of a new energy system — persists throughout all the years of the war.
The shareholder's fundamental position: not to postpone construction until peace
Helyukh calls the fundamental position of DTEK shareholder Rinat Akhmetov the key factor allowing the company to carry out construction under combat conditions: the construction of new energy capacities is not postponed until the end of the war. The company continues to invest in the restoration and development of Ukraine's energy sector, maintaining its course toward leadership in the sector. This essentially turns DTEK's investment program into an element of the national energy security strategy.
International context: forum, DFC, and a call to investors
The company's position is not limited to the domestic market. Earlier, DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko stated at the Kyiv International Economic Forum that the company will continue to invest in Ukraine's energy sector "despite all the uncertainty, all the challenges, and the destruction of our capacities". Timchenko emphasized that cooperation with international financial institutions and private investors plays an important role in attracting capital, and one of the signals of trust was the decision of the US financial institution DFC to co-invest with the Ukrainian company. Against this background, Timchenko publicly urged international investors to invest funds in Ukraine's energy sector.
The company's scale as a factor of resilience
DTEK's investment activity is underpinned by its scale: according to open reports, the company remains one of the country's largest taxpayers, which provides the resource base for simultaneous restoration and construction. Together, the statements by Helyukh and Timchenko paint a picture of an energy system that, under wartime conditions, is not just staying afloat, but is purposefully being rebuilt — relying on domestic investments and international partnership.
