Ukrainian energy workers have turned their forced experience of survival into a systematic practice that is now being studied abroad. A delegation from Estonia — representatives of the relevant ministry and executives of the country's energy companies — visited the DTEK Enerho thermal power plant. According to the company, the purpose of the visit was to learn how Ukraine operates, protects its equipment, and restores its energy infrastructure under the constant threat of attacks.

What Was Shown to the Estonian Specialists

During the visit, the guests familiarized themselves with the daily work of energy workers and repair crews who maintain equipment in a state of constant combat readiness. DTEK emphasized that over the years of the full-scale war, Ukrainian specialists have accumulated a practice unique in Europe: how to keep generation running, minimize the consequences of strikes, and quickly return capacity to service. It was precisely this practical experience, rather than theoretical schemes, that formed the basis of the demonstration for the Estonian delegation.

Physical Protection and Technical Solutions

A key part of the visit was the approaches to the physical protection of critical equipment. DTEK representatives demonstrated technical solutions developed over the years of war: from engineering measures to protect generation units to organizational schemes that allow work and repairs to continue under conditions of risk. The company notes that such developments may be useful to European countries that are now strengthening the readiness of their own power systems to new security risks.

Scale of Strikes and Restoration

The importance of this experience is highlighted by the statistics: since the start of the full-scale invasion, DTEK's thermal power plants have been attacked by the enemy more than 230 times. Each such strike requires not only repairs but also a review of protection and restoration schemes. The methodology of working under threat, accumulated over this period, has become the product that the Ukrainian side is ready to share with partners.

Preparation for the 2026/2027 Winter

In parallel with the exchange of experience, DTEK is carrying out large-scale preparation for the 2026/2027 winter. According to the company, as part of this preparation, 37 energy objects of the grid infrastructure have been upgraded. This allows not only to restore damaged sections but also to increase the resilience of the grid ahead of the most energy-intensive season, which traditionally coincides with the peak of risks for generation.

Significance for European Energy Security

For Europe, the Ukrainian case is a rare example of real, rather than simulated, operation of a power system under conditions of armed threat. DTEK explicitly states that its developments in protection and restoration may be in demand by countries that are reassessing their own readiness to new security risks. The visit of the Estonian delegation to the DTEK Enerho thermal power plant is part of this trend: European energy workers are coming for practical experience that cannot be found in textbooks.