Green energy as a force against Russian shelling
Amid regular Russian energy terror, people are pinning their hopes on green power. As does 80-year-old Oleksandr, who saves his neighbors during blackouts with his inventions.
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“We just have to get through the winter.”
“If only it wasn’t so cold, and there were no blackouts.”
For three years in a row, Ukrainians have been repeating these words to themselves.
But not Oleksandr. Despite being almost in his eighties, he built an entire power plant from scrap metal in his backyard. For the past eight years, his inventions have ensured he hasn’t experienced a single day without electricity.
As blackouts and shelling of the power grid continue, many Ukrainians might soon find themselves following in his footsteps.
Just over a week ago, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico threatened to cut off electricity supplies to Ukraine — jeopardizing a critical lifeline for Ukraine’s hobbled energy system. This was Bratislava's response to Kyiv halting the transit of Russian gas through its territory.
During the full-scale invasion, energy has become not only a target for Russian attacks but also a bargaining chip for the West. With all thermal power plants and almost all hydroelectric capacity in Ukraine destroyed by Russia, renewable energy sources offer a promising solution for a theoretical post-war reconstruction period. They could make Ukraine greener and more energy-secure – and a model for the entire world.
Long before renewable energy became a wartime topic, Oleksandr Klymenko embraced it as a necessity. Thus, on the outskirts of Dnipro, just over 100 kilometers from the front line, stands a wind generator of his design, its silhouette reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower.
Oleksandr Klymenko has loved tinkering since he was a boy. Throughout his life, he repaired cars and motorcycles. These days, he sometimes helps his neighbors, though he doesn’t charge money—unless, he jokes, they buy him a round of drinks.
Still, Oleksandr has never been one to sit idle. After retiring, he set out to build a wind generator, which took him six months.
Despite his age, Oleksandr has outpaced many in Ukraine when it comes to adapting to an unstable energy landscape.
For decades, Ukraine has struggled with energy dependence on Russia. Knowing this, Moscow has repeatedly used it as a weapon to coerce political concessions. Despite its vast energy potential — both conventional and renewable — Ukraine has found itself in crises again and again.
Moreover, Moscow kept Ukraine dependent on the Cold War-era joint power grid. Ukrainian authorities feared that leaving it would escalate relations with Russia on the eve of a full-scale invasion.
This created the risk that Russia would be able to simply cut off the electricity supply to Ukraine at any time. It was not until the night of February 24, 2022, that Ukraine left the joint electricity system, integrating into the European system.
Despite the horror caused by Russia over the past three years, it's possible that there may be hard-fought positives that come out of the war. Many hope that it may serve as a catalyst for Ukraine to rebuild its energy system into something far more resilient and modern than the one it inherited from the Soviet Union.
Previously, Ukraine's energy generation was dominated by traditional fossil fuel power and nuclear energy, while renewable sources made up less than 10 percent. The country’s centralized system, which relied on just a few sources, left it highly vulnerable to attack.
For instance, targeting a single thermal or hydroelectric power plant could disrupt the electricity supply nationwide. The Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant – Europe’s largest – not only cut off a significant portion of Ukraine’s electricity but also raised global concerns about the future of nuclear energy.
All this provoked the need to find new solutions, namely to understand the need to stop relying on large energy facilities, and to decentralize production among smaller ones. Vital in this is the use of renewable sources: the sun, wind, water, or biological waste.
«[The transition to green energy is necessary] not only because we are aiming to join the European Union. Around the world, including in Ukraine, there is a shift toward new technologies simply because they are cheaper than investing in lengthy traditional projects,” said Anna Ackermann, an analyst at the International Institute for Sustainable Development, which recommends policies on climate change and energy.
Among other things, decentralization means that some electricity consumers will also become producers of electricity, especially green energy. For example, many Ukrainians could build local wind generators, like Oleksandr Klymenko. This could also be done at the level of individual companies and communities.
In some parts of Ukraine, energy stability is getting worse. One such place is the city of Dnipro, which is frequently attacked – and often targeted for its power system. As the front gradually approaches due to Russian advances, this significantly increases the number of weapons that can be used to attack the city, leading to more devastation of energy infrastructure.
But Oleksandr is sheltered from the worst effects. Even though he prepares for the worst-case scenario – he's built his own shelter at home, where "the bomb can't get in" – he had no problems with electricity even when the whole of Ukraine was in blackout for a day.
Oleksandr's house has become a self-organized "point of invincibility.” This is the name given to places with electricity, heat and Internet where people can wait out long power cuts. Local authorities set them up in schools, as tents on the street, or in other buildings.
Even though energy made by him can not be distributed across the street, Oleksandr is happy to welcome neighbors to his home.
“I always have light. When there’s no electricity and their phone is dead, they come here to charge,” Oleksandr told The Counteroffensive.
Currently, Ukraine remains focused on repairing damaged energy infrastructure as a condition for survival. However, Anna Ackermann notes that there is still a significant emphasis on nuclear energy. Ukraine has even begun constructing new reactors at one of its nuclear power plants to compensate for the capacity lost at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).
According to Ackerman, this approach is not particularly effective. Nuclear power is inherently expensive, and construction takes years. But electricity is needed now.
According to Anna Ackermann, despite hesitance in some quarters, the transition to green energy is critical to Ukraine’s Euro-integration process. The move toward decentralized, renewable sources not only addresses immediate needs but also lays the foundation for a more sustainable and resilient energy future for Ukraine.
One of the key conditions for Ukraine’s future membership in the European Union is decarbonization – the reduction of carbon emissions from electricity production. Kyiv will have to align its legislation with EU standards.
Ukraine has developed a strategy to generate more than one-third of its electricity from renewable sources by 2050. The ultimate goal is to transform Ukraine into an energy hub for Europe. This would help the continent eliminate its reliance on Russian fossil fuels, replacing them with clean energy produced in Ukraine.
“If we talk about the near future, Ukraine will rely on wind and solar energy for its renewable energy development. In particular, there are big plans to build wind power plants – more than 800 megawatts in 2025 alone,” Ukraine’s energy minister Herman Halushchenko told The Counteroffensive.
This planned capacity is nearly half of the total wind power capacity Ukraine had in 2021. In 2022, after Russia launched the full-scale invasion, Kyiv lost almost all of its wind power.
Oleksandr Klymenko embodies this green energy revolution like no one else. His Eiffel Tower-inspired structure isn’t just a wind generator – it’s equipped with six solar panels. His backyard became one of more than 50,000 households that installed solar panels in Ukraine.
Despite investing in them, Oleksandr acknowledges the limitations of solar panels in his area. When there’s a lot of sun, electricity is usually not needed. And in winter, when Ukraine is under constant shelling, the sun isn’t enough to light the house.
His local challenges highlight a broader issue: renewable energy sources like wind and solar power remain constrained by seasonal and geographical factors. Wind farms perform best in Ukraine’s northern regions, while solar power is most effective in the south – territories that are largely under occupation.
Yet Oleksandr, ever resourceful, has found a workaround. This year, he built a new device using simple components: a car seat, a small generator, and part of a bicycle. He usually looks for all the items at home or in the market. It cost him less than $100.
Oleksandr Klymenko pedals on his ‘bicycle’ generator
“I spent two months on it this summer,” he explained. “I’d pedal slowly for 15 minutes, and then the light would stay on for 8 hours.”
Visitors from other regions now come to see his inventions, eager to learn from him. Oleksandr welcomes them gladly.
There is no doubt that the transition to green energy will be accompanied by many challenges. But given Oleksandr's wind and solar pioneering are being adopted by Ukrainians… perhaps very soon the whole of Ukraine will be pedaling too.
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NEWS OF THE DAY
UK TO DISCUSS DEPLOYMENT OF PEACEKEEPERS TO UKRAINE: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer may visit Ukraine in the coming weeks to discuss the potential deployment of an international peacekeeping force after the war with Russia, Bloomberg reported. This would mark his first visit to Ukraine since taking office.
Discussions among European leaders about deploying peacekeepers have started, partly in response to Donald Trump's claims that the war in Ukraine would end swiftly if he becomes president. Volodymyr Zelenskyy views the deployment of peacekeepers as a potential component of security guarantees following a ceasefire with Russia.
BREAKTHROUGH IN HISTORIC POLISH-UKRAINIAN CONFLICT: Ukraine has issued its first permits for the exhumation of Polish victims from the Volyn tragedy, a massacre during World War II, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. It is a significant step in addressing a long-standing historical conflict that has fueled misunderstandings and tension between the two nations.
Earlier, some Polish officials said they would support Ukraine's EU membership only if this issue was resolved.
The Counteroffensive has already done a deep dive into the historical scar tissue between two allies, click here to read it.
UK ANNOUNCES SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIAN OIL: The UK government has imposed sanctions on two major Russian oil companies, Gazprom Neft and PJSC Surgutneftegas. These companies produce over 1 million barrels of oil daily, generating approximately $23 billion annually — more than Jamaica's GDP. The profits from these firms enable Russia to sustain its military-industrial complex and continue its war against Ukraine.
This move follows US sanctions against more than 30 Russian oil service companies, which Washington imposed yesterday. Russia could lose up to 20% of its oil exports as a result.
RUSSIA PREPARING TO MOBILIZE UKRAINIANS IN OCCUPIED TERRITORIES: Russia is planning a new wave of forced mobilization of Ukrainians in the occupied territories this spring, despite previous failures. The move follows an expansion of military enlistment office staff in these areas and intensified efforts to compel Ukrainians to obtain Russian passports.
Many residents of the temporarily occupied territories who were forcibly mobilized last fall are currently serving in Crimea.
CAT OF CONFLICT
During the visit to Oleksandr’s home in Dnipro, Mariana met his cat, Thomas. Oleksandr calls the cat “his joy” – but Thomas didn’t look so happy to meet Mariana…
Stay safe out there.
Best,
Mariana
We must not forget how resourceful and brave the Ukrainian people are! Thank you for these important insights.
Such an uplifting article! We have been trying to teach our Ukrainian family some of these principles for when they go back to Kharkiv. While both sets of parents still have their houses and generators to power them, if petrol becomes scarce, then they are in trouble. As a mother of 5 boys, our mum doesn't like having to check the solar batteries or the potential of sunshine in order to cook or do laundry, and god-forbid I ask the boys to stay off their gaming computers!!! Very well done for sussing out this proactive & clever man.