Ukraine is urgently seeking energy equipment and air defense ammunition to prevent summer blackouts following devastating Russian strikes on its energy infrastructure, reports Bloomberg.

The agency highlights that the recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure were more meticulously planned than those in the previous fall and winter of 2022-2023.

Ukraine suffered a loss of six gigawatts of capacity, with 80% of DTEK's capacity damaged, resulting in billions of hryvnias in damages.

"The destruction has been extensive, affecting both power generation and transmission. The situation is dire. We still do not have a full assessment of the damage, as many facilities are still inaccessible under rubble. We are scouring the globe for the necessary energy equipment, including neighboring countries, to replace what has been lost. However, these efforts may prove futile if Ukraine does not acquire an adequate supply of anti-aircraft weapons," stated Ukrainian Minister of Energy Herman Galushchenko.

The minister stressed that Russia would be unable to provoke a crisis akin to that of 2022-2023, as Ukraine now has basic generation capabilities covering 30% to 50% of its energy needs, even in the event of substantial damage.

Nevertheless, Galushchenko warned that Ukrainians would be asked to conserve energy during July and August, and the government is exploring various financing options for infrastructure restoration, including the possibility of raising electricity tariffs.

"The situation today is even more challenging than last year, with significant losses in hydropower and the need for scheduled maintenance of nuclear units," he added.