How Ukraine Can Survive Another Brutal Winter | Ukraine Deep Dive 01

It's been over four and a half years since Russia unleashed its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and still the war shows no sign of stopping. This week on Cleaning Up, we launch a new Deep Dive looking at Ukraine and how its people and energy systems cope through the war.

In this first episode, Michael Liebreich travels to Kyiv to find out what is happening on the ground. How are people coping with these desperate and difficult circumstances? How is the energy system coping? What can we in the international community do to help? And what do we need to learn from Ukraine's energy workers, how have they managed to keep the lights on?

In Kyiv, Michael meets Oleksandr Tolokonnikov, Deputy Head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, to find out how a region on the frontlines is coping with constant bombardment from Russian drones and missiles. He also speaks with Sorina Seitvelieva and Emine Emirsalieva, co-owners of Musafir, a Crimean Tatar restaurant that’s become known as a resilience hub, keeping people fed and warm during winter. And he ventures to an electricity substation under renovation, where he is shown around Oleksandr Kozhukhar, head of the high-voltage network operations department at DTEK Kyiv Grids. Oleksandr tells Michael how he keeps his team safe as they repair Kyiv’s battered electricity system, and why it’s so dangerous being an energy worker in Ukraine.

From backup generators and emergency repairs to the challenges of protecting critical infrastructure from drones and missiles, the episode explores what resilience looks like in practice. It also asks what the rest of the world can learn from Ukraine’s experience, and what support is needed as the country prepares for another winter of war.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Energy workers repairing infrastructure under fire
• Preparing Ukraine’s energy system for winter
• What life is like under constant drone attacks
• Kherson’s fight to survive, and why civilians refuse to leave
• How local businesses are coping with damaged energy infrastructure

Thanks to all those who made this episode possible. In particular, Imogen Payter, Heather Buchanan and UK Friends of Ukraine, who've led over 30 parliamentary trips to Kyiv. Gary Edwards and the team at Frontier Global for keeping us safe. Special mention goes to Dominic Culverwell at the Kyiv Independent and Maria Vlokh for her help with translation. Jo Jagger for making sure it happened, the rest of the Cleaning Up team and our Leadership Circle. And to Oscar Boyd, who produced, filmed and edited this episode.

Leadership Circle

Cleaning Up is proud to be supported by its Leadership Circle. The members are Actis, Alcazar Energy, Arup, Climate Imperative Foundation, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Cygnum Capital, Davidson Kempner, EcoPragma Capital, EDP, Eurelectric, KKR, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, Schneider Electric, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information on the Leadership Circle, please visit cleaningup.live.

Links

• Oleksandr Tolokonnikov’s bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oleksandr-tolokonnikov/
• Unbreakable Kherson book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unbreakable-Kherson-Ukrainian-Wartime-Resilience/dp/B0H6CYRFH7
• DTEK Group: https://dtek.com/en/
• Musafir restaurant: https://www.musafir.com.ua/en/
• UK Friends of Ukraine: https://friendsofukraine.uk/
• Kyiv Independent: https://kyivindependent.com/
• Sign up to our newsletter: https://cleaninguppod.substack.com
• “мета ”: Ukrainian meaning goal/purpose/aim

Chapters

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:40 Journey Into Ukraine
• 04:15 Life During War
• 05:55 The Kherson Frontline
• 09:26 Community Resilience
• 12:38 Preparing For Winter
• 13:31 Energy Security Lessons
• 15:04 The Drone Warfare Threat
• 19:03 Life In Kyiv
• 20:40 Musafir Restaurant
• 29:45 Keeping Ukraine Powered
• 35:35 Lessons For Europe
• 37:49 Outro