World heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk supports the efforts for restoring Ukraine's energy grid following the relentless Russian attacks. In the lead-up to the fight with Tyson Fury for the title of absolute world heavyweight champion, which is to take place on 18 May, Usyk has partnered with DTEK to turn the eyes of international partners and allies to the distress of Ukraine's energy system.
Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, Russia has destroyed half of Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The recent large-scale attacks in March and April decimated over 80% of DTEK's thermal generation capacities, 30% of hydro power plant capacities, and dozens of critical backbone substations across the country. According to the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, even without these recent attacks the damage to the energy grid amounts to $11.5 billion.
Almost 30 veterans who returned to work at DTEK after fighting at the front will come to Riyadh to support Usyk.
The #FightForLight partnership between Usyk and DTEK aims to bring the critical state of Ukraine's energy sector into the spotlight and call for urgent technical assistance (supply of replacement generators, transformers, and turbines), which has to reach all Ukrainian power generating companies before next winter.
DTEK's Chief Executive Officer Maxim Timchenko:
"DTEK is making every effort to draw the global community's attention to our destroyed energy infrastructure and the need for its restoration and protection from further criminal attacks by Russia. We appreciate that Oleksandr Usyk and his team share the same concerns and will help get the voices of Ukrainian power engineers heard. We have a shared goal and a common task to protect our people and Ukraine's civil infrastructure, and bring light and heating to every Ukrainian household."
Recovery of the energy sector also depends on Ukraine's allies promptly supplying the air defence systems and ammunition.
