- Kyivstar will invest billions to enhance its energy resilience in response to Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure, aiming for up to six hours of backup power at key sites.
- CEO Oleksandr Komarov confirmed that despite legal challenges related to sanctions, Kyivstar’s operations remain unaffected, and the issue is expected to be resolved.
Ukraine’s leading mobile operator, Kyivstar, is set to significantly boost its investments to enhance energy resilience amidst ongoing Russian attacks on the country’s power infrastructure.
Since Russia intensified its assault on Ukraine’s power grids and transmission lines last spring, the country has faced severe energy shortages, resulting in daily blackouts of up to 12 hours in major cities, including the capital, Kyiv.
In response, Ukraine’s telecom regulator announced in July that mobile operators must prepare to manage outages of up to 10 hours, an increase from the current four-hour requirement.
Kyivstar plans to invest billions of additional hryvnias to improve its energy resilience, according to Komarov. The company’s parent, VEON, had already set a target to invest $1 billion in Ukraine’s digital infrastructure by 2027.
Komarov acknowledged the progress but highlighted significant operational challenges such as limited battery availability, logistical issues, and restricted recharging capabilities between blackouts.
“We are aiming for six hours of backup power at key sites and four hours across the entire network,” he said. Currently, 60% of Kyivstar’s network has a four-hour backup, while the remaining 40% can sustain operations for 2-4 hours.
Separately, Komarov addressed the issue of Kyivstar’s corporate rights being frozen by Ukrainian authorities. This legal action, initiated last October 2023, was due to the previous involvement of sanctioned Russian individuals in VEON.
Despite the situation, Komarov expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved, noting that it has not impacted the company’s operations. The next court hearing is scheduled for August September 13, 2024.
Komarov emphasised that there are no grounds for nationalising Kyivstar, as VEON is not under sanctions. He acknowledged concerns related to individual sanctions but asserted that these issues are being addressed at the appropriate levels.
Kyivstar’s enhanced focus on energy resilience reflects the broader challenges that Ukraine’s telecom and infrastructure sectors face amid ongoing conflicts and infrastructure damage.