The Ukraine manages to produce as much energy as it needs despite the severe damage caused by Russian attacks on its energy grid, the Prime Minister Dennis Schmihal.

Schmihal stated during a press conference a little more than a year after the Russian invasion, that Ukraine’s energy system is 40-50% damaged from the rocket attacks carried out in waves and the drone bombings during the winter.

Although millions of people were left without electricity, Ukraine quickly restored it with the help of equipment provided by its allies.

“Ukraine is currently supplied with power provided by generators and grid capacity” Schmihal said. “The next stage is to ensure the infrastructure of the network for the new heating season.”

The measures will include building underground concrete shelters to protect power generation infrastructure and distribution networks from possible new attacks, the Ukrainian prime minister said.

Since October, Russia has been carrying out missile and drone attacks on energy grids and substations across the country that have hit heavy industry hard, shrinking Ukraine’s economy by a third last year.

Schmihal, who has been prime minister since March 2020, has promised to focus on rapid recovery measures this year. Demining reclaimed land, rebuilding homes and critical infrastructure will be key, he said.

Ukraine is looking forward to its $17 billion in funding from Western partners to help make these steps, in addition to the $38 billion requested to cover the budget deficit.

Schmihal also said that Ukraine will continue reforms to meet the challenges of the war and will not make any personnel changes in the near future, although he said that the government somehow plans to reduce the number of ministries from 20 to 15-16.

“We have a vision of how the cabinet should grow, modernize and respond to challenges, something that includes future reshuffle,” Schmihal said.

European Union leaders last year accepted Ukraine as a candidate for membership, and Kiev also wants to join the NATO military alliance.

“Open doors are not enough for us. We are waiting for concrete decisions from our partners”Schmihal said about NATO, referring to the prospect of his country becoming a member of this organization.