World heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk is supporting efforts to restore Ukraine's energy system after regular Russian attacks. Ahead of his fight with Tyson Fury, scheduled for May 18 for the title of undisputed heavyweight champion, Usyk, in partnership with DTEK, aims to draw attention of international partners and allies to the dire situation of the Ukrainian energy system.
Since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, 50% of Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been destroyed. In the recent mass attacks in March and April, Russia destroyed over 80% of DTEK's thermal generation capacity, 30% of hydroelectric power capacities, and dozens of critically important substations across the country. According to the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, energy system losses, excluding the recent attacks, amount to $11.5 billion.
Around 30 veterans, who returned to work at DTEK after serving on the front lines, will come to support Oleksandr Usyk during his fight in Riyadh.
The partnership #BattleForLight between Usyk and DTEK aims to further highlight and draw international attention to the critical condition of Ukraine's energy sector and call for urgent technical assistance (provision for replacement of destroyed generators, transformers, and turbines) for all Ukrainian energy companies before the next winter.
Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK, stated,
"DTEK is doing everything possible to draw the attention of the world community to the infrastructure destroyed by the enemy and the need to restore and protect it from new criminal attacks by Russia. We appreciate that Oleksandr Usyk and his team share these aspirations and will help Ukrainian energy workers be heard. We have a common goal and a common task – to protect our people and Ukrainian civilian infrastructure so that every Ukrainian family has light and warmth."
The restoration of the energy sector also depends on the rapid delivery of air defense systems and ammunition from Ukraine's allies.
