"Energy island" is working: Kim explained how our region is supplying electricity to Mykolaiv and other regions

Despite constant shelling and proximity to the front line, Mykolaiv Oblast continues to build energy resilience, working on economic recovery and regional security. This, in an interview with “Ukrinform”, said the head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration Vitaliy Kim.

According to him, preparations for possible energy crises in the region began back in 2022 — immediately after the start of the full-scale invasion. In particular, they strengthened the protection of critical infrastructure, implemented alternative power sources, stockpiled generators and changed approaches to heating. The regional chief noted that even despite strict power outage schedules, when electricity was sometimes supplied for only 2–4 hours a day, they managed to get through the winter without large-scale disruptions.

“Mykolaiv region is very energy-surplus: we generate about four gigawatts while the demand is 300 megawatts. So we supply electricity to other regions”, – explained Vitaliy Kim.

One of the key solutions was the implementation of the so-called “energy island” — a system that allows critical infrastructure facilities to be powered autonomously using alternative sources.

“I can say that the “island” works. This is the result of cooperation between authorities, enterprises and international partners. We have already tested this system, we launched it twice – when, as a result of shelling, there was a threat of heating shutdown across all of Mykolaiv.

Now it allows us to cover 65% of the city’s critical infrastructure during blackouts, and we want to raise this figure to 91 percent”, – the head of the Regional Military Administration detailed the operation of this system.

According to the official, plans are now to increase the share of alternative generation — in particular solar and wind energy — and to improve the transmission of electricity from the region to Mykolaiv, since there are still technical difficulties in this system. Thus, despite the war, the region is trying not only to survive but also to form the basis for energy independence in the future.

Earlier we wrote:

• Mykolaiv region secured a resilience plan for 2026 worth UAH 2 billion
• The NSDC launches a Resilience Plan for regions: Kim outlined strengthening protection of energy, water and heat
• “Spartak, what nonsense?,” Kim responded to the ombudsman’s criticism regarding blackouts in Mykolaiv region
• “It won’t be faster than for everyone”: Kim explained why Mykolaiv is without power
• “We’re not doing well, but we need to hold on for a few days,” Kim on the strain and endurance of Mykolaiv