From 23 to 26 September 2024, a Ukrainian delegation participated in the Advanced Research Workshop, themed “Energy Infrastructure Resilience in Response to War and Other Hazards.” The event, hosted by the Ignacy Łukasiewicz Rzeszow University of Technology (RUT) in Poland, was organised within the framework of NATO’s Science for Peace and Security Programme.
The main purpose of the workshop was to unite international efforts in developing effective approaches to protection and restoration of energy infrastructure, especially in emergencies caused by war, terrorist attacks, natural disasters or cyber threats. For over two years, Ukraine has been facing challenges due to russia’s criminal attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. That is why the importance and relevance of this event, as well as the participation of the Ukrainian delegation, cannot be overestimated.
The seminar brought together experts, scientists and practitioners from various countries to discuss topical issues related to the resilience of energy infrastructure in the face of war and other hazards. Special thanks are due to peer groups from Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Latvia, Germany, and Turkey for their informative presentations and discussions. These contributions are very valuable to Ukraine’s understanding of contemporary security issues and their solutions. This seminar served as a platform for strengthening international cooperation between academics and practitioners in the field of energy security, establishing a network of contacts for future joint research and projects.
The Ukrainian delegation comprised scientists from Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (Oksana Vovk, Natalia Zuievska, Liubov Shaidetska, Olena Borychenko, Anatolii Cherniavskyi, Olena Yarmoliuk, Vitalii Opryshko, Viktor Gurieiev, and Olga Demydenko), Yurii Papaika from Dnipro University of Technology, and representatives of the State Labour Service of Ukraine.
Members of the Ukrainian delegation presented the results of their research in the following areas: analysing the risks and vulnerabilities of energy infrastructure in the context of military operations and cyber threats; discussing innovative technologies to enhance the resilience and restoration of energy systems; studying the experience of different countries in responding to energy emergencies; and efforts to rebuild schools and kindergartens, partially destroyed during the war, in compliance with energy efficiency requirements.
During the workshop, Kyiv Polytechnic scientists informed the participants about the implementation of the international project HORIZON-MISS-2023-CIT-02, titled “Associating Ukrainian Cities to the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission,” under the HORIZON-CSA programme. They invited participants to cooperate as experts in this project.
The Kyiv Polytechnic participants in the workshop have expressed their deep gratitude to their colleagues at Poland’s Rzeszow University of Technology, particularly RUT Rector Piotr Koszelnik, Vice-Rector Jaroslaw Sep, and event director Dominik Strzałka, for their warm welcome, as well as for organising and holding the event to the highest standards.
The Advanced Research Workshop “Energy Infrastructure Resilience in Response to War and Other Hazards” stands as an important step in strengthening global security and the resilience of energy systems. It provides a vital opportunity for the international community to unite in preventing the devastating effects of war and other threats to critical infrastructure.