ORIGINAL PAPER
Innovative technologies for protecting Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure under wartime conditions
 
More details
Hide details
1
Central Research Institute of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukraine
 
2
Department of Provision of Fuels and Lubricants, Odesa Military Academy, Ukraine
 
3
Department of Foreign Languages, Odesa Military Academy, Ukraine
 
4
Department of Civil and Industrial Safety, National Aviation University, Ukraine
 
5
Research Department of International Scientific Cooperation, Central Research Institute of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukraine
 
 
Submission date: 2025-09-15
 
 
Final revision date: 2025-10-14
 
 
Acceptance date: 2025-11-03
 
 
Publication date: 2026-06-30
 
 
Corresponding author
Oleh Semenenko   

Central Research Institute of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 28B Povitroflotskiy Ave., 03049, Kyiv, Ukraine
 
 
Polityka Energetyczna – Energy Policy Journal 2026;29(2):135-164
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This study was aimed at a comprehensive analysis of protection technologies for energy facilities of critical infrastructure in Ukraine under wartime conditions. The study used a mixed-method approach combining literature review, comparative analysis, and evaluation of national and international data to assess protection technologies for critical energy infrastructure under wartime conditions. As a result of the study, it was noted that in 2021, Ukraine’s energy infrastructure had a capacity of 53.3 GW and produced 158.4 billion kWh, but after the Russian invasion in 2022, it lost two-thirds of its capacity – by mid-2024, it totaled ~15.4 GW due to the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the destruction of key facilities. It was established that modern technologies and means of protection of energy facilities played an important role in ensuring the resilience of the energy system to physical and cyber threats, especially in the context of hybrid warfare. It was also noted that cybersecurity, reinforced by monitoring systems integrated with artificial intelligence, as well as technologies for data protection and network segmentation, significantly improved the security of digital control systems, allowing resistance to sophisticated cyberattacks. Modern technologies, particularly 3D printing, allowed for the rapid production of spare parts for equipment, while modular transformers, compact and easy to transport, ensured the quick restoration of energy supply. The results of the study could be used to develop and implement comprehensive protection systems for energy facilities in Ukraine’s frontline regions, taking into account the real conditions of combat and limited resources.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The Authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
METADATA IN OTHER LANGUAGES:
Polish
Innowacyjne technologie ochrony obiektów energetycznych infrastruktury krytycznej przed działaniami wojennymi
zagrożenia hybrydowe, bezzałogowe statki powietrzne, szybkie odzyskiwanie, standardy międzynarodowe, cyberataki, bariery fizyczne
Celem niniejszego badania była kompleksowa analiza technologii ochrony obiektów energetycznych infrastruktury krytycznej w Ukrainie w warunkach wojennych. Metodologia badań łączyła jakościowe i ilościowe metody gromadzenia i analizy danych, w tym analizę porównawczą, badanie praktycznych doświadczeń Ukrainy oraz standardy międzynarodowe, aby zapewnić kompleksowe zrozumienie ochrony obiektów energetycznych infrastruktury krytycznej. W wyniku badania zauważono, że w 2021 r. infrastruktura energetyczna Ukrainy miała moc 53,3 GW i wyprodukowała 158,4 mld kWh, ale po inwazji rosyjskiej w 2022 r. straciła dwie trzecie swojej mocy – do połowy 2024 r. wyniosła ona łącznie ~15,4 GW z powodu zajęcia Zaporoskiej Elektrowni Jądrowej i zniszczenia kluczowych obiektów. Ustalono, że nowoczesne technologie i środki ochrony obiektów energetycznych odegrały ważną rolę w zapewnieniu odporności systemu energetycznego na zagrożenia fizyczne i cybernetyczne, zwłaszcza w kontekście wojny hybrydowej. Zauważono również, że cyberbezpieczeństwo, wzmocnione systemami monitoringu zintegrowanymi ze sztuczną inteligencją, a także technologiami ochrony danych i segmentacji sieci, znacząco poprawiło bezpieczeństwo cyfrowych systemów sterowania, zapewniając odporność na wyrafinowane cyberataki. Nowoczesne technologie, a w szczególności druk 3D, umożliwiły szybką produkcję części zamiennych do sprzętu, a kompaktowe i łatwe w transporcie transformatory modułowe zapewniły szybkie przywracanie dostaw energii. Wyniki badania mogą zostać wykorzystane do opracowania i wdrożenia kompleksowych systemów ochrony obiektów energetycznych na ukraińskich obszarach przyfrontowych, przy uwzględnieniu realnych warunków prowadzenia działań wojennych i ograniczonych zasobów.
REFERENCES (75)
1.
Alcántara Suárez, E.J. and Monzon Baeza, V. 2023. Evaluating the role of machine learning in defense applications and industry. Machine Learning and Knowledge Extraction 5(4), pp. 1557–1569, https://doi.org/10.3390/make50....
 
2.
Alqudhaibi et al. 2023 – Alqudhaibi, A., Albarrak, M., Aloseel, A., Jagtap, S. and Salonitis, K. 2023. Predicting cybersecurity threats in critical infrastructure for industry 4.0: A proactive approach based on attacker motivations. Sensors 23(9), https://doi.org/10.3390/s23094....
 
3.
Ashirbaev et al. 2023 – Ashirbaev, B., Altymyshova, Z. and Alymbaeva, Z. 2023. Optimal Energy-Saving Control for a Thermal Plant of a Linear Singularly Perturbed Discrete System with a Small Step. In International Conference on Electrical, Computer and Energy Technologies, ICECET 2023. Cape Town: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICECET....
 
4.
Ashirbaev, B.Y. 2021. Solving the problem of analytical design of the controller for a stationary discrete system with a small step. Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1864(1), https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6....
 
5.
Babak et al. 2021 – Babak, V.P., Scherbak, L.M., Kuts, Y.V. and Zaporozhets, A.O. 2021. Information and measurement technologies for solving problems of energy informatics. CEUR Workshop Proceedings 3039, pp. 24–31.
 
6.
Babak, V.P. and Kulyk, M.M. 2023. Increasing the efficiency and security of integrated power system operation through heat supply electrification in Ukraine. Science and Innovation 19(5), pp. 100–116, https://doi.org/10.15407/scine....
 
7.
Budzik et al. 2022 – Budzik, G., Tomaszewski, K. and Soboń, A. 2022. Opportunities for the application of 3D printing in the critical infrastructure system. Energies 15(5), https://doi.org/10.3390/en1505....
 
8.
Chaika, O. 2023. Russian hackers are coordinating with the military and stepping up attacks ahead of winter. How Ukraine is countering cyberattacks on the energy system (Rosiys’ki khakery koordynuyut’ diyi z viys’kovymy ta posylyuyut’ ataky naperedodni zymy. Yak Ukrayina protystoyit’ kiberatakam na enerhosystemu). [Online:] https://forbes.ua/company/rosi... [Accessed: 2026-02-08] (in Ukrainian).
 
9.
Chehri et al. 2021 – Chehri, A., Fofana, I. and Yang, X. 2021. Security risk modeling in smart grid critical infrastructures in the era of big data and artificial intelligence. Sustainability 13(6), https://doi.org/10.3390/su1306....
 
10.
Costanzo et al. 2024 – Costanzo, L., Rubino, G., Rubino, L. and Vitelli, M. 2024. PFC Control Signal Driven MPPT Technique for Grid-Connected PV Systems. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics 39(8), pp. 10368–10379, https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2....
 
11.
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency 2021. Cyber-Attack Against Ukrainian Critical Infrastructure. [Online:] https://www.cisa.gov/news-even... [Accessed: 2026-02-08].
 
12.
Cybersecurity in the Power Sector 2025. [Online:] https://www.eurelectric.org/in... [Accessed: 2026-02-08].
 
13.
Decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine “On the Organization of Protection and Ensuring the Security of the Functioning of Critical Infrastructure and Energy Facilities of Ukraine in the Context of Military Operations” 2023. [Online:] https://www.president.gov.ua/d... [Accessed: 2026-02-08] (in Ukrainian).
 
14.
Defense Express 2023. Drone Hunters are Already Protecting Ukraine’s Critical Infrastructure. [Online:] https://en.defence-ua.com/news... [Accessed: 2026-02-08].
 
15.
Di Pietro et al. 2021 – Di Pietro, R., Raponi, S., Caprolu, M. and Cresci, S. 2021. Critical infrastructure. In R. Di Pietro, S. Raponi, M. Caprolu and S. Cresci (Eds.), New Dimensions of Information Warfare, pp. 157–196, Cham: Springer, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-....
 
16.
Dudenhoeffer, D.D. 2020. Day of the drone: protecting critical infrastructure from terrorist use of unmanned aerial systems. [In:] Toward Effective Cyber Defense in Accordance with the Rules of Law, pp. 17–31. London: IOS Press, https://doi.org/10.3233/NHSDP2....
 
17.
European Union Agency for Cybersecurity 2025. Cybersecurity of Critical Sectors. [Online:] https://www.enisa.europa.eu/to... [Accessed: 2026-02-08].
 
18.
Golub et al. 2018 – Golub, G., Kukharets, S., Tsyvenkova, N., Yarosh, Y. and Chuba, V. 2018. Experimental study into the influence of straw content in fuel on parameters of generator gas. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies 5(8-95), pp. 76–86, https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-....
 
19.
Govea et al. 2024 – Govea, J., Gaibor-Naranjo, W. and Villegas-Ch, W. 2024. Transforming cybersecurity into critical energy infrastructure: A study on the effectiveness of artificial intelligence. Systems 12(5), https://doi.org/10.3390/system....
 
20.
Grigorska, N. 2023. From the Ukrainian power grid to the Pentagon. Seven of Russia’s biggest cyberattacks in Ukraine and around the world during two years of major warfare. [Online:] https://nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/even... [Accessed: 2026-02-08] (in Ukrainian).
 
21.
Hotra et al. 2024 – Hotra, O., Kulyk, M., Babak, V., Kovtun, S., Zgurovets, O., Mroczka, J. and Kisała, P. 2024. Organisation of the Structure and Functioning of Self-Sufficient Distributed Power Generation. Energies 17(1), https://doi.org/10.3390/en1701....
 
22.
Ilves, I. 2025. Ukraine Teaches Europe Cyber Lessons. [Online:] https://cepa.org/article/ukrai... [Accessed: 2025-12-08].
 
23.
International Energy Agency 2025. EU4Energy. [Online:] https://www.iea.org/programmes....
 
24.
International Trade Administration 2025. Israel Cybersecurity Strategy 2025: A Strategic Gateway for U.S. [Online:] https://www.trade.gov/market-i... [Accessed: 2026-02-08].
 
25.
Ismanzhanov et al. 2012 – Ismanzhanov, A.I., Murzakulov, N.A. and Azimzhanov, O.A. 2012. Investigation on heat exchange in interlayer space of multilayer greenhouses. Applied Solar Energy (English translation of Geliotekhnika) 48(2), pp. 118–120, https://doi.org/10.3103/S00037....
 
26.
Ismanzhanov, A.I. and Tashiev, N.M. 2016. Development and research of the technology for powdering agricultural products using solar energy. Applied Solar Energy (English translation of Geliotekhnika) 52(4), pp. 256–258, https://doi.org/10.3103/S00037....
 
27.
ISO/IEC No. 27001:2022 “Information Security Management Systems” 2022. [Online:] https://www.iso.org/standard/2... [Accessed: 2025-12-08].
 
28.
Khan, S.A. and Koc, M. 2024. Advancements in additively manufactured safety materials: Energy-efficient 3D printing solutions for critical infrastructure. ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition Proceedings Series, https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2....
 
29.
Knapik, M. 2017. Analysis of the possibility to cover energy demand from renewable sources on the motive power of the heat pump in low-energy building. E3S Web of Conferences 17, https://doi.org/10.1051/e3scon....
 
30.
Kootala et al. 2023 – Kootala, A., Mousa, A. and Pong, P.W. 2023. Drones are endangering energy critical infrastructure, and how we can deal with this. Energies 16(14), https://doi.org/10.3390/en1614....
 
31.
Koval et al. 2022 – Koval, M.V., Koval, V.V., Kotsyuruba, V.I. and Bilyk, A.S. 2022. Organizational and technical principles of building a system of engineering protection of critical infrastructure of the energy sector of Ukraine. Science and Defense 3(4), pp. 11–16, https://doi.org/10.33099/2618-....
 
32.
Kravchuk et al. 2024 –Kravchuk, M., Kravchuk, V., Hrubinko, A., Podkovenko, T. and Ukhach, V. 2024. Cyber security in Ukraine: Theoretical view and legal regulation. Law, Policy and Security 2(2), pp. 28–38, https://doi.org/10.62566/lps/2....
 
33.
Kubiczek et al. 2023 – Kubiczek, J., Hadasik, B., Krawczyńska, D., Przedworska, K. and Ryczko, A. 2023. Going beyond frontiers in household energy transition in Poland—a perspective. Frontiers in Energy Research 11, https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.....
 
34.
Langella et al. 2016 – Langella, R., Marino, P., Rubino, G., Rubino, L., Testa, A. and Liccardo, F. 2016. Supervision of ancillary services for distributed active front-end in a small industrial AC microgrid. [In:] 2016 International Symposium on Power Electronics, Electrical Drives, Automation and Motion, SPEEDAM 2016, pp. 308–314. Capri: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, https://doi.org/10.1109/SPEEDA....
 
35.
Lehto, M. 2022. Cyber-attacks against critical infrastructure. In M. Lehto and P. Neittaanmäki (Eds.), Cyber Security: Critical Infrastructure Protection, pp. 3–42. Cham: Springer, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-....
 
36.
Linger et al. 2021 – Linger, D.A., Baker, G.H. and Little, R.G. 2021. Applications of underground structures for the physical protection of critical infrastructure. [In:] L. Ozdemir (Ed.), North American Tunneling 2002, pp. 333–339. London: CRC Press, https://doi.org/10.1201/978100....
 
37.
Liubovetskyi et al. 2025 – Liubovetskyi, O.V., Rykhva, V.V. and Bosak, G.S. 2025. Ensuring the protection and functioning of critical infrastructure facilities in modern warfare. [In:] Civil Protection in Warfare: Collection of Abstracts of the I International Scientific and Practical Conference, pp. 125–126. Lviv: Lviv State University of Life Safety.
 
38.
Łukasiewicz, J. 2020. Unmanned aerial vehicle as a device supporting the physical protection system of critical infrastructure facilities: Nuclear power plant as a case in point. Zeszyty Naukowe. Transport/Politechnika Śląska 108, pp. 121–131, https://doi.org/10.20858/sjsut....
 
39.
Manuilov, Y.S. 2023. Ensuring cybersecurity of critical infrastructure in the context of cyber warfare. Information and Law 44(1), pp. 154–167, https://doi.org/10.37750/2616-....
 
40.
Marignetti et al. 2023 – Marignetti, F., Di Stefano, R.L., Rubino, G. and Giacomobono, R. 2023. Current Source Inverter (CSI) Power Converters in Photovoltaic Systems: A Comprehensive Review of Performance, Control, and Integration. Energies 16(21), https://doi.org/10.3390/en1621....
 
41.
Ministry of Energy of Ukraine 2025. Statistical information. [Online:] https://www.mev.gov.ua/taxonom... [Accessed: 2025-12-08].
 
42.
National Institute of Standards and Technology 2020. Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations. [Online:] https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/... [Accessed: 2025-12-08].
 
43.
National Institute of Standards and Technology 2025. Cybersecurity Framework. [Online:] https://www.nist.gov/cyberfram... [Accessed: 2025-12-08].
 
44.
NEC “Ukrenergo” 2025. Reports. [Online:] https://ua.energy/about_us/rep... [Accessed: 2025-12-08].
 
45.
Nikitin, Y. 2025. Combined energy production systems with Stirling engines: Analysis of global experience and local prospects. Technologies and Engineering 26(3), pp. 66–76, https://doi.org/10.30857/2786-....
 
46.
NIS2 Directive “Securing Network and Information Systems” 2023. [Online:] https://digital-strategy.ec.eu... [Accessed: 2025-12-08].
 
47.
Ojo et al. 2024 – Ojo, B., Ogborigbo, J.C. and Okafor, M.O. 2024. Innovative solutions for critical infrastructure resilience against cyber-physical attacks. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews 22(3), pp. 1651–1674, https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr....
 
48.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 2025. About. [Online:] https://www.pnnl.gov/about [Accessed: 2025-12-08].
 
49.
Papadopoulos et al. 2024 – Papadopoulos, L., Demestichas, K., Muñoz-Navarro, E., Hernández-Montesinos, J.J., Paul, S., Museux, N., Konig, S., Schauer, S., Alarcon, A.C., Llopis, I.P., Stelkens-Kobsch, T., Hadjina, T. and Levak, J. 2024. Protection of critical infrastructures from advanced combined cyber and physical threats: The PRAETORIAN approach. International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection 44, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijci....
 
50.
Park et al. 2021 – Park, S., Kim, H.T., Lee, S., Joo, H. and Kim, H. 2021. Survey on anti-drone systems: Components, designs, and challenges. IEEE Access 9, pp. 42635–42659, https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS....
 
51.
Pătraşcu, P. 2021. Emerging technologies and national security: The impact of IoT in critical infrastructures protection and defence sector. Land Forces Academy Review 26(4), pp. 423–429, https://doi.org/10.2478/raft-2....
 
52.
Piekarski et al. 2025 – Piekarski, M., Wolbach, M. and Okuniewska, M. 2025. Employment of uncrewed systems in attacks on critical infrastructure: A hybrid threat perspective. Open Research Europe 4, article number 129, https://doi.org/10.12688/openr....
 
53.
Pietrek, G. 2022. Critical infrastructure security management anti-drone systems. Wiedza Obronna (3), pp. 165–186, https://doi.org/10.34752/2022-....
 
54.
Plėta et al. 2020 – Plėta, T., Tvaronavičienė, M., Della Casa, S. and Agafonov, K. 2020. Cyber-attacks to critical energy infrastructure and management issues: Overview of selected cases. Insights into Regional Development 2(3), pp. 703–715, https://doi.org/10.9770/ird.20...).
 
55.
Pshemyska, A. 2024. Ukrenergo’s facilities are protected by 85 per cent – Shmyhal. [Online:] https://www.dw.com/uk/obekti-u... [Accessed: 2025-12-08].
 
56.
Pyshkin, S. 2024. Shmyhal on the protection of energy facilities: There are three levels of fortifications, one of them is experimental (Shmyhal’ pro zakhyst enerhoob’yektiv: ye try rivni fortyfikatsiy, odyn iz nykh eksperymental’nyy). [Online:] https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/sh... [Accessed: 2025-12-08] (in Ukrainian).
 
57.
Qudus, L. 2025. Resilient systems: Building secure cyber-physical infrastructure for critical industries against emerging threats. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews 6(1), pp. 3330–3346, https://doi.org/10.55248/gengp....
 
58.
Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 518 “On Approval of the General Requirements for Cyber Defence of Critical Infrastructure Facilities” 2019. [Online:] https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws... [Accessed: 2025-12-08] (in Ukrainian).
 
59.
Shchuka, V. 2025. The use of artificial intelligence for information campaigns in wartime: Visual tools for countering disinformation. Technologies and Engineering 26(2), pp. 89–98, https://doi.org/10.30857/2786-....
 
60.
Skochko et al. 2024 – Skochko, V.I., Solonnikov, V.H., Pohosov, O.H., Haba, K.O., Kulinko, Y.O. and Koziachyna, B.I. 2024. Minimization of Heat Losses in District Heating Networks by Optimizing their Configuration. Problems of the Regional Energetics 3, pp. 182–195, https://doi.org/10.52254/1857-....
 
61.
Soldatos et al. 2020 – Soldatos, J., Philpot, J. and Giunta, G. 2020. Cyber-physical threat intelligence for critical infrastructures security: A guide to integrated cyber-physical protection of modern critical infrastructures. Norwell: Now Publishers, https://doi.org/10.1561/978168....
 
62.
Stoliarov, O. 2024. Efficient electricity generation forecasting from solar power plants using technology: Integration, benefits and prospects. Bulletin of Cherkasy State Technological University 29(1), pp. 73–85, https://doi.org/10.62660/bcstu....
 
63.
Tabansky, L. 2025. Critical infrastructure protection policy: The Israeli experience. Journal of Information Warfare 12(3). [Online:] https://www.jinfowar.com/journ... [Accessed: 2025-12-08].
 
64.
Telbayeva et al. 2023 – Telbayeva, S., Nurmaganbetova, G., Avdeyev, L., Kaverin, V., Issenov, S., Janiszewski, D., Smagulova, K. and Nurmagambetova, G. 2024. Development of mathematical models of power consumption at coal plants. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies 5(8(131)), pp. 22–32, https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-....
 
65.
The U.S.-Israel Cybersecurity 2021. [Online:] https://aipacorg.app.box.com/s... [Accessed: 2025-12-08].
 
66.
Topor, S. 2023. The trench electronic warfare – A new threat to critical infrastructures. Romanian Cyber Security Journal 2(5), pp. 3–11, https://doi.org/10.54851/v5i2y....
 
67.
U.S. Agency for International Development 2025. Reports. [Online:] https://energysecurityua.org/r....
 
68.
United Nations 2024. Attacks on Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure: Harm to the Civilian Population. [Online:] https://ukraine.ohchr.org/site... [Accessed: 2025-12-08].
 
69.
United Nations Development Programme 2023. Ukraine Energy Damage Assessment. [Online:] https://www.undp.org/ukraine/p... [Accessed: 2025-12-08].
 
70.
Voitenko, V. and Polishchuk, R. 2025. Decentralised generation and its role in enhancing the resilience of energy islands and critical infrastructure: Current trends and prospects. Technologies and Engineering 26(2), pp. 11–26, https://doi.org/10.30857/2786-....
 
71.
Volkov et al. 2023 – Volkov, A., Brechka, M., Stadnichenko, V., Yaroshchuk, V. and Cherkashyn, S. 2023. The protection of critical infrastructure facilities from air strikes due to compatible use of various forces and means. Machinery & Energetics 14(4), pp. 23–32, https://doi.org/10.31548/machi....
 
72.
Wisniewski et al. 2022 – Wisniewski, M., Gladysz, B., Ejsmont, K., Wodecki, A. and Van Erp, T. 2022. Industry 4.0 solutions impacts on critical infrastructure safety and protection – A systematic literature review. IEEE Access 10, pp. 82716–82735, https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS....
 
73.
Yu et al. 2021 – Yu, K., Tan, L., Mumtaz, S., Al-Rubaye, S., Al-Dulaimi, A., Bashir, A.K. and Khan, F.A. 2021. Securing critical infrastructures: Deep-learning-based threat detection in IIoT. IEEE Communications Magazine 59(10), pp. 76–82, https://doi.org/10.1109/MCOM.1....
 
74.
Zhang, X. and Kusrini, K. 2021. Autonomous long-range drone detection system for critical infrastructure safety. Multimedia Tools and Applications 80(15), pp. 23723–23743, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042....
 
75.
Zmysłowski et al. 2023 – Zmysłowski, D., Skokowski, P. and Kelner, J.M. 2023. Anti-drone sensors, effectors, and systems – a concise overview. TransNav: International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation 17(2), pp. 455–461, https://doi.org/10.12716/1001.....
 
eISSN:2720-569X
ISSN:1429-6675
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top