Energy work on the front line

In Kharkiv Oblast, Serhii repairs damaged pipelines in areas where the ground is highly mined, and drones remain a constant threat overhead.

Serhii has been working in the energy sector for over 17 years. It is a job he chose early on and never left: “Now I can’t imagine doing anything else,” he says.

Since the invasion began, routine maintenance has been replaced by urgent repairs in active conflict zones. Serhii’s team is constantly returning to freshly damaged locations to restore the essential services that make it possible for people to endure the war from the safety of their homes. 

But each of their steps carries risk.

In 2022, during one of these repairs, Serhii noticed something unusual at his feet – a thin wire, almost invisible in the grass. He had stepped into a mined area.

“At first, you don’t fully understand. Then it hits you what’s in front of you,” he recalls.

Drawing on basic knowledge from his military service, he carefully retraced his steps, moving slowly, watching every movement. Later, a demining team confirmed there were multiple mines in the area.

Since then, his colleagues have called him “the lucky one.”

Serhii continues to work in high-risk conditions, often under the threat of FPV drones and ongoing shelling. For him, the focus remains on the task.

“The best result is when people have what they need again,” he says.

The war has also brought personal loss. Serhii lost both his brother and his mother during the full-scale invasion. He does not dwell on it for long.

“Work and family,” he says quietly, describing how he copes.

So despite everything, he continues his work, step by careful step, keeping essential systems running in places where even the ground beneath his feet cannot always be trusted.

His work has been supported by international assistance provided through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Norway. Investments in critical energy infrastructure and specialized equipment have helped teams like his continue operating and restoring essential services in frontline areas.

“In the beginning, we had almost nothing,” he recalls. “We brought materials from home just to keep things running. Then the support started coming – tools, fuel, equipment. Without that, we couldn’t do the job.”