Kyiv
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Oleksandr Adamov did not evacuate when Russian missiles and drones approached the key Ukrainian energy facility where he works. Instead, he donned a bulletproof vest and helmet, climbed into a special metal protective capsule, and crouched down to fit inside.
The barrel-shaped capsule allows him to keep tabs on the facility’s central control panel, which is located near equipment that Russia deliberately and regularly targets, and the opening in the bottom provides an escape route if buried.
“Of course it’s scary,” Adamov told CNN. “But we overcome the fear and tell ourselves that we have to stay, first and foremost because of the facilities that keep people warm. If not, who will do it and not us?”
His energy facilities have been attacked dozens of times and repeatedly damaged by the Russians in recent months. Adamov spends long periods of time sheltering in the capsule, keeping a close eye on the equipment.
Made of thick steel and protected from all sides by sandbags, the capsule is strong enough to protect technicians from debris, but not from direct hits.
“The real fear comes later, when you see the result of the attack. At that moment, the adrenaline is pumping. But later, when you realize what would have happened if the attack had been 5-10 meters closer…” Adamov said, trailing off.
The machine room still bears the scars of a Russian airstrike. Flying debris punctures walls, burns equipment, breaks windows and leaves workers freezing in temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit).
According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy, Russia carried out 612 combined drone and missile attacks against the country’s energy facilities in 2025. In the past three months, Russia has targeted 11 hydroelectric power plants, 45 thermal power plants, and attacked electrical substations 151 times.
Heat supply to parts of the city depends on the operation of Adamov’s facilities. So, if an attack sends most of your employees to a shelter, at least two people must remain at the control panel to manage the system.
“The sense of duty is greater than the sense of fear. Technically, everything is arranged so that even if the equipment is shut down due to an attack, it happens correctly. Therefore, in the event of an emergency, we can get out of the protective capsule and manually intervene in the system if necessary, because if we do not do this, the impact on the city’s heat supply can be even more severe,” Adamov explained.
He has lost count of how many seizures he has had at work. “Before the war, shifts were difficult due to emergencies and other issues, but now there is constant tension from Shahed (drone) attacks and missiles. Of course, you hear interceptions and explosions from impact. The missiles cause a huge explosion, and you don’t know where they’re going to hit, whether it’s equipment, a workshop, or a person.”
As Ukraine faces its coldest winter in 20 years, Russia has stepped up its attacks on the energy sector. In the night leading up to January 9, a massive attack left 6,000 buildings in Kiev alone without power. Just as the capital began to recover from the damage and heat began to return to people’s homes, Russia launched its largest attack so far this year, launching more than 30 missiles and 339 drones overnight into Tuesday.
The attack left more than 300,000 homes in Kiev alone without power and water for more than 1 million people. The Kiev region was the main target, but energy facilities in Kharkov, Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Odessa, and Rivne were also attacked.
More than 15,000 energy workers, including Adamov and his colleagues, are currently fighting to repair the damage across Ukraine.
“It’s becoming increasingly difficult to work, both mentally and physically. But we’re doing everything we can and more,” said Adamov, who was making repairs nearby with welding tools. “People are working flat out, freezing and drinking tea, getting cold again and drinking more tea. So we’re working 24 hours a day, 24 hours a day.”
Adamov explained that this challenge changed the nature of their work, but also brought them closer together. “We joke and tell anecdotes to break the ice. People have become more united and friendlier.”
Adamov’s son is also an energy worker, so the family is somewhat accustomed to living with constant risk. “I’ve been working here for 35 years,” Adamov said. “I never imagined that I would have to wear a bulletproof vest and helmet at work. Now, working in the energy sector is like being on the front line, except you don’t have a weapon.”
Despite the dangers, he and his colleagues are determined to continue bringing warmth to Ukrainian homes and workplaces. “How long will this last? We’ll see if the Russians have enough sense to stop all this,” he said. “They should already understand that people don’t give up until the end.”
