Av Syver Lie Rønningen/RENERGY

How can Norway strengthen preparedness when the power grid, water supply, and other critical infrastructure become targets in war?

RENERGY invited a Ukrainian expert to provide insight into how Ukraine is handling this challenge in the midst of a brutal conflict.

A New Type of Warfare Strikes at Society’s Vital Functions

In the session “The Power Lines of War – Experiences from Ukraine”, Maksym Karpash, Vice Rector at King Danylo University and expert on energy and reconstruction, shared how hospitals, schools, and grid companies in Ukraine plan and operate under constant uncertainty. The energy system is subjected to targeted attacks in a hybrid warfare that places civilian infrastructure on the front line.

‎- When the war broke out, there was panic. We were not mentally or technologically prepared for war. When the Russians began attacking energy infrastructure in the fall of 2022, blackouts became common. In the beginning, it was very frightening to be without power and communication, said Maksym Karpash.

Karpash further shared experiences of what it means to build and operate critical infrastructure during war, and how local communities, contractors, and engineers work purposefully to build resilience day by day.

After the session, RENERGY convened a meeting where, among others, Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance Karianne Tung, Tensio, NTE, and FFI discussed solutions and cooperation between Norwegian and Ukrainian actors in energy, digitalisation, and infrastructure.

Key lessons for Norway and Norwegian preparedness

Moderator Sigbjørn Albertsen from the Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce led the conversation, which made clear how Norway can learn from Ukraine’s experiences to strengthen its own preparedness and resilience.

Thomas Bjørdal from RENERGY emphasized the importance of this knowledge:

– Ukraine shows us how critical infrastructure becomes a central battlefield in modern warfare. It is crucial that we take their experiences with us to strengthen Norway’s preparedness and resilience.

Ebbe Deraas, head of the NORDSEC Defence and Security Cluster, pointed out that these insights offer a unique perspective on how societies can organize and respond when vital systems come under pressure:

– It’s about building robust and flexible solutions—something both businesses and public actors must take seriously, he said. The session provided a rare insight into how war affects the most fundamental functions of society, and why finding smarter and more robust solutions for the future is a shared challenge.

‎- It hasn’t been straightforward to bring a witness from Ukraine here, even though we lead an EU project with a Ukrainian partner and collaborate closely with the Chamber of Commerce and others on the ground. We are grateful and humbled that Maksym prioritizes coming here to share his experience as a researcher, expert, and ordinary human being, said Thomas Bjørdal in his introduction to the event, held in a full Steinkjer Community Hall.