Ukrhydroenergo prepares legal action against Russian Federation for infrastructure attacks
15 January 2024
Ukrhydroenergo has initiated the preparation of lawsuits against the Russian Federation for targeted attacks on its infrastructure and assets. The press service of Ukrhydroenergo announced on January 11, 2024, that the company has enlisted the expertise of two legal firms to formulate a robust high-level strategy for court cases and arbitration.
The selected legal firms, identified with the assistance of the Pro Bono Platform of the Energy Community Secretariat, have collectively committed to providing 375 hours of pro bono legal work. This collaboration aims to hold Russia accountable for its actions, particularly the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydropower Plant, and to seek compensation for the extensive damages incurred.
Since the commencement of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukrhydroenergo claims it has been targeted more than 50 times by the Russian army, resulting in a substantial loss of approximately 2500MW of power. The company contends that these attacks have had a severe impact on its facilities, warranting legal action to address the resulting infrastructure and commercial damages.
The Energy Community Secretariat is actively working with Ukrhydroenergo to coordinate both strategic and legal support for the impending lawsuits against the Russian Federation. This collaborative effort is focused on seeking compensation for the damages inflicted during the military invasion in Ukraine.
The collaboration between Ukrhydroenergo and the selected legal firms is facilitated by the Pro Bono Platform, which was established in July 2023. The platform serves as a channel for legal firms and qualified independent lawyers to contribute pro bono hours for projects aimed at compensating for damages to critical infrastructure in Ukraine.
Image of Kakhovka HPP courtesy of Ukrhydroenergo (https://uhe.gov.ua)
