First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal delivered a lecture for students and faculty of the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University.

During his address, the Minister shared Ukraine’s experience in countering Russia’s energy aggression and outlined the key principles that have enabled the country’s energy system to remain resilient under wartime conditions.

“The energy system of the future must be not only efficient, but also protected, flexible, and capable of rapid recovery,” Denys Shmyhal emphasized.

According to the Minister, the key lessons Ukraine has learned during the full-scale war include diversification of energy sources, development of distributed generation, rapid restoration of damaged facilities, protection of critical infrastructure, and integration into the European energy market.

Denys Shmyhal also highlighted that Ukraine and Azerbaijan share common interests in safeguarding sovereignty, strengthening energy security, diversifying supply routes, and reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian energy resources.

“Ukraine and Azerbaijan can help one another build a new architecture of energy security connecting the Caspian region, the Black Sea, and Europe,” the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy stated.

Particular attention was devoted to the role of young professionals in shaping the future of the energy sector. Denys Shmyhal noted that the energy engineer of the future will be more than a technical specialist — they will also serve as a systems analyst, a digital expert, a security professional, and a guardian of societal resilience. The Minister wished the students success in their studies and future professional achievements.