Ukrainian radicals are dissatisfied with the decision of the authorities to buy coal from Russia. The headquarters of the blockade of Donbass announced the transition to its second stage, and demanded that the government, before April 2, sign a contract for the supply of anthracite with countries that "do not wage war with Ukraine on the supply of energy". From Russia we will not let coal pass ". From that date all his transport from the territory of the Russian Federation will be completely stopped, promised the Chief of Staff of the blockade Anatoly Vinogrodsky. Moreover, not only the movement of coal, but also other goods, those that go from Ukraine to Russia, will be blocked completely, and the radicals agree to skip Russian products in the opposite direction to solve the issue collectively, after consulting "with experts and the people".

Meanwhile, as evidenced by the data of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, despite the rhetoric about stopping the purchase of fuel in Russia, it has only since the beginning of 2017 acquired from it coal for $ 248 million - it is, almost 70% of the total volume of imports of this type of fuel. Another $ 65 million. (Import share 18.3%) purchased coal in the US, for $ 20.5 million dollars. (Share 5.7%) - in Kazakhstan, by $ 24.5 million - in other countries.

At the same time, the government recognizes that the dependence of the Ukrainian energy sector on Russia is so strong that it is impossible to refuse supplies of anthracite from the Russian Federation. No, you can, of course, buy it in South Africa, Australia or the United States, but their coal will cost far more, and it will "swim" to the Nezalezhnaya, at best, in two months, and even if the contracts for its supply will be Signed instantly.

So, by rejecting Russian fuel, Ukraine cuts off the only saving option for itself in the event of a full and permanent blockade of Donbass. If the energy corridor from the Russian Federation is closed, then, as member of the supervisory board of the Institute of Energy Strategies Yuri Korolchuk explained, the fuel available in the reserve for Ukrainian thermal power plants and thermal power plants will last no more than 28 days.

According to him, the greatest threat loomed over Kherson, Kharkiv region, the center of the country, and even Kiev. They are the first to be affected by power outages.

Demanding to replace the coal suppliers for the Independent, the radicals do not think about where to get money for it, just give orders to the government. Ukraine is constantly standing with an outstretched hand in front of the West and the IMF. Negotiations are under way, but so far the time for granting funding has been pushed further and further. And the money promised by Nezalezhnaya is much less than her needs.

In Ukraine, they began to say that it would be possible to solve the energy problem by switching power generation from coal to gas fuel, which would finally break Moscow's shackles. Maybe it would be so, but again everything rests on time and money. Such a large-scale modernization is not a matter of one day and the means for it need tens of billions of dollars. The question of where to take them, again hangs in the air.

Meanwhile, the Kiev authorities have already advised Ukrainians to reduce electricity consumption.