Kathleen Kirsch

Working with numerous federal agencies, international allies and Ukrainians, Kathleen Kirsch of the U.S. Agency for International Development played a pivotal role in protecting, repairing and maintaining Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, helping ensure that millions of people had access to electricity, heat and shelter amid Russia’s brutal war of aggression.

“Kathleen’s work has not only kept the lights on during Ukraine’s darkest hours, but has also laid the foundation for a modernized, more resilient energy system,” said Julie Koenen, the former USAID/Ukraine mission director.

Under Kirsch’s leadership, the U.S. delivered thousands of pieces of critical equipment, including more than 20,000 pieces of gas sector equipment and other supplies to sustain energy flow and enable emergency response.

Typically, repairing and procuring materials to rebuild these damaged sites would be a lengthy process, but Kirsch was effective at sourcing materials and working with partners, so the machinery was back up and running in time for winter.

Former USAID Administrator Samantha Power said Kirsch had to be thinking five steps ahead of the Russians to protect the energy grid, understand what would be helpful and what would work, and then not only rebuild what was destroyed, but also create new energy defenses.

“That kind of technical savvy, combined with the ability to get things done, to work with a host country, and to bring out the best of the U.S. government and the Ukrainians, I think it’s really singular,” Power said.

In the spring and summer of 2024, the Russian military launched massive attacks—the largest at the time—on Ukrainian energy sites. The plan was to “weaponize winter” by launching attacks on energy infrastructure, Koenen said. The loss of power and heat would lead to suffering among Ukrainians during their long, harsh winters, and the possible death of many vulnerable people, she added.

Kirsch’s role was key in managing the contracts for the goods to shore up the energy infrastructure and in scouring the world to make sure materials needed for repairs were found.

Another key to Kirsch’s success was practicing “resilience by redundancy” to pre-position repair equipment. USAID also piloted cogeneration with utilities in Ukraine, supplying communities with equipment that provides both heat and electricity during power outages that resulted from Russia’s continual attacks.

Kirsch’s efforts ensured access to electricity, heat and water for almost 30 million Ukrainians and empowered the country to resist aggression, according to Koenen.

Despite massive cuts that have virtually shuttered USAID, Kirsch is still in her role at the time of this writing and remains committed to her work.

“This will be the most important thing I do in my career,” she said. “It is the honor of a lifetime to have done this job.”