Ukraine has reduced its electricity imports by about 3% to roughly 311 gigawatt hours last week, as milder temperatures eased strain on its battered power system, energy analysts said on Tuesday.
The assessment was made by DixiGroup, which noted this was the first weekly drop in power imports in five weeks, while electricity exports have remained at zero for three straight months.
The decline followed a period of extreme cold in early February, when temperatures in parts of Ukraine fell to minus 30 degrees Celsius, sharply increasing electricity demand at a time when Russian strikes had damaged key energy facilities.
As temperatures rose gradually, the load on the grid fell, helping to ease Ukraine’s capacity deficit and allowing the system operator to stabilise supply schedules and avoid large-scale emergency outages.
Hungary supplied about half of Ukraine’s imported electricity last week, while Romania and Slovakia provided around 20% and 18% respectively, with smaller volumes coming from Poland and Moldova.
Despite the improved weather, Russia again attacked Ukraine’s energy system this week, hitting thermal power plants and electrical substations, further underlining the vulnerability of the grid.
The strikes form part of Moscow’s broader campaign to degrade Ukraine’s ability to sustain its war effort, targeting power stations, transmission networks and gas infrastructure.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and energy facilities have since become one of the central targets of its military campaign.
Ukrainian authorities say keeping the power system running is critical for both civilian life and industrial activity, especially during the winter months when demand is highest.
Analysts warn that while warmer weather has brought short-term relief, continued attacks mean Ukraine remains heavily dependent on electricity imports to keep its grid stable.