Ukraine is currently able to meet just 60% of its electricity needs after a surge in Russian drone and missile strikes on its energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday. The country is enduring what officials describe as its coldest and darkest winter since the start of the war.
Zelenskiy has declared an energy emergency as the grid struggles under relentless attacks, extreme winter temperatures, and nearly four years of cumulative damage from Russia’s campaign targeting heat and power systems. He has appointed former prime minister and defence minister Denys Shmyhal to lead the energy ministry amid the crisis.
On Thursday, Ukraine’s electricity generation capacity stood at 11 gigawatts, far below the 18 gigawatts required, according to Zelenskiy. Shmyhal highlighted that Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and towns along the front line are facing the most severe disruptions, leaving thousands of homes unheated in subzero conditions.
Shmyhal told parliament that every Ukrainian power plant has been targeted, with daily attacks intensifying. Moscow claims its strikes on civil infrastructure are legitimate military targets, while Kyiv accuses Russia of aiming to terrorize civilians and undermine morale.
To cope with the shortfall, Ukraine has ramped up electricity imports from EU countries, though high prices and limited capacity, about 2.3 gigawatts, restrict supplies. State-owned companies including Naftogaz, Ukroboronprom, and Ukrzaliznytsia have been called upon to increase imports and reduce unnecessary consumption.
Businesses have been urged to switch off outdoor advertising, lights, and screens to redirect power to essential services and homes. Authorities warn that without further support and repairs, critical regions could face prolonged outages amid the harsh winter.