Outlook for Ukraine's energy this winter has worsened after latest Russian strikes

Ukraine's state-owned electricity transmission operator, Ukrenergo, has said its forecasts for winter have been worsened by recent Russian strikes on thermal power plants (TPPs) that were supposed to be operating in winter, but the company does not assess the situation as critical.

Source: Interfax-Ukraine, citing Ukrenergo CEO Vitalii Zaichenko in a comment for Enerhoreforma

Details: Speaking on the sidelines of the Energy of Business Forum 2026 in Kyiv, Zaichenko said: "The situation is already worse at the moment because there have been hits on TPPs that were supposed to be ready for winter. Yes, it's slightly worse than forecast, but not critical."

Zaichenko urged the public and businesses to get their own energy sources ready in case of grid disruptions. He also advised businesses to optimise electricity consumption so that they operate more efficiently when restrictions are in place.

At the same event, the Ukrenergo CEO said Russia's 14 October attack was one of the most massive attacks against the company's facilities since the full-scale war began. Electrical substations were the main targets, and Ukrenergo's top priority is to get them quickly back up and running.

Background: On the morning of 16 October, new power outages were recorded in Kyiv and eight regions following a Russian attack. In some regions, hourly power cuts of up to two queues are planned until the end of the day.

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