Russia has damaged about 8,5 GW of Ukrainian power generation, including thermal and hydroelectric power plants, since October 2025. The country urgently needs $1 billion in aid to cover the deficit and restore the destroyed facilities. About this said Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Oleksiy Sobolev, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
According to him, some of the damaged facilities were restored, but they were again hit by Russian strikes. This situation is repeated systematically.
The minister emphasized that protecting energy infrastructure would be much cheaper than constantly rebuilding it, but Ukraine lacks air defense capabilities.
To compensate for the deficit, Ukraine is forced to import record amounts of electricity from Europe — up to 1,9 GW.
At the same time, shelling this winter, which has become one of the coldest in recent years, is leading to power, water, and heating outages in thousands of homes in Dnipro, Zaporizhia, and Kyiv.
Sobolev noted that the government is trying to direct maximum electricity to the needs of the population, but energy resources are also critically needed by business.
"We need to get through this most difficult part of the winter. Equipment stocks are practically exhausted. Urgent needs amount to $1 billion - this is generating capacity, mobile substations, backup systems and other equipment," - said the minister.
According to him, generators with a total capacity of over 1 GW are already operating in Ukraine, which allow businesses to operate. However, in conditions of severe frosts, this is not enough, so the number of such installations needs to be increased.
