28.01.2026
War has made energy synonymous with resilience. Since September 2024 alone, the aggressor has launched over 2,000 missile and drone attacks, with nearly a quarter targeting the Ukrainian energy system.
Within just four months—from October 2025 to January 2026—approximately 8.5 GW of Ukrainian generating capacity was damaged. Many of these facilities were hit for the second or third time, having already been restored after the strikes of 2023–2024. These figures were recently highlighted at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
In January 2026, several massive attacks on the capital region left Kyiv nearly without power and heating. The city is still reeling from the consequences.
Every time a massive strike occurs, the system manages to get back on its feet, but resources are depleting faster than they can be replenished. Recovery timelines are stretching longer. There is a shortage of equipment reserves and qualified specialists, all compounded by freezing winter weather.
The only way forward is to act on two fronts simultaneously. The state is opening a “fast lane” for repairs and grid reinforcement, while businesses are bringing in megawatts and megawatt-hours from new projects. This tandem is what shortens the path from blackout to restoration.
The Cabinet of Ministers has reinstated inspections by the State Energy Supervision Service to reduce technical failures and accidents unrelated to combat operations. The rationale is simple: prevention is better than cure. Inspections identify bottlenecks in the grid, particularly where equipment suffers extreme stress after power restoration.
The government’s second step was simplifying access to energy equipment. Distribution System Operators (DSOs) can now lease state-owned transformers, cables, and other critical hardware without auctions and for a nominal fee.
The Ministry of Energy coordinates these reserves, shortening the path from warehouse to substation from weeks to days. This measure will remain in effect for the duration of the war and six months after its conclusion.
European partners continue to bolster our “repair bank.” A prime example is the complete set of TPP equipment provided by Lithuania (149 shipments, nearly 2,400 tons). These shipments include dozens of smaller components that bring damaged substations back to life across various regions.
In wartime energy, logistics equals capacity: a part that arrives on time translates into hours of power for thousands of subscribers via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
The issues exacerbating blackouts are practical:
Fast-tracked equipment leasing yields direct results: shorter blackout durations. Mobile cogeneration units and local BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) fill gaps at critical points like hospitals and water utilities.
Energy-saving modes and delayed use of heavy appliances are essential to reduce post-restoration accidents and maintain stability at the neighborhood level.
The industry is moving into self-organization mode with the Association of Distributed and Maneuverable Generation. The focus is on decentralization. Founders already have approximately 200 MW of gas-piston generation at various stages, including 70 MW projects in frontline regions.
DTEK is forming a “Coalition of the Willing” for grid recovery, featuring the Poltava Wind Power Plant (600–650 MW). Investment group Concorde Capital is developing the Encraft project, planning to launch 18.4 MW of gas-piston capacity in early 2026, followed by 160 MWh of storage systems.
Today’s energy sector is a discipline of time. The state is opening regulatory “fast lanes,” donors are supplying equipment, and businesses are adding megawatts and flexibility. Together, they create a web of solutions that prevent the darkness from taking hold.
About the author:
Vadym Lytvynenko, Executive Director of NVP ENERGO-PLUS LLC. Born on October 25, 1975.
