The International Energy Agency has published a report whose findings show a step change in the intensity of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector that has created serious risks as winter approaches. This, says the IEA, will require swift action and additional support to ensure Ukrainian citizens have reliable access to power and heating through the coming months.
Following a significant escalation of attacks since spring 2024 on power plants, heat plants, transmission networks and more, the country’s energy infrastructure is under huge strain. According to the report, a huge gap between available electricity supply and peak demand risks emerging, bringing the threat of even more severe disruptions to hospitals, schools and other key institutions in the depths of winter.
‘Ukraine’s Energy Security and the Coming Winter’ – launched by the IEA at a joint press conference in Brussels with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen – sets out a list of immediate actions that Ukraine and its partners can take to address the country’s urgent energy security vulnerabilities and bolster longer-term energy resilience.
International assistance
Several governments including the USA and Japan as well as the European Union have stepped up to assist Ukraine in rebuilding its energy sector. In 2024, the EU committed €1.4 billion in guarantees and grants to help repair, rehabilitate, and develop the country’s heavily damaged energy infrastructure. This initiative includes contributions towards renewable energy projects such as wind power and energy storage systems. The EU’s broader €50 billion Ukraine Facility will also support energy recovery, as part of a larger plan to help Ukraine resist aggression and transition towards sustainability. Additionally, the EU will help Ukraine secure 4.5 GW of generation capacity and provide an additional €160 million to get through the winter. This includes repairing 2.5 GW of capacity and exporting 2 GW of electricity to Ukraine, covering more than 25% of Ukraine’s energy needs for the winter.
