Ukraine Faces Its Hardest Winter: Over 80% of Power Plants Destroyed
First Deputy Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal Warns of Catastrophic Consequences of Russian Attacks on Energy Infrastructure and a 6 GW Capacity Shortfall.
First Deputy Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal Warns of Catastrophic Consequences of Russian Attacks on Energy Infrastructure and a 6 GW Capacity Shortfall.
Ukraine is bracing for what officials, defense industry representatives, and security experts describe as the toughest winter since the start of the conflict. Russia is intensifying missile attacks, and an acute shortage of air defense systems makes protecting critical energy infrastructure nearly impossible.
Denys Shmyhal, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Ukraine, shared grim figures in an interview with Politico. "More than 80% of Ukraine's power plants have been damaged or destroyed," Shmyhal stated. Before 2022, Ukraine's electricity generation capacity stood at about 56 GW. Last winter, it fell to just 12 GW, creating a deficit of 6 GW.
According to him, Ukraine needs to restore approximately 10 GW of generation capacity and add another 3 GW of distributed generation. Power supply issues began in late 2025, when cold weather and significant infrastructure damage led to the declaration of a state of emergency in the energy sector. Although the grid situation has somewhat improved, Ukrainian experts warn that it has not been fully restored.
Shmyhal also emphasized the strategic dimension of the energy crisis. "The outcome of the war will depend on which side can better withstand attacks on critical energy infrastructure," said Ukraine's energy minister. Kyiv hopes that its own strikes on Russian refineries and tightened sanctions will pressure Moscow into agreeing to peace talks this autumn, but it is simultaneously preparing for another winter of Russian strikes on electricity and water systems.
In the capital, efforts are already underway to build additional reserves needed to supply the country with electricity and heating during the winter months. At the same time, Ukraine is counting on additional European Union funding to shape a separate winter aid package. Estimates from Ukrainian officials suggest that the upcoming winter could be tougher than the previous one due to a combination of threats to the energy sector, limited air defense capabilities, and ongoing attacks.
The Russian military invasion of Ukraine continues as of August 4, 2026, with fighting taking place across the country. Meanwhile, sources such as the Operatyvny ZSU channel also report seemingly minor but symbolic damage, such as the destruction of the "Lasunka" ice cream warehouse, further illustrating the scale of devastation.
