Ukraine’s energy deficit has decreased significantly to 1 gigawatt (GW), down from 5-6 GW observed during the winter months, according to Deputy Prime Minister for Energy, Denys Shmyhal. This reduction allows for a less severe schedule of power outages, providing some relief for both residents and businesses.
Shmyhal stated during a briefing following a National Security and Defense Council meeting that the current deficit is five to six times lower than it was in winter. He emphasized that this improvement enables a more manageable power distribution for consumers and businesses alike.
The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted solar power as the most cost-effective and rapid method of energy generation. Before the full-scale invasion in early 2022, Ukraine had a nominal energy generation capacity of 32 GW. However, following numerous Russian attacks, the country currently retains less than 10 GW of operational generation capacity.
Since the onset of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russian forces have targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Reports indicate that as of January 2026, Ukraine has lost over half of its pre-invasion electricity production capacity due to occupation and damage from attacks, leaving it with only 11 GW of generation capacity. This is significantly below the 18 GW required during peak winter consumption.
The gap between generation capacity and consumption needs has led to prolonged power outages across the country. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has classified the Russian strikes on energy facilities, which deprive citizens of heating amid severe cold, as acts of genocide.
In early February, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Russia had not initiated attacks on civilian infrastructure, asserting that Ukraine was the first to target its energy facilities. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, Ruslan Kravchenko, announced on February 25 that he had submitted materials to the International Criminal Court regarding Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure from July 2025 to February 2026.
The reduction of Ukraine's energy deficit to 1 GW marks a significant improvement from previous winter levels, allowing for less frequent power outages. However, ongoing Russian attacks have severely impacted the country's energy infrastructure, leading to a substantial loss in generation capacity.