The upcoming winter poses the “sternest test yet” for Ukraine’s energy grid since Russia’s invasion, according to a report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) released on September 19. With numerous power plants either destroyed or damaged, the IEA presented a 10-point plan to help Ukraine bolster its war-affected energy security. The report also highlighted potential challenges for neighboring Moldova’s electricity supply, especially after Ukraine halts the transit of Russian gas at the end of 2024.
“Ukraine’s energy system has endured the past two winters, but this winter will be its greatest challenge,” stated IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol in the accompanying news release. The report revealed that between 2022 and 2023, approximately half of Ukraine’s power generation capacity was either occupied by Russian forces, destroyed, or damaged. Additionally, around half of the large network substations suffered damage from missiles and drones.
With Ukraine losing over two-thirds of its electricity production capacity since the invasion, the IEA warned of a significant gap between available electricity supply and peak demand. The agency urged European nations to accelerate the delivery of equipment and parts necessary for rebuilding damaged facilities and called for measures to protect these assets from drone attacks.
