In February, Ukraine experienced a significant surge in electricity imports, achieving a record total of 1,263 GWh. This marks a notable 41% increase from January and represents the highest monthly import volume since the establishment of the current electricity market framework in mid-2019. The escalating demand for imported electricity is largely attributed to ongoing pressures on the national grid.
The spike in imports coincided with a series of large-scale Russian attacks targeting critical energy infrastructure, including power plants and substations. These strikes, compounded by severe winter weather, have resulted in a chronic shortage of generating capacity, with system deficits reaching between 5–6 GW during peak demand periods.
The situation was further exacerbated by two major air assaults that forced Ukrainian nuclear power facilities to reduce their output temporarily. This reduction heightened the reliance on imported electricity to ensure supply stability across the grid.
Hungary emerged as the primary source of these imports, contributing nearly 50% of total deliveries. Romania and Slovakia followed, accounting for approximately 19% and 18%, respectively. The peak daily import occurred on February 8, when inflows reached 50.6 GWh, just one day after a significant missile strike.
A regulatory shift also played a crucial role in this uptick. Ukrainian authorities increased price caps to around €300/MWh, which enhanced the economic attractiveness of imports for suppliers. As a result, import volumes expanded across nearly all available cross-border routes.
<pThroughout February, Ukraine operated at close to 90% of its interconnection capacity with EU nations and Moldova. For five consecutive months, Ukraine has maintained its status as a net electricity importer, continuing to navigate the ongoing repercussions of attacks on its energy infrastructure.
