A new report from the International Energy Agency on the situation in Ukraine says that the country has made significant strides to improve the resilience of its energy system since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. But as the new report warns, increasingly sophisticated Russian drones now threaten to outpace these efforts – making it more likely that Ukraine will face power shortages in the coming months.
Since last winter, Russia has ramped up its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure by using faster, jet-powered drones that are harder to intercept. This has caused extensive damage to power generation assets, electricity networks, gas facilities and oil infrastructure across the country. At the same time, the winter heating season is boosting electricity demand. As a result, Ukraine is likely to face power shortages this coming winter, with their severity depending on the intensity of attacks and weather conditions.
The report finds that Ukraine already has effective defence measures at its disposal. It has taken important steps to secure critical energy infrastructure, such as investing in air defences and anti-drone netting. It has also added around 400 MW of distributed gas-fired power generation, alongside new wind capacity and battery storage, and created strategic reserves of energy equipment.
Read the full IEA report ‘Ukraine’s Energy Security 2026’ at our new report
