What is Ukraine's energy security & the coming winter?

This special report from the IEA, Ukraine’s Energy Security and the Coming Winter, provides an energy action plan for Ukraine and its partners to help the country meet its energy needs through the challenging months ahead. Ukraine's energy system has been targeted since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022.

Is Russia targeting Ukraine's energy system?

Ukraine’s energy system 1 has been regularly targeted by Russia since its full-scale invasion in 2022, with attacks intensifying since the spring of 2024. The targeting of energy infrastructure has had wide-ranging consequences for the provision of energy to Ukrainian households and other consumers.

How important is energy security in Ukraine?

These attacks on key infrastructure have recently increased and intensified, posing a huge threat to reliable access to power, heating and communications services across Ukraine this winter. This special report lays out 10 key energy actions to reinforce the country’s energy security – essential to its security overall – at this critical juncture.

How important is Ukraine's energy sector?

Ukraine’s air defences provided some protection, but the scale of the attack and the resulting disruption highlighted once again the vital strategic importance of Ukraine’s energy sector, as well as the ever-present risks to the country’s energy supply.

Does decentralisation drive energy security in Ukraine?

Despite the high investment risks, the construction of a more decentralised system has begun, increasing resilience to attack and laying the groundwork for a distinctive longer-term transition pathway. In contrast with other countries, where decentralisation has been driven by sustainability concerns, the clear driver in Ukraine is energy security.

Can Ukraine recover power from a decentralized energy system?

Whatever the future, the decentralized nature of some clean energies, in particular wind and solar, has allowed Ukraine to quickly restore power in ways that would be impossible with Ukraine’s more traditional energy sources, such as coal-fired power plants.