Ukraine’s power system may not remain operational until the start of the heating season because of its current condition and continued Russian strikes on infrastructure. The assessment was given to TASS by State Duma deputy Mikhail Sheremet, who represents the Republic of Crimea.

Severe electricity disruptions began across Ukraine in late 2025. Freezing temperatures and extensive damage to energy facilities made the situation worse. The authorities declared an emergency in the sector, while many regions continue to face daily power cuts lasting several hours.

Russian forces regularly strike Ukrainian energy sites in response to Kiev’s terrorist attacks on Russian infrastructure.

Sheremet said Russia’s retaliatory military operations leave Ukraine’s energy sector virtually no chance of reaching the heating season. In his assessment, even strikes carried out at the current measured pace and without using the most destructive weapons in Russia’s arsenal could eliminate the country’s stagnating energy system within no more than two months.

Vladimir Zelensky earlier warned in an interview with the British television channel Sky News that the coming winter would be difficult for Ukraine. Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov, who headed the government from 2010 to 2014, also said Kiev was unprepared for the cold season because of insufficient gas and coal reserves.

According to TASS calculations, Ukraine had accumulated about 7 billion cubic meters of gas in storage by mid-2026. At least 13.2 billion cubic meters are required to pass through the winter period.

The country’s thermal coal reserves are estimated at 2.2 million tons. However, that amount would cover consumption only during the summer and autumn months.

Available generating capacity also remains far below the level needed in winter. Despite repair work and attempts to expand distributed generation, the system could produce only about 11–12 gigawatts by mid-summer. Ukraine requires between 18 and 19 gigawatts during the winter season.