Ukraine seeks energy imports surge due to Russian strikes

Ukraine's new Energy Minister on Friday (January 16, 2026) ordered State companies to ratchet up imports from abroad, pointing to the struggles plaguing the grid after a systematic bombing campaign by Russia. Engineers and rescue crews have been braving sub-zero temperatures to restore operations at power plants and substations battered over recent days by Russian drones and missiles. "State companies, primarily Ukrainian Railways and Naftogaz, must urgently ensure the procurement of imported electric energy during the 2025-26 heating season, amounting to at least 50% of total consumption," Energy Minister Denys Shmygal said in a statement. The Minister did not give data on how much electricity Ukraine currently generates or imports, information that authorities have withheld due to war-time sensitivities. Russian drone and missile attacks have recently plunged entire cities into darkness and left millions with sporadic or no heating at all, as temperatures dip to -20C in some areas. Over recent days, AFP journalists in Kyiv have seen traffic lights powered down, shops and restaurants closed, and residents warming up and charging phones in tents set up by the state. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced late on Thursday (January 15, 2026) that 400,000 people had been left without electricity after Russian aerial attacks on Kharkiv, the country's second-largest city. Also late on Thursday, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced that strict curfew rules put in place at the beginning of Russia's invasion in February 2022 would be eased to allow Ukrainians to access emergency hubs providing heating and electricity. The Kremlin has said the attacks are only targeting military facilities, and in previous years blamed civilians' suffering on Kyiv's refusal to accept Russian peace demands. Published - January 16, 2026 03:23 pm IST

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