Finance
Ukraine cuts power imports as weather gets less cold
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 18, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 18, 2026
Quick Summary
Ukraine reduced electricity imports by 3% due to milder weather, stabilizing supply amid ongoing Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.
Ukraine cuts power imports as weather gets less cold
Impact of Weather on Ukraine's Energy Imports
KYIV, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Ukraine reduced electricity imports by 3% to around 311 gigawatt hours last week amid milder weather, analyst DixiGroup said late on Tuesday.
Recent Trends in Electricity Imports
"This is the first decline in weekly import volumes in the last five weeks. Electricity exports have remained at zero for three months in a row," it said in a report.
Ukrainians suffered record cold conditions in early February, with temperatures in some parts of the country hitting minus 30 degrees Celsius (-22°F) - just as Russian attacks knocked out large parts of the energy network.
Geopolitical Context of Energy Supply
DixiGroup added that a gradual rise in temperatures had somewhat improved the situation, as warmer weather reduced network load and eased the capacity deficit. This helped partially stabilize supply schedules and avoid large-scale emergency outages.
Half of the imported volume came from Hungary, 20% from Romania and 18% from Slovakia. Ukraine also imported energy from Poland and Moldova.
Sources of Electricity Imports
Russia attacked the Ukrainian energy system again this week, striking both thermal power plants and electrical substations.
Attacks on power stations, the energy transmission system and the gas sector are important elements of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched by Russia in February 2022. Moscow says it is seeking to undermine Ukraine's ability to fight.
(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by David Holmes)
Key Takeaways
- •Ukraine's electricity imports dropped by 3% last week.
- •Milder weather reduced network load and eased capacity deficit.
- •Electricity exports have been zero for three months.
- •Half of the imported electricity came from Hungary.
- •Russian attacks continue to target Ukraine's energy system.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ukraine cuts power imports as weather gets less cold
1What is electricity import?
Electricity import refers to the purchase of electrical energy from another country to meet domestic demand. This is often necessary when local production is insufficient.
2What is energy supply?
Energy supply encompasses the total amount of energy available for consumption, including electricity, gas, and renewable sources, to meet the needs of consumers and businesses.
3What are thermal power plants?
Thermal power plants generate electricity by converting heat energy, typically from burning fossil fuels, into electrical energy through steam turbines.
4What is a capacity deficit?
A capacity deficit occurs when the demand for energy exceeds the available supply, leading to potential shortages and the need for imports to meet consumption.
5What is the significance of electricity exports?
Electricity exports are crucial for countries with surplus energy production, allowing them to sell excess power to neighboring countries and generate revenue.
