Ukraine’s Zelensky orders faster imports of electricity, power equipment
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A resident entering a tent set up to offer electricity and heat on Jan 13, in Kyiv, Ukraine, due to power outages caused by Russian air strikes.
PHOTO: LYNSEY ADDARIO/NYTIMES
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- Zelensky ordered accelerated electricity and equipment imports amid Ukraine's severe energy crisis due to Russian strikes.
- Ukraine's energy system meets only 60% of needs, worsened by cold weather and blackouts, especially around Kyiv.
- Government discussed further gas imports with Naftogaz, following 2025 gas imports impacted by Russian attacks.
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KYIV - President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan 17 that he had ordered imports of electricity and additional power equipment to be accelerated as much as possible as Ukraine confronts its worst wartime energy crisis.
The government has declared an energy emergency as the system, damaged by relentless Russian strikes, is meeting only 60 per cent of electricity needs.
The situation is exacerbated by exceptionally cold temperatures.
“All decisions for this are already in place, and the increase in imports must proceed without delay,” Mr Zelensky said in a post on X, after a meeting with top government and military officials.
The energy ministry said scheduled power cuts were in effect in most regions. The situation was most challenging in and around the capital Kyiv, where residents faced long blackouts and dozens of apartment buildings were without heating as temperatures plunged to 16 deg C.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said the government and the state energy company Naftogaz had discussed additional gas imports this year, but she gave no details on volumes.
In 2025, Naftogaz imported 5.7 billion cubic metres of gas using state financing and funds provided by international partners, she said.
Ukraine was forced to start importing gas back in the spring of 2025, due to attacks by hundreds of Russian drones and missiles on gas production facilities.
Naftogaz said that Russia had struck its gas production facilities six times this week alone. REUTERS
