Ukrainian economy minister: 8.5 GW of power generation capacity damaged, $1 bln aid needed

MOSCOW. Jan 20 (Interfax) - Some 8.5 GW of generating capacity in Ukraine was damaged between October 2025 and mid-January 2026, Ukrainian Economy Minister Alexei Sobolev said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, according to Ukrainian media.

To cover the shortage, Ukraine is currently importing a record 1.9 GW of electricity from Europe, Sobolev said.

"Urgent needs currently total $1 billion, which includes power generation capacity, mobile substations, backups, and other equipment," he said.

Ukraine already has operating generators with a capacity of over 1 GW, which help sustain businesses, but they also experience problems in such freezing weather, and Ukraine needs more of them, he said.

According to media, Energy Community Secretariat Director Artur Lorkowski said in Davos that the Ukraine Energy Support Fund has accumulated nearly 1.7 billion euros and plans to raise another 380 million euros to cover Kiev's current needs.

These needs keep growing, Lorkowski said. The Fund covered a deficit of 400 million euros in November 2025, but a new deficit of 380 million euros has emerged since then, he said.

This deficit was calculated precisely enough after inquiring Ukrainian power companies' needs for transformers, cables, pipes and other equipment, he said.

Specialists know what to do, but this requires funds, Lorkowski said.