Ukraine is bracing for its most difficult winter since the full-scale invasion began. The intensity of Russian strikes on the energy sector has reached critical levels, while restoration resources are running dangerously low.
As reported by Hvylya, DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko disclosed the details in an exclusive interview with Bloomberg.
Since September, the company's power plants have faced more than six massive barrages. The enemy has shifted tactics, now targeting not just substations but power generation facilities themselves, along with coal mining enterprises and gas infrastructure.
"Over 50% of our generating capacity has been destroyed since September. The Russians are attacking everything: generation, transmission, coal mining. The entire energy infrastructure is under constant fire. It is incomparable to the intensity of attacks seen in recent years," the DTEK chief stated.
Life in the Dark: 20 Hours Without Power
With the arrival of the first frosts, the situation in several regions has already reached a critical point. Strict consumption limits are forcing energy workers to leave consumers without electricity for the majority of the day.
"People are already left without electricity for 15-20 hours in some regions of Ukraine, even with temperatures around 0 degrees. And I believe this winter will be much harder," Timchenko emphasized.
Turning to Decommissioned Equipment
The most alarming signal came with the CEO's admission that Ukraine has effectively exhausted its spare parts inventory. There are no new transformers or turbines in stock, and manufacturing them takes months or even years. To keep the system running, DTEK specialists are forced to scour EU countries for obsolete equipment.
"The problem is that we have no spare transformers, generators, or turbines. DTEK teams are literally searching across Europe for decommissioned (used) equipment to conduct repairs," Timchenko noted.
Repair crews are currently working around the clock, but the scale of destruction from recent attacks has pushed the energy system to the brink of survival. According to the DTEK chief, several plants were under fire even as the interview took place, further exacerbating the grid deficit.
Another day, another attack by russia on our energy infrastructure - this time against several DTEK thermal power plants - piling more pressure on the system as temperatures drop below freezing. People are already living with power cuts of up to 15-20 hours in some regions.… pic.twitter.com/9GaTHsSqsM
— Maxim Timchenko (@TimchenkoMaxim) December 23, 2025
Earlier reports explained why the promised reduction in power outage schedules is impossible.