President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared a state of emergency in Ukraine's energy sector. The move follows a meeting addressing the aftermath of Russian strikes and deteriorating weather conditions.
Zelensky made the announcement on social media.
A permanent headquarters is being established to coordinate the situation in Kyiv. Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy has been appointed to lead efforts to support the public and local communities.
The government is stepping up cooperation with partners to secure equipment and additional support. The Cabinet of Ministers will ensure maximum deregulation for connecting backup energy equipment to the grid. Work is also underway to increase electricity imports.
Zelensky tasked the government with reviewing curfew regulations during the cold spell. "People must have maximum access to support centers, while businesses need the ability to plan operations based on the grid situation," the President wrote.
Kyiv will increase the number of "Points of Invincibility" and inspect existing ones. The Ministry of Education and Science, along with local authorities, are to submit proposals regarding educational formats for the duration of the emergency.
The emergency status in the energy sector, announced by President Zelensky, grants authorities expanded powers to respond rapidly to the crisis and simplifies coordination between government agencies.
Under Electricity Market Rules, this measure is introduced when there is a threat to the stable operation of Ukraine's United Energy System (UES). As Ukrhydroenergo previously explained, the term "emergency situation" in the electricity market is primarily commercial—it protects market participants from penalties for imbalances caused by missile attacks.
Under this emergency status, authorities are empowered to establish coordination headquarters, mobilize government agencies to resolve the situation, and suspend business operations. However, this measure does not restrict citizens' constitutional rights and freedoms—unlike a full state of emergency, which can only be imposed by the President with the approval of the Verkhovna Rada.
Zelensky also announced that the Cabinet will ensure "maximum deregulation of all processes for connecting backup energy equipment to the grid." This involves simplifying permitting procedures for generators and other backup power sources.
According to the Energy Ministry, the situation is currently most critical in Kyiv and the Kyiv region, as well as in the Odesa region and Dnipro, where emergency grid restrictions are in place instead of scheduled outages. In frontline and border regions, consumers remain cut off from power due to relentless shelling.