Ukraine’s energy director, Maxim Timchenko, has issued a warning that Russia’s assaults on the country’s power infrastructure are expected to persist, regardless of any intervention from President Trump. Millions might face a bitter winter without electricity. Timchenko’s comments came just a day after Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in attempts to resolve the nearly four-year conflict, amid fears of intensified Russian attacks on energy assets.
“The discussions yesterday renewed our optimism. However, it’s vital that we don’t just rely on hope,” Timchenko shared, emphasizing the need to remain proactive against ongoing challenges and to keep fighting. He expressed strong appreciation for Trump’s leadership, believing that only he, along with the backing of partners from the European Union and other nations, can compel Russia to negotiate peace.
DTEK, the largest private energy firm in Ukraine and founded by entrepreneur Rinat Akhmetov, had eight thermal power plants operational prior to the full-scale invasion in 2022. Currently, only five plants are in operation, each having suffered multiple attacks. Timchenko noted the unprecedented damage to the energy sector, saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this in modern history.” He highlighted that nearly all of their power generation capabilities had been either damaged or destroyed, resulting in financial losses in the hundreds of millions.
Despite these struggles, Timchenko reported that since the start of the invasion in 2022, they managed to reconnect power to over 30 million households. He underscored the ongoing efforts to restore electricity amid chaos, including gas drilling and the construction of a large wind farm in Eastern Europe.
In areas like Odesa, power outages have deeply affected residents—some parts left without electricity for several days. Recently, a major attack on December 26 left over a million people in the freezing temperatures without power, further compounding the already dire situation.
Timchenko concluded with a call for sustained international support, stressing the central role of energy systems in the conflict. “Modern life hinges on electricity, and continued global backing is crucial,” he said, as the nation braces for what lies ahead.
