Ukraine significantly increased its electricity imports in February, setting a new monthly record as the country faced mounting pressure on its electricity system. Total imports reached 1,263 GWh, marking a 41% rise compared with January and the highest level recorded since the introduction of the current electricity market structure in mid-2019.
The surge followed a series of large-scale Russian strikes targeting power plants and high-voltage substations. Repeated attacks on energy infrastructure, combined with harsh winter conditions, created a persistent shortage of generating capacity, with system deficits climbing to 5–6 GW during peak demand periods.
Further strain occurred after two major air assaults forced Ukrainian nuclear power stations to temporarily scale back output, increasing the need for electricity imports to maintain supply stability.
Hungary remained the dominant source of imports, accounting for nearly half of total deliveries, followed by Romania and Slovakia at roughly 19% and 18%, respectively. The highest daily import occurred on 8 February, when inflows reached 50.6 GWh, a day after a major missile attack.
Another driver was a regulatory change, as Ukrainian authorities raised price caps to around €300/MWh, making imports more economically attractive for suppliers. Consequently, import volumes grew across nearly all cross-border routes.
Throughout February, Ukraine utilized close to 90% of its available interconnection capacity with EU countries and Moldova. The country has remained a net electricity importer for five consecutive months, coping with the ongoing impact of attacks on its energy infrastructure.
