During the 71st prisoner exchange, Ukraine successfully brought home one National Guard soldier who had been captured during the occupation of the Chernobyl NPP in 2022.

In total, 157 prisoners were returned to Ukraine today. Among them were servicemen of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service. Civilians were also released alongside the defenders. Most of them had been held captive since 2022.

First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal held an online meeting with Lars Aagaard, Minister for Climate and Energy of the Kingdom of Denmark.

During the meeting, Denys Shmyhal briefed his Danish counterpart on the severe situation in Ukraine’s energy sector caused by Russia’s targeted attacks on energy infrastructure, in particular thermal power plants and combined heat and power facilities that provide heating to the population.

Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine Anatoliy Kutsevol held a meeting with representatives of the World Bank, during which the parties discussed priorities for supporting Ukraine’s energy sector, its restoration and modernization, as well as the deployment of energy storage systems.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that close coordination with international partners enables the rapid mobilization of resources for the repair and modernization of energy facilities.

- As a result of hostilities and attacks on energy infrastructure, electricity consumers in Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions were left without power in the morning. Emergency restoration works at energy facilities are ongoing. All possible measures are being taken to ensure the stable operation of the power system.

A regular meeting of the Emergency Response Headquarters in Kyiv and the Kyiv region was held under the chairmanship of the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Energy, Denys Shmyhal.

Ireland has announced a new contribution of EUR 25 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, bringing the country’s total contribution to EUR 27 million.

The additional funding is of critical importance for Ukraine, particularly at a time when Russia is deliberately targeting electricity and heat supply facilities during periods of severe frost.

“Support from our partners is the civilized world’s response to Russia’s blatant winter genocide against Ukrainians,” emphasized First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal.

First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal met with Nicolas Forissier, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Investment Attractiveness at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, to discuss further support for Ukraine and the restoration of its energy sector.

According to Denys Shmyhal, France will deliver 150 generators to Ukraine in February and provide EUR 71 million in financial assistance throughout 2026 to support the energy sector.

- As a result of hostilities and shelling of energy infrastructure, consumers remain without electricity as of this morning in Donetsk, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Chernihiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions.

- Power engineers, together with emergency services, continue restoration works at energy facilities damaged by previous enemy attacks. All possible measures are being taken to ensure the stable operation of the power system.

Under the chairmanship of First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal, a regular meeting of the Headquarters for the Elimination of the Consequences of Emergencies in Kyiv and the region was held.

Participants analyzed the consequences of one of the most massive missile strikes on Ukraine’s energy system and identified urgent steps to restore electricity and heat supply.

During a visit to Kyiv, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, together with First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal, visited one of the capital’s CHPs that was attacked by Russia overnight.

“The enemy launched a missile strike on an energy facility that provides heat to the city’s residents. This is a civilian facility. The attack was deliberate and occurred precisely when temperatures dropped to –25°C. This crime must be properly assessed,” Denys Shmyhal emphasized.