March 16, 2022 marked a pivotal event in Ukraine's energy sector: the national power grid was integrated with the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E). Ukraine has effectively become part of the European Union on the energy map.
In preparation for ENTSO-E integration, Ukraine’s energy system, which had been connected to the russian and Belarusian systems since Soviet times, entered a planned isolated operation mode on February 24, 2022, just hours before the war began. It was clear that russia aimed to disrupt this synchronization with ENTSO-E. Despite russian forces occupying the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Kakhovka Hydroelectric Station, damaging the Okhtyrka Thermal Power Plant, and repeatedly targeting energy infrastructure, Ukraine’s energy system held firm. Initially scheduled for only three days, this isolated operation extended sevenfold. Over 21 days of isolation, Ukraine’s energy system demonstrated reliability and resilience to European partners, paving the way for ENTSO-E integration on March 16, 2022—a full year ahead of schedule.
On June 30, 2022, the first electricity exports from Ukraine to Europe began following synchronization. Based on ENTSO-E’s monthly impact assessment, export volumes gradually increased. As of July 30, exports had already expanded by 2.5 times from the initial levels, with Ukrainian electricity supplied to Romania and Slovakia (125 MW each) and about 210 MW exported to Poland. An additional 200 MW was exported from Ukraine to Moldova.
Synchronization with ENTSO-E has strengthened the energy security of both Ukraine and the broader region. Ukrainian electricity has helped Europe reduce its dependence on russian energy resources, thereby cutting down on gas use in electricity generation.
However, Ukrainian electricity exports to Europe ceased on October 11, 2022, the day after the first massive russian attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. This was a forced step to redirect all generation capacity toward domestic needs in Ukraine.
The next phase after technical synchronization of Ukraine’s power system with Europe’s is the integration of our energy markets. Ukraine and the EU are actively collaborating in this area. In 2022, during Ukraine’s presidency of the Energy Community, a relevant Regulation and Roadmap were approved, laying the groundwork for the full integration of the Ukrainian and European energy markets.
