According to the IEA analysis, Ukraine has pursued a ‘new architecture of energy resilience’ by working to decentralise electricity and heat generation, adding mobile generators and developing underground control systems. The report recommends that policymakers 'deploy physical "hardening" measures to protect infrastructure’ and build ‘emergency response capabilities’. It also suggests that countries should focus on standardising and stockpiling equipment to limit disruptions.

A key factor has been Ukraine’s move away from centralised electricity and heat generation. The IEA report states that ‘distributed assets are inherently harder to target and easier to restore when damaged’. These resources also serve as a vital safety net, allowing for the maintenance of some essential services when interconnected systems are damaged.  

While not immune to disruption, distributed resources have proven significantly more resilient, according to the report. It states: ‘More than half of Ukraine's centralised generation capacity has been damaged or destroyed, compared to just 7% of distributed generation. Distributed generation assets can also be repaired and rebuilt more quickly than centralised generation facilities.’

To further safeguard infrastructure, Ukraine has implemented a three-tiered protection framework for energy infrastructure with support from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). For more advanced protection, the IEA recommends integrating resilience at the design stage by locating facilities underground or within reinforced shelters capable of surviving direct missile strikes. Beyond physical hardening, the report emphasises that international cooperation enables the necessary distribution of equipment, expertise and resources, urging governments to establish mutual assistance agreements with ‘clear obligations and cost-sharing'.

International financial support continues to strengthen energy security efforts. On 16 February the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced a new €85mn grant from Norway to enable Ukraine's state-owned gas company, Naftogaz, to purchase natural gas. This grant complements a €500mn EBRD loan signed in August 2025. According to the EBRD, ‘Norway’s total wartime energy support through the EBRD now exceeds €610mn’ and is aimed at safeguarding essential energy services for millions of Ukrainians.

The European electricity trade association, Eurelectric, also released a report in February on a similar topic. Kristian Ruby, Eurelectric’s Secretary General, said this report ‘turns hard lessons from Ukraine into practical action for the rest of Europe’.  

He added that it shows what utilities can do to ‘better prepare for, respond to and recover from attacks’, including ‘improving crisis coordination and training, hardening assets, securing communications and stockpiling gear’.

Markus Rauramo, President of Eurelectric, stated that preparation and recovery from ‘both physical and cyber attacks must be a key element of power companies’ strategies going forward’. The report notes that utilities have become the real second line of defence in sustaining society.

The efforts of Ukrainian utility DTEK were recognised at International Energy Week in London, where DTEK CEO, Maxim Timchenko, was made an Honorary Fellow of the Energy Institute (HonFEI).  

Furthermore, a DTEK project won the Workforce category of the International Energy Awards for its ‘Ukraine's Hidden Army’ project. This initiative addresses workforce shortages after 5,700 employees joined the Armed Forces. To maintain operations, DTEK recruited women for roles previously restricted by law, with more than 580 women now working underground across DTEK mines, representing 5% of the number of employees working underground.

Also, during International Energy Week, Olga Michelot, Co-Owner of Ukranian engineering company Helios Strategia, spoke on a panel session about energy industry innovation. She highlighted the need for resilient microgrids, cybersecurity measures, and decentralised energy, storage and control systems. The panel noted that the country still offers opportunities for investment despite the ethical and financial risks involved, with Michelot adding that Ukraine is a ‘huge pilot project right now’.

The IEA report, entitled Energy System Resilience was published on 11 February 2026 and the Eurelectric report, Battle-tested power systems, was published February 2026.