There is every possibility to maintain the current power outage regime of 3-3.5 power outages until the end of February, provided that there is no new damage to energy facilities and the situation will improve with solar activity, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal said.

"The state of the energy system is as follows: if from today we live without attacks, then in the state as today — with three to 3.5 stages — we will live until the end of February. This is an objective reality. Even the introduction of additional generation will not have a significant impact. The situation will begin to improve when there is naturally more solar electricity. Here we will need to work strategically with storage. It will also be better when there is more water," Shmyhal said at a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada's energy committee Thursday.

According to him, in the few frosty days forecast soon, there may be outages of four to 4.5 stages (there are six stages of hourly schedules in total).

"This is the outlook for the next three to four weeks," the energy minister emphasized.

As reported, at the same meeting Shmyhal said Ukraine's electricity deficit decreased from 5-6 GW to 4.3-4.5 GW due to warming. According to him, on sunny days like yesterday and the day before, solar power plants were already supplying 1.6-1.7 GW of electricity to the grid during peak hours.