Lithuanian state-owned AB Energijos skirstymo operatorius, which operates the country’s distribution networks, will transfer another batch of equipment to Ukraine for the needs of the energy sector.
“Under the donation agreement, Ukraine will receive more than 200 power transformers of various capacities (…) The humanitarian aid is expected to arrive before the start of the heating season,” the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy said on Wednesday.
The equipment will be transported through the humanitarian aid and civil protection mechanism, which is funded and coordinated by the European Commission (ECHO).
“The transformers are critically needed for the rapid restoration of distribution networks damaged by Russian attacks, as well as to ensure a stable power supply to consumers in wartime,” said Energy Minister Svitlana Grinchuk, whose words are quoted in the statement.
The ministry explained that in order to respond quickly to enemy strikes and carry out operational repairs, it is necessary to have sufficient reserves of backup equipment. To this end, the Ministry of Energy has initiated the creation of a National Strategic Reserve of Power Transformers, which is being formed with the help of international partners, among others.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation, Ukraine has received 324 humanitarian shipments of energy equipment from Lithuania, with a total weight of 5,247 tons.
Imports of transformers, inductors, and chokes to Ukraine in January-April 2025 increased 2.5 times compared to the same period in 2024, reaching $338 million, according to statistics from the State Customs Service.
According to published data, during this period, products were imported mainly from China, worth $279 million (82.5% of all imports of these goods), while a year earlier, transformers and chokes worth $66.1 million (48.4%) were imported from this country, i.e., imports increased 4.2 times.
In addition, transformers were imported from Germany ($17.4 million) and Turkey ($13.9 million), while in January-April 2024, imports from Turkey amounted to $37.1 million, and from Italy – almost $5 million. In particular, in April, imports of this equipment increased by 50% compared to the same month last year, but decreased by 22.3% compared to March this year, to $55.2 million. China’s share was 48.7%.
At the same time, Ukraine exported transformers, inductors, and chokes worth $8.37 million in the first four months of this year, compared to $5.64 million last year, mainly to Germany, Hungary, and Poland.
According to the State Customs Service, imports of transformers, inductance coils, and chokes in 2024 more than doubled compared to 2023, reaching $596.11 million, with imports from China increasing 2.5 times to $400.48 million.
In January-March 2025, imports of transformers, inductors and chokes to Ukraine increased by more than 2.8 times compared to the same period in 2024, to $282.8 million, according to statistics from the State Customs Service (SCS).
According to the published data, during this period, products were imported mainly from China – for $252 million (89% of total imports of these goods), while a year earlier, transformers and chokes were imported from this country for $48.6 million (48.8%).
In addition, transformers were imported from Turkey (for $10.5 million) and Germany (for $2.8 million).
At the same time, in March, imports of this equipment increased by 61.5% compared to the same period last year, but decreased by 15% compared to February this year, to $71.06 million.
At the same time, Ukraine exported transformers, inductors, and chokes for $5.7 million over the three months of this year, compared to $4.5 million last year, mainly to Germany, Hungary, and Poland.
As reported earlier, according to the State Customs Service, imports of transformers, inductors and chokes to Ukraine in 2024 more than doubled compared to 2023 to $596.11 million, while China imported 2.5 times more – $400.48 million.
Imports of transformers, inductors and chokes to Ukraine in January 2025 increased almost sixfold compared to the same month in 2024 to $127.9 million, according to statistics from the State Customs Service (SCS).
According to the statistics, in January this year, these products were mainly imported from China – for $116.07 million (90.75% of total imports of these goods), while a year earlier, transformers and chokes were imported from this country for $12.9 million (59.7%). That is, their imports increased almost ninefold last month.
They were also imported from Turkey (by $4.5 million) and the United States (by $1.75 million).
In January 2024, the Czech Republic ($1.9 million) and Italy (almost $1 million) were among the largest importing countries, in addition to China.
At the same time, Ukraine exported transformers, inductors, and chokes worth $2.05 million in January 2025, compared to $1.24 million in January 2024, mainly to Hungary, Germany, and Azerbaijan.
According to the State Customs Service, imports of transformers, inductors and chokes to Ukraine more than doubled in 2024 compared to 2023, to $596.11 million, while China imported 2.5 times more of them, by $400.48 million.
Metinvest Group’s Kametstal plant, which was built at the facilities of Dnipro Metallurgical Plant (DMK, Kamenskoye, Dnipro Oblast), put a T-8 power transformer into operation at the DRZ-10 substation, the main consumer of which is the BOF shop, after a major overhaul in December.
According to the press release, a systematic approach to the renewal of electrical equipment is an effective component of the stable operation of the main production equipment. The power engineers of the Grids and Substations Shop carried out an overhaul and implemented an investment project under the 2024 Program aimed at improving the reliability of the steelmaking process.
The full range of repair measures made it possible to restore all electrical characteristics of the transformer and ensure its stable and uninterrupted operation during the overhaul period. The service life of the equipment has been extended.
An important investment project was also implemented at the filter-compensating device substation – FCD-35 kV, which is consumed by the out-of-furnace steel treatment section of the BOF Shop, namely two ladle furnaces. Its main task was to modernize the switchgear cells with improved insulation characteristics, which largely determine the trouble-free operation of electrical equipment.
“Kametstal was created on the basis of PJSC Dneprovsky Coke and Chemical Plant (DKKhZ) and Centralized Steel Works of PJSC Dneprovsky Metallurgical Plant (DMK).
According to the 2020 report of Metinvest Group’s parent company, Metinvest B.V. (Netherlands) owned 100% of the shares in DCCP.
The Cabinet of Ministers has simplified the import of power equipment, including generators and transformers, to Ukraine, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
“We are preparing for winter at all levels. Today we will approve a resolution that simplifies the import of power equipment, in particular generators and transformers, to Ukraine,” Shmyhal said at a government meeting on Friday.
According to him, to do this, the government will actually suspend six technical regulations that were applied to the import and sale of energy equipment.
“Now, a number of these goods will not require a declaration of conformity and marking with a conformity mark,” he concluded.
