Energy company DTEK of Rinat Akhmetov presented a project that can seriously change the balance of forces in the fight for stable electricity supply in Ukraine. We’re talking about a battery system with a capacity of 200 megawatts – the largest in the country so far.
The system consists of six battery installations, each with a capacity of 20 to 50 MW. They were placed in Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, connected directly to the power grid. Total capacity – 400 MWh, this is enough to provide electricity to 600 thousand apartments for two hours.
The fundamental difference from generators – the system doesn’t produce, but accumulates energy, helping to smooth out fluctuations and reducing the risks of blackouts. This is especially relevant in winter, when electricity demand grows and Russian strikes on energy infrastructure continue.
Energy Minister Svitlana Hrinchuk noted that energy storage systems have become just as important as power plants themselves, which became the main targets of Russian attacks in summer 2024. The project cost €125 million ($146.5 million) and was implemented in just six months – from March to August 2025.
American Partnership and New Recovery Model
The project was implemented jointly with American company Fluence Energy. Interestingly, this is the first case when Fluence fully launched a system remotely – 20 Ukrainian power engineers underwent training at the company’s sites in Germany and Finland.
The US Embassy called the project an example of private investment in the country’s recovery. US Chargé d’Affaires Julie Davis emphasized that the DTEK-Fluence partnership embodies President Trump’s vision: Ukraine’s recovery driven by the private sector and led by Ukrainians themselves.
“Despite the constant attacks on the energy system, Ukraine has responded every time, every day, every hour with remarkable determination, ingenuity, and resilience. And from what we see, DTEK is just at the forefront of that resilience and ensuring that Ukrainians have the power they need to get up and keep moving forward,” Davis stated.
She also highlighted the remarkable speed of implementation – reduced from the typical 2 years to just six months – demonstrating the effectiveness of international partnership and proving that Ukraine remains open for business even in challenging conditions.
Rinat Akhmetov thanked American partners for their support: “We await the end of the war and a lasting, sustainable peace. But even under fire, we invest in Ukraine’s recovery and growth. Our energy sector, having withstood countless and horrendous Russian attacks, now gains new momentum: we are launching a cutting-edge energy storage system — unique not only for Ukraine, but for Western nations as well. Deep thanks to our American partners for making this possible.”
Contribution to Defense and the Country’s Economy
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Rinat Akhmetov‘s businesses, FC Shakhtar and his charitable foundation have directed 13 billion hryvnias to help the military and humanitarian programs.
Company SCM, which consolidates the entrepreneur’s assets, celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025. During this time, it became the largest private investor in the Ukrainian economy – the total volume of investments reached $18.2 billion, and about $33 billion in taxes were transferred to the budget.
The launched energy storage system is not just a technical project. This is part of a large strategy to ensure Ukraine’s energy independence. According to the National Bank, energy loans from banks have already helped restore 1 gigawatt of generating capacity.