As Russia attacks Ukraine’s grid, solar offers a path to resilience

In Ukraine, repeated Russian attacks on power plants and transmission lines have pushed homeowners, businesses, and building managers toward rooftop solar as a way to keep the lights and heat on. A door factory in Bila Tserkva switched to solar this year after relying on costly backup generators during blackouts. Ukraine's "Affordable Loans 5-7-9" program helped cover the cost, offering loans at 5, 7, or 9 percent interest that can pay for up to 80 percent of installation. A separate "green tariff" law, guaranteed until 2030, pays above-market rates for solar and wind power and helped Ukraine build about 8 gigawatts of solar capacity before the war.

The war has damaged roughly 30 percent of that solar capacity and most of the country's wind farms, and a major nuclear plant remains under Russian control. But solar has kept growing anyway: installations nearly doubled in 2025 to 1.5 gigawatts, with similar growth expected this year. One Kyiv apartment building is installing rooftop solar, funded partly through the 5-7-9 loan program, so its boiler and elevators keep running during outages. In villages near the front lines, where attacks have cut off power for good, nonprofits and international donors are funding small solar and battery systems that let residents charge phones, call for help, and stay connected.

None of this changes rebate programs or rules in the United States. But it shows how homeowners elsewhere are using solar and battery backup specifically for resilience during grid outages, not just to save money — a reminder that the same equipment serves both purposes.