Demand under pressure from shelling: how Ukrainians are adapting to energy instability
16 January 14:47
EXCLUSIVE
The demand for generators, portable charging stations, and related alternative power supply products in Ukraine directly depends on the security situation. The market shows a clear pattern: during massive shelling of energy infrastructure, sales of all categories of energy products skyrocket, but as soon as the situation stabilizes, consumer interest drops by 2–3 times. At the same time, the recent series of attacks has again triggered a sharp surge in demand.
In an exclusive comment to Komersant, the Epicenter press service reported on which alternative power and lighting sources are currently popular in the chain of shopping centers.
According to Epicenter, October 2025 was a turning point — the start of the blackout season. That’s when demand for alternative power sources went up, and the hype hasn’t died down yet. The overall dynamics of 2025 and early 2026 indicate a deeper transformation in consumer behavior: Ukrainians are increasingly shifting from temporary solutions to autonomous systems.
While 2024 saw a peak in energy product sales, in 2025 the market showed additional growth of 75%. This confirms the transition of consumers to capital inverter systems and batteries. Sales of inverter systems peaked in November — given the need for installation, customers tried to prepare for the cold weather in advance. On the other hand, residents of rented accommodation or those who do not have the possibility of a stationary installation prefer portable charging stations.
The charging station category saw a sharp increase in October, with sales increasing almost tenfold compared to September. In December, the market peaked, with demand three times higher than in October. The most popular are mid-range charging stations with a capacity of 1–2 kW, which combine fast charging (about 1.5 hours) and the ability to provide autonomous operation of equipment for 10–15 hours. The rapid growth in demand has led to a temporary shortage. As of mid-January, interest in charging stations remains consistently high and exceeds last year’s baseline figures by more than 12 times. The power bank segment, meanwhile, has grown almost fivefold.
Similar dynamics are observed in the generator category. In the last three months of 2025 alone, the company received 78% of its total annual revenue in this segment. Since January 13, 2026, there has been a new sharp jump in demand, especially in Kyiv and the central regions. Popular items are quickly disappearing from warehouses, and there is a shortage of inverter generators with a smooth sine wave, which are capable of charging charging stations. Due to the lack of supplies during the New Year holidays, the company is quickly bringing in stock from Europe to meet demand.
The category of cooking equipment deserves special attention: camping stoves, burners, and gas cylinders. Sales here are breaking all records. While demand grew 2.8 times in October, in December it already exceeded the norm by 5–6 times, and January continues this abnormal trend. Unlike a generator, gas is a daily consumable.
The situation is similar with alternative lighting. After each shelling, there are jumps in sales: rechargeable light bulbs show a 270% increase, flashlights — 139%, and rechargeable table lamps — 103% compared to last year. Ukrainians are buying autonomous lighting in all formats — from camping lanterns to compact clip-on models — adapting their daily lives to the new realities of energy instability.
