Due to shelling and hostilities, parts of Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions are temporarily without electricity. Energy workers are working on restoration, and hourly blackouts are in effect in most regions.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is ready to meet with Zelenskyy after talks with Ursula von der Leyen. He demands that Ukraine allow inspection and resume transit of Russian oil.
In the Kyiv region, in the first 5 days of March, A-95 gasoline rose in price by almost 5 hryvnias. Prices for other types of fuel also increased, except for A-98 and A-80.
Iran struck Kurdish groups in Iraq, claiming the US was arming Iranian Kurdish guerrillas. This occurred amid the spread of war in the Middle East, which has engulfed the entire region.
President Zelenskyy expressed concern about a possible reduction in air defense and missile supplies to Ukraine from the United States in the event of a prolonged war in the Middle East. He also noted that Iran can no longer transfer weapons to Russia, but the Russian Federation produces missiles and drones under Iranian licenses.
The cost of insuring ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz has increased 12-fold, reaching 3% of the vessel's value. US President Donald Trump has pledged support for trade through the key oil route.
China has imposed an urgent ban on diesel and gasoline exports due to the escalating conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. This decision could lead to a shortage of petroleum products in the Asia-Pacific region.
Australia has officially joined the G7 Critical Minerals Alliance. This partnership aims to create a reliable supply chain for lithium, uranium, and iron ore, bypassing China.
The auction for drilling rights in Alaska's Cook Inlet, initiated by the Trump administration, ended without result. No company submitted bids for the development of oil and gas fields.
A massive blackout occurred in Cuba due to the failure of the largest thermal power plant, leaving Havana and most of the country without electricity. Restoration could take up to 72 hours due to an outdated grid and a shortage of spare parts.
US regulators have approved the construction of a commercial nuclear reactor in Wyoming, backed by Bill Gates. Construction of the $4 billion facility will begin soon, with launch scheduled for 2030.
The cost of chartering a supertanker to transport oil from the US to China has reached a record $29 million. This is due to the escalation of the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, which has halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Germany has handed over the first 13 vehicles to Ukrzaliznytsia for the rapid restoration of damaged infrastructure after Russian shelling. This aid is part of a larger support package, which includes 18 vehicles, 32 generators, and 18 units of special equipment.
The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine has launched inspections of gas stations due to a significant increase in fuel prices in early March 2026. The Committee is analyzing the provided information to identify possible violations of economic competition protection legislation.
The Cabinet of Ministers has established a Coordination Center for the implementation of Ukraine's Regional Resilience Plans. It will be headed by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, and its members include representatives of ministries, the Verkhovna Rada, and the Office of the President.
Vladimir Putin has instructed the government to consider the possibility of immediately stopping gas supplies to Europe. This is due to the EU's plans to limit the import of Russian gas.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved a draft law on the corporatization of SE "SkhidGZK", which will be transformed into a joint-stock company with 100% state ownership. This strategic enterprise provides up to 40% of the uranium needs for Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
In Ukraine, on March 5, from 8:00 AM, power limitation and hourly outage schedules will be in effect. The reason is the consequences of Russian attacks on the energy system.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Ukraine's readiness to help stabilize the situation in the Middle East. He instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs and other agencies to develop options for support without compromising Ukraine's defense.
Qatar has declared force majeure on gas exports due to the US-Israeli war against Iran. Restoring normal production volumes could take at least a month, leading to shortages in global markets.
A complete power outage has occurred in all provinces of Iraq. The causes of the large-scale failure have not been officially named.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will release two Hungarian citizens, mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine, from captivity. Transcarpathian Hungarians will leave Russia with Szijjártó.
Almost 800 cases of flooding have been recorded in Ukraine due to spring floods, with active work ongoing in Odesa, Kirovohrad, and Cherkasy regions. The SES calls for cooperation with local authorities to minimize the consequences.
Autogas in Ukraine has risen by approximately 2% (about UAH 0. 75/liter) on average in a few days, with uneven growth across networks (from +UAH 0.5 to +UAH 2/liter, and at Market gas stations up to +11.3% or +UAH 4). Further dynamics will depend on world prices, logistics, the hryvnia exchange rate, and the speed of wholesale transfer to retail.
Ukraine is preparing a decision on a strategic fuel reserve. The law provides for the creation of minimum stocks of oil and petroleum products, which will be stored in Ukraine and the EU.
Russia is ready to reroute about 9. 5 million barrels of oil already near Indian waters to India to compensate for supply disruptions from the Middle East. India is looking for alternative sources of supply, as its crude oil reserves cover only 25 days of needs.
German intelligence has accused Moscow of concealing the true cost of the war, stating that Russia's budget deficit in 2025 exceeded the officially declared amount by more than 2. 36 trillion rubles. Western sanctions and falling oil prices are impacting the Russian economy.
Qatar's state energy company, QatarEnergy, has declared force majeure on liquefied natural gas supplies. This happened after Iranian attacks on the company's facilities in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed.
Officials from the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff organized a scheme to embezzle fuel for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Mykolaiv Oblast, causing losses of over UAH 22 million. In Zhytomyr Oblast, the head of the district's quartering and operational unit is suspected of causing UAH 8.3 million in losses through overpayment of VAT for fuel oil.
On the night of March 2, the SBU and the Defense Forces hit the Valentin Pikul minesweeper and also damaged the anti-submarine ships Yeysk and Kasimov. As a result of the attack, three Russian sailors were killed and 14 were wounded.
