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Tuesday, October 20, 2026English edition
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The Geopolitician

Country risk, from the local press

Ukraine · Country watch

Zelenskyy Trust Rises, Zaporizhzhia Plant Halted

Trust in President Zelenskyy increases, while Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant remains inactive, affecting energy supply.

· · 5 sources

The picture Deteriorating

Business conditions in Ukraine continue to deteriorate as the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant remains inactive, affecting energy supply. Rising oil prices add to economic pressures.

Flare-up watch: Calm — Ukraine country watch →

In this briefing Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant · Brent Crude · Houthi Movement · Volodymyr Zelenskyy · Kyiv International Institute of Sociology

Regulation

Nothing significant reported today.

Disruption

  • Energy

Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in cold shutdown

Two power stations at Enerhodar, about 50 km from Zaporozhye in Ukraine, viewed from across the Kakhovka Reservoir on the river Dnieper. Pho
Two power stations at Enerhodar, about 50 km from Zaporozhye in Ukraine, viewed from across the Kakhovka Reservoir on the river Dnieper. Pho Ralf1969, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remains in a 'cold shutdown' state as of mid-October 2026, with all six reactors inactive, Censor.net reports. The plant, located in Russian-occupied territory, has ceased electricity production, exacerbating energy shortages in the region. The shutdown follows ongoing security concerns and operational challenges, impacting the energy supply chain in Ukraine.

Impact Energy suppliers and consumers face ongoing shortages due to the Zaporizhzhia plant's inactivity.

Sources: Censor.net ↗

Internal tension

Nothing significant reported today.

Safety & health

Nothing significant reported today.

Companies

Nothing significant reported today.

Markets

  • Energy
  • Finance

Brent crude rises to $110 amid Middle East tensions

Brent crude oil prices rose to $110 a barrel on October 20, nearing a five-month high, as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East intensified. Reuters reports that Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian infrastructure and incidents in the Persian Gulf have driven traders to factor in a geopolitical risk premium. The price increase reflects broader market concerns over supply disruptions in key oil-producing regions.

Impact Energy importers and financial markets face increased costs and volatility due to rising oil prices.

Sources: Newvoice ↗

Trade

Nothing significant reported today.

Politics

  • Public sector

Trust in Zelenskyy jumps 14 points after diesel deal

Trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy increased by 14 percentage points following the U.S.-Russia diesel deal, according to a survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS). The poll, conducted between October 10-16, found that 57% of respondents now trust Zelenskyy, up from 43% in a smaller survey conducted on October 8-9. KIIS attributed the rise to a 'rally-around-the-flag' effect spurred by the international agreement, which eased pressure on Ukraine.

Impact Public-sector confidence in President Zelenskyy strengthens, potentially stabilizing governance amid ongoing challenges.

Sources: KyivPost ↗, Newvoice ↗

Also today in Ukraine

Sources in this briefing

Sources: each headline links to the original article on the publisher's site.

All Ukraine briefings →

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